The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 185
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First Session of the Secession Convention of Texas 185
A joint resolution was also passed relative to coercion in which
the legislature maintained in substance that the sovereign states
had denied to the federal government the power to compel by arms
obedience by the states to federal authority; that the attempt of
the federal government to coerce a state was a violation of the
Constitution, destructive to the right of free government, and fatal
to the existence of the Union; that should the federal government
attempt to coerce a sister state into subjection to federal rule Texas
would make common cause with her in resisting, by all means and
to the last extremity, such violence and usurpation of power.
All action taken by the legislature in the early part of its ses-
sion was in accord and sympathy with the convention. The House
tendered the use of its hall to the convention each day after two
o'clock, and fuel and stationery were placed at its disposal.
After the secession ordinance had been passed the legislature
co-operated with the convention in placing the ordinance before
the people for ratification or rejection. Two acts were passed
for this purpose. The first, passed over the Governor's veto, merely
required the officers of the state to order elections for the ratifica-
tion or rejection of the ordinance of secession according to the
directions of the state convention. Two days later it became neces-
sary to pass a supplemental act requiring the Governor to issue a
proclamation for the election, and to direct the vote to be taken
and returns to be made in the manner prescribed in the first act
and in the ordinance of the convention on the subject. This act
was approved by the Governor February 9, with a protest against
the short time allowed for notice."8
The first secession convention convened at Austin, January 28,
1861. The personnel of the convention, according to the corre-
spondent of The True Issue, consisted of a respectable body of men,
both in personal appearance and in point of intelligence; but there
were many conjectures as to what it would do. According to the
same correspondent, some thought that the action of the conven-
tion would be declared binding without any reference to the people.
Some believed the convention intended to usurp sovereign power,
subvert the state government, and erect a provincial one in its
aGammel, Lawos of Texas, V, General Laws of Extra Session, 1861, 18.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915, periodical, 1915; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/191/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.