The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 62, July 1958 - April, 1959 Page: 209
617 p. : ill., 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:
The Texas Road to Secession and War
ships will whiten the Gulf of California and the Pacific, as well as
of Mexico and the Atlantic.65
Houston had a large following, and the Union group made an
important gain in March when one of Houston's men, A. J.
Hamilton, was elected state senator to represent Travis, Bastrop,
and Burnet counties. Another Houston follower was George
Hancock, who had a large dry goods store at the corner of Con-
gress Avenue and Pecan (Sixth) Street. The Gazette, tiring of
Houston's attitude, said:
In justice to his Excellency, we will say that in his old age, having
been connected with illustrious events, and filled the highest posi-
tions, he has fallen into the hands of a little clique in this city, who
rule him by flattery, and have given his foibles a national notoriety.
"How are the mighty fallen!"6
An anti-secession rally was held on Thursday, March 21, and
speeches were made by A. J. Hamilton and Houston, who had
just been deposed as governor for refusing to take an oath of
allegiance to the Confederacy. The Gazette labeled the meeting
as bordering on treason:
[They] are seeking to give aid and comfort to the enemies of the
State. ... We should say that they are trying to excite a bloody
rebellion against the popular sovereignty of Texas. .... We would fain
hope that these expressions are nothing but the petulant demonstra-
tions of an idle, disappointed and aimless demagogueism, which will
vanish like malaria of the valley.67
Benjamin H. Epperson, representative from Red River County,
made an anti-secession speech to the legislature on Monday night,
April 8. Two secession speakers jumped in to out-debate Ep-
person.68
Rumors were rampant in Austin in the spring of 1861. Texas
was part of the Confederacy, yet far removed from the other
states. The pro-Union leaders continued their work:
The submission leaders in this city have never given up their
affection for Lincoln's government, but meet, it is said, in daily and
65lbid., February 23, 1861, p. 1.
eIbid., March 9, 1861, p. 2.
TlIbid., March 23, 1861, p. 2.
88Ibid., April 13, 1861, p. 2.so9
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 62, July 1958 - April, 1959, periodical, 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101173/m1/252/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.