The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 258
616 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
slave trade would Christianize African Negroes and which, thus,
had won substantial support among "church going Texans," was
a "double faced plea" resting upon self-interest rather than upon
Christianity. He insisted that if Negroes were "made cheaper,"
all slaves would become less valuable and that their masters would
provide them with less care; the native slaves themselves would
be completely demoralized by the influx of cheap African labor.
"As a Texan," said Judge Gray, "I feel little complimented by
the selection of this state as the field for 'special efforts' to revive
this trade." Why was this done, he asked. "Because it is known
that our vast territory, our spreading prairies, and rich bottom
lands lie vacant and uncultivated. As our interest is supposed to
lie that way," said the Judge, "our state is to be the theatre of this
contest." Such "ideas are afloat," warned Gray; "how far they
have been embodied for action I do not know, but that recent
events indicate that definite steps have been taken for such action
is beyond question."38
The division over the "slave trade issue" was most trying upon
those conservatives who believed in the "virtues" inherent in the
"institution" as it then existed in Texas, but who abhorred the
idea of legally accepting the African slave trade as an integral part
of "the institution." The respected state senator, M. M. Potter,
of Galveston, journeyed to the neighboring city of Houston to
advocate this point of view. He returned a saddened man. He
confided to his friend, William Pitt Ballinger, that he was "thor-
oughly disgusted," because for his effort, he had been "greatly
slandered for want of good Southern principles." Ballinger him-
self was so revolted by the whole canvass that he refused to vote
at all.89 Tom Jack, a law partner and brother-in-law of Ballinger,
became so involved in an exchange of insults over the issue with
Hamilton Stuart that it took all the mediating skill of both fam-
ilies to avoid a challenge which might have ended in a duel.40
When the election was at last held on August i, Sam Houston
received 36,257 votes and H. R. Runnels 27,500. The "slave-
trade" men, however, carried the city of Galveston by a vote of
403 to 307, and Lubbock running for the office of lieutenant gov-
asHouston Telegraph, June 20, July 4, and July 13, 1859.
3sBallinger, Diary, July 22 and August 1, 1859 (MS., Rosenberg Library, Gal-
veston) .
4olbid., August 31, 1859.258
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957, periodical, 1957; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101163/m1/283/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.