The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 77, July 1973 - April, 1974 Page: 245
568 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:
The Election of Louis T. Wigfall 245
as the one held in Harrison County in early October, had also endorsed
Wigfall for the Senate.'
Another factor favoring Wigfall's election, in addition to his party and
newspaper support, was the absence of an outstanding opponent in the up-
coming election. John H. Reagan, who had first been elected to the United
States House of Representatives in 1857, was the only man in the state who
might have successfully challenged Wigfall in the election. Reagan sincerely
wanted the Senate seat, but he could not expect united Democratic support
because he had done much to fan the flames of discord within the party.
During his campaign for reelection in 1859 Reagan had broken with the
radical wing of the party when he opposed any attempt to reopen the Afri-
can slave trade and denounced filibustering expeditions to obtain additional
potential slave territory. His views were in direct contrast to Wigfall's stand,
since the latter favored both the reopening of the African slave trade and
support for filibustering expeditions. Many regular Democratic party leaders
agreed with Wigfall, but they realized that these issues could cause trouble
for the party. Reagan's stand made the two topics campaign issues, and
many moderate Texans could not accept nominees who favored such radical
measures. Houston and the Opposition candidates contended that the reg-
ular Democratic party nominees desired these ends, and the regular party
members, when they were defeated, blamed Reagan for introducing the is-
sues in the first place. Reagan and the independents, Houston, Clark, and
Hamilton, were all victorious. The Democratic party leaders, especially Run-
nels, blamed Reagan for the defeat of the party ticket. Realizing this, Rea-
gan refused to allow his name to be placed forward for the Senate seat.o
Thus prior to October I6, 1859, the fateful day of John Brown's raid,
9Marshall Texas Republican, October 15, 1859; Marshall Harrison Flag, October I4,
1859.
10Reagan to the Voters of the First Congressional District, April I2, 1859, circular,
John H. Reagan Papers (Archives, University of Texas, Austin); Marshall Texas Re-
publican, June 24, September 3, I859; Procter, John H. Reagan, Io9-II4; King, Louis
T. Wigfall, 67-70; Earl W. Fornell, "Texans and Filibusters in the 1850's," Southwestern
Historical Quarterly, LIX (April, 1956), 411-428; Earl W. Fornell, "Agitation in Texas
for Reopening the Slave Trade," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, LX (October,
I956), 245-259; Runnels to Guy M. Bryan, September 2o, 1859, Guy M. Bryan Papers
(Archives, University of Texas, Austin). Many Texans, who had previously supported
the regular Democratic party, turned their backs on the party in 1859 because they
believed that the leaders supported reopening the African slave trade and filibustering
campaigns. Reagan, who was elected to one of the House seats, was nominated by the
regular Democratic party, but a number of radicals refused to support him because of
his Unionist sentiments. The radicals nominated Judge William B. Ochiltree, but Reagan
won with little difficulty. See Reagan to A. H. Latimer, August 26, I859, Reagan Papers;
Reagan to William Alexander, October 3, 1859, ibid.; Clarksville Standard, August 20,
I859.
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 77, July 1973 - April, 1974, periodical, 1973/1974; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117148/m1/279/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.