b'Sam Houstons FightAgainst SecessionPART 1 By Alan RockmanThis is the aftermath of the story Brian Kilmeade wrotein his wonderful new history, Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers. The story Kilmeade left out.We know one of the sovereign people who is not generally known(an essential qualification) that is every way capable, who has signified his willingness to undertake the administering of the government( of the United States ) . He was once in the legislature of this state, perhaps twice, but says he is by no means to be termed a politician. If the real sovereigns of the country would want such a man, they only have to intimate to us and we will trot him out-he lives here( IndianolaMathew Brady( Texas ) Bulletin ) ., Saturday, October 29, 1859T his Texas newspaper may have not been directlyTexas, but contrary to what this editor wrote (if he waseventual statehood, the assemblage adopted a resolution implying it was Sam Houston. In fact, they may haveindeed writing about Sam Houston) a national, notcalling for a clear-cut Houston candidacy.been endorsing another Texas politician, as Houstonregional hero. Houston was a man who had violently was indeed fairly well-known elsewhere. But the casualfought against secession but on the other hand, had"We have fallen upon evil times. Political jobbers have reader, thinking of any Texas politician of the time wouldchampioned southern states\' rights and was favorablymaneuvered and squabbled when they should have almost instantly surmise it was indeed Sam Houston,inclined towards that "peculiar institution" known aslabored for the public good, they have arrayed one War of 1812 hero, Governor of Tennessee, commanderslavery, but on the other hand (sounds like a Randysection against another. The time has arrived when of the Texas Army that avenged the Alamo at San JacintoTravis song I know) Houston was strongly opposed tomen of whatever section who love their country should and brought independence to the new territory, U.S.extending slavery into the new western territories andunite upon candidates of national rather than sectional Senator who spoke eloquently against disunion, and nowhad opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act - alienated manycharacter. Therefore it should be resolved that we about to be voted back in as Governor of Texas. of his fellow Democrats - for that very reason. He wasrecommend our distinguished fellow-citizen, General outspoken and straight to the point his entire life. Sam Houston, as the people\'s candidate for the Presidency For the casual modern reader, at first glance, this would(and ask) all conservative men, of all parties, in all seem ordinary, like the political rhetoric modern readersConsidered to be an American statesman and herosections of our Union, to support him" (James, Marquis, are accustomed to, perhaps in a more polite form ofwhose stature rose high above many of the greatThe Raven, New American Library, 1961, pp. 325-326).stating things. But despite the simple language used here,American politicians of his time, he was seen as there was a sense of real urgency behind the commentary,Presidential material, someone who possibly would keepOnly a few weeks earlier, at the beginning of April 1860, for Texas was part of the South, of the Southwest, and onlythis country together. Houston had refused any nomination as a candidate by a few days previously, the southern states of America weremeans other than a direct will of the people themselves. incensed and alarmed by the sudden raid on the UnitedAnd less than six months later, months after old JohnIn a letter written at the time, he concluded:States arsenal at Harper\'s Ferry, (then) Virginia by theBrown had gone to the gallows, the cry for a Houston abolitionist John Brown and a small band of like-mindedPresidential candidacy reached fever pitch. At the 24th"If my name should be used in connection with the men. They had intended to initiate a slave uprising usinganniversary of that very battle at San Jacinto where hisPresidency, the movement must originate with the the captured weaponry to arm the oppressed Blacks butsmashing victory guaranteed Texas independence - andpeople themselves, as well as end with them. I will not were thwarted by the appearance of Colonel Robert E.consent to have my name submitted to the convention" Lee of the United States Army, who, with a force of U.S.(stressing here the means of an election that his mentor Marines and Virginia militia practically wiped out theAndrew Jackson also avoided, going on to say), "nor band of abolitionists, and captured John Brown, who waswould I accept a nomination were it tended me and now awaiting trial for treason. procured by contrivance, trick, or management. If such a thing were possible, that I could be elected and not in The editor of this opinion went on to write: "Has theharmony with the voice of the majority of the American irrepressible conflict commenced?Let us understand thepeople, I would not hold the position a single day, but north. Has the irrepressible conflict commenced? Doesretire to a private station, solaced by self-respect" (James, the attempted insurrection in Virginia shadow forth theThe Raven, p.327).outlines gory and dark of the programme"(Ibid).Now buoyed with the enthusiasm shown at this "people\'s This unknown editor represented the opinion of anconvention" and others like it throughout the nation at increasing majority of southerners who were willingthis time, Houston gave his sanction to have his name to split with the Union. But the individual whomplaced in nomination at the "Union Democrat," later he very well may have been referring to representedknown as "Constitutional Union Party" convention in those southerners still devoted the Union and wereBaltimore, May 9, 1860. Houston\'s chances were rated as hoping against hope that secession might be prevented.good, good enough to capture the nomination over his Houston was a man considered by many, not just inRobert E. Lee closest rival, Senator John Bell of Tennessee.34 February 2020'