San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-10-29

II this love for God, love for man
love for justice, love for duty wer
carried into all the transactions o
life, Christ's prayer would be answer
ed, "That we all be one"
L.C.
GEN. SAM HOUSTON.
How He Acted During Secession an
War Times.
H. 8. ThraIl.
In 1859, Houston again became al
independent Democratic candidat
for Governor. In his letter Of accep
tance he said: "The Constitution
and the Union embrace the principle
by which will be governed, if elec
ted. They comprehend all the oil
jackson Democracy ever professet
or officially prscticed." In circula
addressed to his constituents, he said
"I would lay down my life to defent
any one of the States from aggression
which endangered it's peace, or threat
ened it's institutions. could do NJ
more for the Union. 1 could wish Il
do more u; for the destruction Of th'
Union would be the ruin of all tn
States"
Governor Runnels was nominated
for reelection by the regular Demo
cratic Convention. Some of Run
nels supporters were ardentadvocate
for the re-opening of the African slav'
trade, though the Convention which
nominated him refused to indors'
that iniquitous measure. After al
active canvass, in which Houston
spoke in most of the prominent citiei
Of the State, proclaiming his devotion
to the Union and his hostility to the
re-opening of the slave trade, he was
elected by handsome majority. He
however, found himself embarrassed
from the commencement of his ad
ministration. The Indians were
troublesome upon the frontier; in
cendiary fires occurred in various
parts of Northern and Eastern Texas
Those were said to be caused by
Abolition emisaries, and this intensi.
fed the excitement. Houston was
a pronounced opponent of secession
and it was soon evident that MOTOR
ity of the Legislature were in favor
of that measure. Houston was will
ing to cooperate with the border
slave States in any measure deemed
necessary for mutual protection. But
this did not satisfy the Secessionists,
who were resolved that Texas should
link her destiny with her sister South
ern States. The Legislature conven-
ed in extra session January 21st,
1861. By common consent, the peo-
pie had, on the 9Th of January, elect
ed delegates to a Convention which
assembled at Austin on the 9th of
the same month.
Fearing the United States property
on the frontier might be seized by If
responsible parties, Houston, on the
goth of January, wrote to Gen.
Twiggs, in command at San Antonio,
inviting him to turn the property be-
longing to the army over to the State
authorities. In his reply, dated the
22d, Gen. Twiggs said: "Iam with
out instructions from Washington as
to the disposition Of public property
here. After secession, if the execu-
tive of the State makes demand of
the commander of the department,
he will receive an answer" The prop
erty was promptly surrendered to
the commissioners appointed by the
Secession Convention.
The ordinance of secession was
passed on the LIST of February, after
which the Convention adjourned. The
popular vote was taken on the 23d,
and secession prevailed. The Con-
yention re-assembled on the I'd Of
March. 1t was now too late to OPP
pose secession, but Houston, among
his friends, advised Texas to resume
her former position as a Republic, and
refrain from attaching herself to the
Confederacy which had just been
formed at Montgomery, Alabama
The Convention, however, Tic 5th OF
March, passed bill uniting Texas to
the new Confederacy. All State Off
GERS we're required, on the 14th, to
take the oath to support the new gov
ment This Houston refused to do.
He was Joined by Mr. Cave, his Sec
retary Of State. The two were dis
placed from Office. On the 10th,
Iieutenant- Governor Clark was Inau-
curated Governor. Houston made
no serious opposition 10 retiring 10
private life. He, however, published
an address TO the people Of Texas. in
which be said: q protest, in the
name Of the people Of Texas, against
the acts Of this Convention, and pro
nounce them null and void
- I love Texas toe vel 10 bring civil
strife and bloodsbsd upon bsr. To.
avert tins calamity. / shall make no
end4Avor to n4htEin my aut6pEty ss
Cbjef Executive Of this State, except
bv tie psscsful EXERCISE Of nv func-
s5onA Wbs1 I ca 70 lo1gsr do thiE
I shsl csl1aly withdraw from The