425

1861 SAM HOUSTON SECESSION BROADSIDE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
1861 SAM HOUSTON SECESSION BROADSIDE
Excessively rare broadside, 1p., 5 1/2" x 10 1/2"., Austin: [printer unknown], headed: "REPORT. COMMITTEE ROOM, January 31st, 1861", a response to the Texas Committee on Secession from Houston in his capacity as Executive. The top of the broadside bears a report by Texas Secession Convention committeemen to the President of the Secession Convention O. M. Roberts sending Gov. Houston's response to their meeting with him discussing a secession referendum. Houston's reply, also signed in type, is printed beneath, in part: "...Getlemen [sic]: 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 different departments of our State Government,' upon matters touching with our Federal relations...". Houston, not a willing secessionist, nevertheless understood the will of the majority and political expediency, and continued: "...I can assure you, gentlemen, that whatever will conduce to the welfare of our people will have my warmest and most fervent wishes. And when the voice of the people of Texas has been declared...no citizen will be more ready to yield obedience to its will, or to risk his all in its defence, than myself. Their fate is my fate, their fortune is my fortune, their destiny is my destiny, be it prosperity or gloom, as of old, I am with my country...". On Feb. 1, 1861 elected delegates met in convention and authorized secession from the United States, and Texas became a charter member of the Confederacy a month later. Houston was ultimately evicted from office shortly thereafter for refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. Some folds at the corners, else very good.