The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 73, July 1969 - April, 1970 Page: 19
605 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Whig Party of Texas in Elections of 1848 and 1852 19
They are rallying manfully for the contest; and although we admire the
energy and zeal that they display, we entertain no fear that they will
triumph in a single county in the state.'
Ignoring Democratic reminders of their weakness, the Whigs com-
pleted preparations for the campaign with a convention at Hunts-
ville in early July. Judge William Ochiltree of Nacogdoches, Judge
James Webb of Austin, Samuel Yerger of Galveston, and Ben Ep-
person of Clarksville were appointed presidential electors. Ochiltree
and Webb were considered electors-at-large, while Yerger was to
serve in the Western Congressional District (those counties west of
the Trinity River) and Epperson in the Eastern District. A five-man
Central Corresponding Committee was established to direct the
campaign. Another Whig convention at Marshall later in July ap-
proved the work of the Huntsville meeting.8
Almost immediately the Whigs were embarrassed by the "resigna-
tion" of one of their electors. James Webb, in reality a Democrat,
had hoped to support Taylor on a no-party basis. Unable to do so,
he declined to serve as a Whig elector. It was mid-October before
a replacement, General Edward Tarrant, was definitely appointed
to take Webb's place." At this point, to make matters worse, a fac-
tion of the Galveston Whigs removed Samuel Yerger due to his
"indisposition" and substituted James W. Allen of Victoria. Yerger
protested to the Central Committee, but they agreed that he was
physically unable to serve and recommended that Whigs unite on
Ochiltree, Tarrant, Epperson, and Allen.0
There are many indications that the Whigs campaigned hard in
1848. Epperson and Ochiltree attended and spoke at barbecues, Whig
meetings, and even Democratic meetings in towns like Paris, Clarks-
ville, Jefferson, Marshall, Nacogdoches, and San Augustine in the
eastern part of the state. "Rough and Ready Clubs" were established
in Galveston and Houston.1" A number of newspapers including the
'Houston Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register, July 6, 1848.
"Clarksville Northern Standard, July 29, August 5, 1848; Houston Democratic Tele-
graph and Texas Register, July 13, August 17, 1848. Information on the Congressional
districts is from Wooten, History of Texas, II, 20.
'Clarksville Northern Standard, August 19, 1848; Galveston News, October 13, 1848;
Houston Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register, October 19, 1848. See also Robert L.
and Pauline Jones, "Edward L. Tarrant," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, LXIX
(January, 1966), 318-19g.
"1Galveston Civilian and Galoeston Gazette, October 26, 1848; Galveston News, October
27, 1848; Corpus Christi Star, November 7, 1848.
"Clarksville Western Star, October 7, 1848; Clarksville Northern Standard, September
2, 9, October 21, November 4, 1848; Nacogdoches Times, July 22, October 21, 1848;
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 73, July 1969 - April, 1970, periodical, 1970; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117147/m1/35/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.