I believe the comment you made was that Sam Houston "died as an outcast because he was against leaving the Union." Yes, Houston refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new Confederacy, and he was removed as Governor. He could not continue his leadership as Governor of the State of Texas after the vote for secession. But the people never saw his as an "outcast." The people had elected him as Governor in 1859 and 2 years later voted for secession in 1861. Sam Houston felt he had failed the People of Texas when they voted for secession because he had worked hard to persuade the United States to admit Texas to the Union but had not been able to prevent secession. His decision to stand against secession was based on his love for Texas and her people and his fear that the strength of the North would lead to devastation and defeat. Even though he supported "states rights" he intellectually knew the sacrifices would be great. Texans understood and respected his position. And putting it in perspective, it was only a short period of time (a generation) from the defeat of General Santa Anna to the establishing of the Republic of Texas (1836). Followed by the giving up of that independence to join a Union (1845) that soon took back the rights that had been granted at Statehood. The people of Texas never doubted his love for his State of his People. If you care to read the following you will see excerpts from his address to the People of Texas. "Texas was a republic from 1836 to 1845, and Houston was elected its first President. He served from 1836 to 1838, and again from 1841 to 1844. A President was not allowed to succeed himself, and so from 1838-1841 Mirabeau B. Lamar was in office. One of Houston's chief objectives was to have Texas admitted to The United States, but this was prevented because of the slavery question. The North did not want another state in which slavery was legal. To keep the United States interested in annexation, Houston courted the favor of both Britain and France. Another of Houston's problems as President was the lack of money and development. Resources and trade in the floundering nation were raw and poorly developed, and revenues to the public treasury were meager. Also, to the south, Mexico continued to threaten the nation with invasion. After Texas was admitted to the Union, Sam Houston served as U.S. Senator for Texas from 1846 to 1859. During this time the United States went to war with Mexico because the annexation of Texas had angered the Mexican government. In 1859, two years before the start of the War Between the States, Houston ran for Governor of Texas on an anti-secession platform, which meant he was opposed to having Texas secede from the Union. However, in 1861, Texas voted to secede anyway. Houston refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new Confederacy, and he was removed as governor. There were rumors that Houston would fight to keep Texas in the Union. Abraham Lincoln wrote him to say that Federal troops could be transported to the Texas coast to support his cause. But he refused Lincoln's offer. [Sam Houston, with a prophetic warning at the time of the secession of Texas from the Union] "Some of you laugh to scorn the idea of bloodshed as the result of secession, but let me tell you what is coming....Your fathers and husbands, your sons and brothers, will be herded at the point of the bayonet.... You may after the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, as a bare possibility, win Southern independence... but I doubt it. I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of state rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction... they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South." Houston then retired to private life to the town of Huntsville, north of modern-day Houston. He kept up with politics and followed the fortunes of his son, Sam, Jr., who fought for the Confederates and was wounded in Tennessee. Sam Houston died in Huntsville in July, 1863, while the Civil War still raged. Margaret, his wife, was at his bedside at the end. His final words were "Texas-Texas!-Margaret-" Let's not let others think that the People of Texas betrayed their loyalty to the man who had lead them to freedom from Mexico and the murderous General Santa Anna by the misuse of your words. Linda in Texas