Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 11.djvu/26

CHAPTER II.

THE AGITATION AND ACTION AFTER THE ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PRESIDENT—CALLS UPON GOVERNOR HOUSTON TO CONVENE THE LEGISLATURE—SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST STATE ACTION—CALL FOR A CONVENTION BY CITIZENS-GOVERNOR HOUSTON CONVENES THE LEGISLATURE—CO-OPERATION OF STATES ADVOCATED AS A DIVERSION FROM SEPARATE STATE ACTION—THE LEGISLATURE AND CONVENTION MEET—ORDINANCE OF SECESSION PASSED—COMMITTEE ON SAFETY APPOINTED TO TAKE THE FEDERAL PROPERTY.

WHILE the news was being received of the strong probability that Abraham Lincoln was elected, the people in all parts of the State looked to the capitol at Austin for the influence to be exerted, either for the advancement or repression of public action in the emergency then existing. Meetings were held at numerous places, and resolutions were passed requesting the governor to convene the legislature in special session, and for that purpose delegations were sent from some localities, which were courteously received by the governor, but he gave them no favorable response to their request. The newspapers were constantly filled with articles showing the urgent desire of the people generally for the meeting of the legislature to take some action for the State. In this way news of what was being done went with great rapidity over the State.

By the 15th of November, 1860, satisfactory information had arrived in Texas that Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, was elected President, on which the Lone Star flag of Texas was hoisted at the capital city and at