The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 476
546 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
like interpretation of the Code of Honor occurred in the quarrel
between Colonel William H. Wharton and Colonel A. C. Horton,
both senators. On December 14, 1837, Horton made a speech
on the floor of the Senate in which he was quoted as stating
that "I would thank God if the President [Sam Houston] were
dead." On the following day the speaker was asked by Wharton
to explain this "unparliamentary" and "malicious" remark.
When Horton refused to explain, Wharton gave notice that
he would challenge when a gentleman and a friend, former
Secretary of the Navy S. Rhoads Fisher, who had priority,
received proper redress. But Horton asserted that Wharton
had first claim, which Fisher denied. Nothing occurred beyond
a three-cornered exchange of barrages of words.'
Though duels were often evaded without loss of social stand-
ing, ignoring a summons to a formal engagement was usually
thought to stamp a man with the stigma of cowardice. In 1841
a Dr. Watson challenged a young civilian named Gillett who
failed to answer. Six days later Watson 'posted him" as a
coward. Captain R. Hudson, acting as a friend of Gillett, pulled
down two of the notices. Hudson wrote:
This I did expecting that Gillette would notice it on
Monday.-but he with great philosophy and Christian
forbarence would say or do nothing-Had I know [n]
that the posting was of so little conciquence to him--
I am certain that I should have let them remain for
ever. - As it is - Watson when drunk - I think will
attack Gillette--76
Many rumors of duels arose in the bitter strife of politics.
According to Francis R. Lubbock, the Republic had no Demo-
crats and Whigs in a party sense, but merely the "Houston
Party" and the "Anti-Houston Party." The last six months of
Sam Houston's first administration (which ended in December
of 1838) found him opposed by a hostile Congress and a num-
ber of impetuous fire-eaters, including General Felix Huston
whose ambitions had been deflated by the President's action
75Matagorda Bulletin, April 11, 1838. Fisher was subsequently killed in
Matagorda. Albert G. Newton was acquitted of the charge of murder.-
Matagorda County District Court Minutes, A, 40 (Matagorda County'
Courthouse, Bay City).
78R. Hudson to Ashbel Smith, March 1, 1841, Smith Papers. Dr. Watson
was probably the surgeon who had been discharged from the army in 1838
for cheating in a card game.--J. Wilson Copes to Ashbel Smith, January
28, February 4, 1838, ibid. "Gillette" was probably H. F. Gillett, a school
teacher who had been in correspondence with Smith.476
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941, periodical, 1941; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146052/m1/527/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.