The Texas Historian, Volume 51, Number 4, March 1991 Page: 5
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SAM HOUSTON'S 1857
CAMPAIGN IN MARSHALL
By Berenda J. Humble, Marshall Junior High
ON E OF THE SADDEST times in
Sam Houston's life was when
he ran for governor of Texas in 1857.
While campaigning for governor he
came to Marshall where he sought
votes under a large oak tree. The oak
tree lived until 1987.
Houston was brave to come to
Marshall for two of the state's most
influential secessionists lived there.
The two-Louis T. Wigfall and Rob-
ert Loughery--played important roles
in Houston's losing the campaign for
governor in 1857.
Louis T. Wigfall, given the nick-
name "Wiggletail" by Houston, op-
posed Houston's decision to run for
governor. In fact, Wigfall followed
Houston wherever he went on the
campaign trail and spoke in opposi-
tion to Houston's senate record. On
one occasion, Wigfall recommended
that Houston be tarred and feathered.
Houston, for his part, advised his
audience to listen to "Wiggletail's"
speech only if they were fond of lies.
Robert Loughery, editor of the Ft
Texas Republican, also opposed
Houston's decision to run for gover-
nor. When writing about Houston,
Loughery was anything but objec-
tive. Loughery wanted Houston to
talk about secession. Houston, how- .
ever, refused to do so.
The convention of 1857 in Waco
was one of the first statewide con-
ventions where almost every county
in the state was represented. At the
convention, members were either for
or against Houston. Many hoped Sam Houston. All photographs courtesy of the Barker Texas History Center,
Texas would secede from the Union, UT Austin, unless noted.
while others, like Houston, were
against it.
Houston also split the Demo-
crats of his home state. Two
March 1991 / 5
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Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 51, Number 4, March 1991, periodical, March 1991; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391549/m1/7/?rotate=180: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.