texashistory.info<a href=texashistory.info The legendary Sam Houston did not approve of Texas joining the Confederacy.

On this date in 1861, Sam Houston was ousted as governor of Texas for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederate States of America.

Texas had seceded from the Union on Feb. 1 to join the Confederacy, despite Houston’s opposition to the act. He said it was illegal, but the Texas legislature followed through with secession.

In 1860, he said: “Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives you may win Southern independence, but I doubt it. The North is determined to preserve this Union.”

In response to being asked to join the Confederacy, Houston said: “Fellow citizens, in the name of your rights and liberties, which I believe have been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of the nationality of Texas, which has been betrayed by the Convention, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of the Constitution of Texas, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of my own conscience and manhood, which this Convention would degrade by dragging me before it, to pander to the malice of my enemies … I refuse to take this oath.”

After Houston was evicted from the governorship, he was replaced by Lieutenant Gov. Edward Clark. Clark served as governor only until Nov. 7, 1861.