Baptists and the American Civil War: March 10, 1861

Sam Houston, Texas GovernorThe feud between the governor of Texas and the state legislator reaches a critical mass as news of the dispute circulates throughout the South.

Today, Georgians read an account of the Texas dust-up in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Gov. Sam Houston opposes the union of his now-seceded state with the Confederacy, preferring that Texas become an independent republic again. Mr. Houston also has refused to recognize the state convention which voted for secession. It’s job is at an end, he says, and he and the state legislature will take care of any public questions now arising. The legislature will convene March 18. But the convention in reply, has claimed full power to act for the state and has promised to act as speedily as possible to place Texas in the Confederacy. The convention will require all state officials to take an oath of allegiance to the new government, or else be replaced. Presumably, this includes Gov. Houston.

The contrast between the governors of Georgia and Texas is stark: while both are Baptists, the former (Joseph Brown) is an ardent Confederate, while the latter (Sam Houston, illustration) is a Unionist now risking his political career in an attempt to force Texas out of the Confederacy.

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution article (link)