Governor Houston: Obeisance to the will of the people
150 years ago today the Texas secession convention was still meeting in Austin. The committee appointed to communicate with Governor Sam Houston received this letter from the governor:
Executive Department
Austin Texas, Jany. 31st/61.
To Mesrs. Reagan, Gray, Rogers, Stell and Devine.
Committee of the Convention.
Gentlemen,
The Executive has had the honor to learn at your hands of the
passage of a resolution by the Convention assembled expressing a
desire on the part of that body “to act in harmony with the differentdepartments of the State government” upon matters touching our federal relation.
Through the action of the Legislature of the State of Texas, a co-
ordinate department of the government, the Executive has received
official information that the Convention assembled has been recog-
nized as possessing powers within the scope of the call under which
its delegates were elected, the same to be submitted to a vote of the
people at the ballot box for their ratification or rejection; not only
does this action on the part of the Legislature commend the Conven-
tion io my consideration, but the high character and respectability of
the delegates composing it, commands my respect.
I can assure you, gentlemen, that whatever will conduce to the wel-
fare of our people will have my warmest and most fervent wishes,
and when the voice of the people of Texas has been declared through
the ballot box, no citizen will be more ready to yield obedience to its
will or risk his all in its defence than myself. Their fate is my fate.
Their fortune is my fortune. Their destiny my destiny, be it pros-
perity or gloom, as of old I am with my country.
For the courtesy paid me by the Convention and for the kind senti-
ments expressed by the committee receive my thanks, and you can
assure the Convention of the readiness of the Executive to act in har-
mony with the Convention in securing an expression of the popular
will in the matter ‘touching our federal relations and that he will
cheerfully confer with any committee appointed for that purpose
Very respectfully
Sam Houston.
This letter can be found as part of Journal of the Secession convention of Texas, 1861 (1912) found at Internet Archive. I highly commend this to anyone interested in reading the ins and outs of parliamentary procedure. But I understand why it’s important to document that Texas followed proper procedures as the convention worked to abrogate the U.S. Constitution.
Governor Houston seems to be agreeing with Oran Roberts, the president of the secession convention, that the will of the people is paramount. And it actually seems that Texas (unlike other seceding states) actually plans on submitting the convention results to a vote of the people.
A few other notes from the convention over the past couple days:
1) Four women from Austin wanted to present a special banner to the convention when the ordinance of secession would be passed. (Everyone knew it was going to happen)
2) In the brotherly relations department, the convention knew about the meeting on February 4th of the seceding states in Montgomery, Alabama and were preparing to send representatives. Also, a representative from South Carolina attended the Texas convention. Seven Score and Ten has reported on South Carolina “Commissioners” meeting with President Buchanan. One of these commissioners, John McQueen, is representing the Palmetto State in Austin.
3) On January 30th there was a resolution with some color:
Mr. Rogers of Harris offered the following resolution.
”Resolved that such of the soldiers of the Revolution of Texas as
are in this city be invited to seats within the bar of the House, pro-
vided they are in favor of another revolution”.
On motion of Mr. Green the resolution was laid on the table.
