The Texas Historian, Volume 51, Number 4, March 1991 Page: 6
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This photo-
graph of
Senator Louis
T. Wigfall was
taken in 1861.factions emerged, pro-Houston
men, or "Jacksonians," and a
newer, radical faction, the
"Calhoun Democrats," who
soon styled themselves the
Constitutional Democrats.
It soon became evident that the
Jacksonians were in the great
minority, and the Unionist
sentiment in Texas was losing
its political base.
It was in hopes of keeping Texas in
the Union that Houston had decided
to run against Hardin Runnels for
governor. "He had no party, no orga-
nization, no campaign funds. Most
newspapers were against him." Sam
Houston traveled to many cities in-
cluding Marshall. While there he
spoke under the old oak tree which
was located just two blocks east of
Wigfall's house on Burleson Street.
Houston fought his campaign
somewhat differently than do politi-
cians of today. He traveled from city
to city in a horse drawn buggy, his
clothes consisted of an old linen
duster and low unlaced shoes. When
it was hot, he would speak shirtless.
"He slept in great plantation houses
and farmer's dog run shacks" at the
end of the day.
I louston came to Marshall on May23, 1857 to take part in a debate
between Runnels and himself. Both
were to speak on a stand built by Dr.
Dial, a IHouston supporter, at what
was called the "barbecue" grounds
located at Franklin and Burlesonstreets. Houston was scheduled to
speak first. Robert Loughery gave the
following description of Houston's
speaking ability:
Many had heard of Houston as
a man whose thrilling elo-
quence charmed even his
enemies, and that his power on
the stump was irresistible. They
were anxious to listen to his
defense and to witness an
exhibition of his intellectual
power. He possesses certainly a
commanding and graceful
exterior and his voice is clean
and melodious, his articulation
distinct. He speaks slowly; there
is a remarkable precision in his
style, and as you listen to him
you are impressed with the idea
that every sentence has been
carefully prepared, and repeated
over as an actor would repeat
the words of one of
Shakespeare's plays. And this,
bye-the-bye has had a great deal
to do with his success before
the people.
Loughery also reported that
Houston's Marshall speech: "didn't
discuss his defense of 3,000 aboli-
tionist clergymen, his Oregon and
Nebraska votes and his reverence forHardin Richard
Runnels was
governor of
Texas from 1857
to 1859.6 / TEXAS HISTORIAN
, ~
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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/m1/8/?q=waco+tornado: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.