Editing Sam Houston (section)

==Governor of Texas==
{{see also|Texas in the American Civil War}}
[[File:Sam Houston by Mathew Brady.jpg|thumb|Sam Houston in 1861.]]

Before he successfully became the governor of Texas, Houston had previously run in 1857 but did not win. He then ran in 1859, and won making him the new governor of Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Houston {{!}} TSLAC |url=https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/giants/houston-01 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240719051233/https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/giants/houston-01 |archive-date=2024-07-19 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.tsl.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref> Houston ran against Runnels in the [[1859 Texas gubernatorial election|1859 gubernatorial election]]. Capitalizing on Runnels's unpopularity over state issues such as Native American raids, Houston won the election and took office in December 1859.{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=362–365}} In the [[1860 United States presidential election|1860 presidential election]], Houston and [[John Bell (Tennessee politician)|John Bell]] were the two major contenders for the presidential nomination of the newly formed [[Constitutional Union Party (United States)|Constitutional Union Party]], which consisted largely of Southern unionists. Houston narrowly trailed Bell on the first ballot of the [[1860 Constitutional Union Convention]], but Bell clinched the nomination on the second ballot.{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=371–372}} Nonetheless, some of Houston's Texan supporters nominated him for president in April 1860. Other backers attempted to launch a nationwide campaign, but in August 1860, Houston announced that he would not be a candidate for president. He refused to endorse any of the remaining presidential candidates.{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=372–374}} In late 1860, Houston campaigned across his home state, calling on Texans to resist those who advocated for secession if Republican nominee [[Abraham Lincoln]] won the 1860 election.{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=380–382}}

After Lincoln won the November 1860 presidential election, several Southern states seceded from the United States and formed the [[Confederate States of America]].{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=383–384}} A Texas political convention voted to secede from the United States on February 1, 1861, and after Houston refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy, the legislature declared the governorship vacant. Houston did not recognize the validity of his removal, but he did not attempt to use force to remain in office, and he refused aid from the federal government to prevent his removal. His successor, [[Edward Clark (governor)|Edward Clark]], was sworn in in March 1861.{{sfn|Westwood|1984|pp=128–129, 133–134}} In an undelivered speech, Houston wrote:

{{blockquote|Fellow-Citizens, in the name of your rights and liberties, which I believe have been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath.  In the name of the nationality of Texas, which has been betrayed by the Convention, I refuse to take this oath.  In the name of the Constitution of Texas, I refuse to take this oath.  In the name of my own conscience and manhood, which this Convention would degrade by dragging me before it, to pander to the malice of my enemies, I refuse to take this oath.  I deny the power of this Convention to speak for Texas. ... I protest. ... against all the acts and doings of this convention and I declare them null and void.{{sfn|Haley|2002|pp=390–391}}}}

On April 19, 1861, he told a crowd:

{{blockquote|Let me tell you what is coming.  After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, you may win Southern independence if God be not against you, but I doubt it.  I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South.{{sfn|Haley|2002|p=397}}}}

According to historian Randolph Campbell:

<blockquote>Houston did everything possible to prevent secession and war, but his first loyalty was to Texas—and the South. Houston refused offers of troops from the United States to keep Texas in the Union and announced on May 10, 1861 that he would stand with the Confederacy in its war effort.{{sfn|Campbell|2000}}</blockquote>