Samuel Price Carson, first Secretary of State in the cabinet of David G. Burnet, Provisional President of the Republic of Texas from March to October, 1836, was born January 22, 1798, at Pleasant Gardens, Burke County, North Carolina.
His official connection with the Republic of Texas, though short, justifies a sketch of his life in The Quarterly.
Before coming to Texas he had been a prominent figure in the political history of North Carolina. He represented his district in the State Senate for two consecutive terms and then became a candidate for the United States Congress. His district embraced all of the extreme western or mountainous portion of North Carolina, and since 1817 had been continuously represented in the lower house of Congress by Felix Walker, the originator of the expression “talking for buncombe.” Walker was an old soldier of the Revolutionary War, and, on account of his patriotism, generosity, and hospitality, rather than for his talents, had been elected three successive terms. In the canvass of 1824, he was opposed by Dr. R. B. Vance and James Graham, and, while the canvass was going on, Carson, then only twenty-five years old, entered the field. His youth and his boyish appearance only excited the contempt of his three opponents. Vance and Graham scarcely noticed him, while Walker referred to him as “the boy from Burke who wanted to be a candidate.”
Owing to the advanced age and high standing of Walker, Carson treated him with profound respect on all occasions, referring to him as a patriot who had rendered his country good service and who was entitled to the gratitude of his countrymen. Walker was so won by his magnamity and charmed by his eloquence, that before the canvass was over he withdrew in Carson's favor. The result was the election of Vance.
During the canvass both Vance and Graham ridiculed Walker and ignored Carson, until after Walker's withdrawal, when Vance turned his batteries upon Carson. Among other things he charged Col. John Carson, the father of his opponent, with having been untrue to the cause of the colonies in the Revolutionary War. The old man was present and angrily denounced the charge as false, and would have attacked Vance then and there but for the interference of bystanders. Vance said to him “You are too old, but you have a boy who can fight for your reputation.”
Vance was afterwards called upon to retract and apologize. He refused to do so, repeating the charge in the most taunting manner. The result was a challenge to fight a duel. When the time, place, and terms had been agreed upon, Carson went over into Tennessee and engaged the services of Davy Crockett to drill him in pistol practice, and to pass upon the quality of his weapons. Crockett was present at the duel. It took place just across the State line, at Saluda Gap, South Carolina, in 1827. Vance fell mortally wounded at the first shot, and died at midnight. His last words were “out, brief candle!” He was the father of Zebulon B. Vance, the famous war Governor of North Carolina, and, later, United States Senator from that State.
While public opinion sustained Carson, he ever afterwards profoundly regretted the affair. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held, he was elected to Congress from that district in 1827, again in 1829, and again in 1831. He was regarded as the best impromptu speaker in Congress, and, by his constituents, as the most eloquent speaker that had ever been heard in the mountains.
Up to his last term in Congress he was a trusted friend of Andrew Jackson, and was often his chosen leader in the House when his administration was attacked. He was an ardent advocate of a tariff for revenue only, a strict disciple of Mr. Calhoun, even endorsing and supporting his nullification policy. This, of course, estranged President Jackson, and in the campaign of 1833, he was defeated by his old opponent, James Graham. His health had become seriously impaired and he was unable to canvass his district, where public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of Jackson.
An illustration of his power as a public speaker, even in his enfeebled state of health, is found in the old story of how he captured a crowd at Morganton, called together in 1833 to censure him for his course in adhering to Calhoun and opposing Jackson. A two days' meeting was announced to be held at the Presbyterian church, and on the first day Col. B. S. Gaither, then quite a young man, delivered a well considered speech that was very creditable to the man and the occasion. The program for the next day was a speech by Colonel W., the most eminent lawyer of that day and place, and then the adoption of the resolutions of censure. Colonel W. was not without a weakness known to Carson, as the sequel shows. To the surprise of all, as the bell was ringing the next morning to summon the indignant clans to the meeting, Carson's carriage drove up. He alighted, and, entering the church, walked down the aisle to the pulpit and took his stand immediately in front of the audience. When the crowd had gathered, he arose and appealed in a most beseeching tone to all present to say whether it was fair to convict him of misrepresenting his constituents without giving him a hearing. The crowd then voted in favor of hearing him to speak first, and for Col. W. to reply. While he delivered a most eloquent speech that charmed his audience generally, he had before him a pitcher of brandy toddy. He made a clear presentation of the principle of a tariff for revenue only, showed how a protective tariff violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and boldly and logically showed that a State had the right to nullify unconstitutional legislation. Before opening his argument he poured out a glass of toddy and gave it to Colonel W., with the compliments of the occasion, then drank one himself, and frequently repeated this performance throughout a speech that lasted over two hours. When the time came to reply, Colonel W. was unable to rise from his seat; there was no one else in the audience to take his place, and the meeting broke up without further proceedings.
Carson's health had now become very precarious. After a rest of nearly a year at his country home, finding that his health did not improve, he concluded that a milder climate might restore him. In 1834 he came to Texas, and after some months selected a location on Red River. While he was absent in Texas, his constituents elected him a member of the famous constitutional convention of North Carolina, held in 1835. His service in that body was his last public appearance in his native State.
As Texas was well on the way in her revolution against Mexico, he returned to Texas in 1835, and in March, 1836, was appointed by President Burnet as Secretary of State. He did not serve in this position more than sixty days. During that period the fate of the Republic was hanging in the balance. The Alamo had been taken and its garrison all killed. Fannin and his command surrendered and were put to death, and the entire population of the Republic not under arms was panic-stricken and fleeing to the Sabine. The cabinet left old Washington, the Capitol, and there were ample grounds for believing that the Indians in East Texas, incited by the Mexicans, would rise and massacre the white population left in and near Nacogdoches.
In this emergency President Burnet dispatched Carson to Louisiana to see General Gaines at Fort Jessup, with a view to having the United States move troops to the Sabine to compel the Indians to respect a treaty that had been made, and thus to protect the settlers in that neighborhood. Carson arrived at Natchitoches one week before the battle of San Jacinto, saw General Gaines and succeeded in his mission, and on the 14th of April so notified President Burnet.
His health continued to fail, and as soon as he heard the news of the battle of San Jacinto he resigned his position as Secretary of State, and spent the summer in Tennessee and North Carolina in quest of health. While in these two States he lost no opportunity to urge the annexation of Texas to the United States, and it was through his efforts that the first public meeting held in the United States to advocate annexation was assembled in Burke County, North Carolina, at his old home.
He returned to Texas late in 1836, and continued to travel in search of health. He died at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1840, at the age of forty-two.
How to cite:
Fulmore, Z. T., "SAMUEL PRICE CARSON ", Volume 008, Number 3, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 263 - 266. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v008/n3/article_5.html
[Accessed Tue Dec 2 0:42:45 CST 2008]
