Hardin Richard Runnels

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Hardin Richard Runnels (August 30, 1820 – December 25, 1873) was an American politician. He served as the sixth governor of Texas for one term but notably was the only person to ever defeat Sam Houston in a political contest. Houston, however, would defeat him two years later.

Early life

Runnels was born to Martha "Patsy" Burch (Darden) and Hardin D. Runnels on August 30, 1820 in Mississippi.<ref name="Harper">Template:Cite web</ref> His father died in 1842, and his mother moved the family to Texas the same year.<ref name="Hendrickson 70">Template:Cite book</ref><ref group="Note">Some sources indicate Runnels moved to Texas in 1841.</ref> There Runnels established a cotton plantation in Bowie County along the Red River.<ref name="White">Template:Cite book</ref>

Elected to represent Bowie County in the Texas House of Representatives in 1847, Runnels remained a member of the state legislature through 1854.<ref name="Hendrickson 70"/> During his final session, he was speaker of the Texas House.<ref name="White"/> Runnels was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1855, serving in this capacity during Governor Elisha M. Pease's second term.<ref name="Harper"/><ref name="White"/> During his time in the legislature and as Lieutenant Governor, he gained a reputation as a loyal member of the Democratic Party and an advocate for states' rights.<ref name="Harper"/>

When the Democratic Party held its first convention in Texas in May 1857, Runnels attended as a delegate.<ref name="Harper"/><ref name="Hendrickson 70"/> Sam Houston had upset many voters with his pro-Union position, association with the Know Nothings during 1855, and his vote against the Kansas–Nebraska Act.<ref name="Hendrickson 70"/> As a result, party leaders blocked Houston's nomination for governor, and Runnels was selected instead.<ref name="Harper"/> Houston, sensing he was unlikely to be reappointed to the U.S. Senate, announced he was running for governor as an independent on May 12, 1857. While states' rights were the primary issue, the resulting campaign quickly became a contest of personalities.<ref name="Hendrickson 70"/> Voter anger over Houston's recent political positions continued until election day, and Runnels became the only person to defeat Houston in an election by a vote of 38,552 to 23,628.<ref name="Harper"/>

Governor of Texas

During Runnels' administration, primary concerns were the slavery issue and safety of settlers in the western frontier.<ref name="Hendrickson 70" /> On the slavery issue he signed a bill into law allowing a free Negro to return to slavery by selecting a new master. In addition, he supported reopening the slave trade (banned at the time) and attempted to force the state legislature to go on record supporting its reestablishment.<ref name="Harper" /> In more general support of southern issues, Runnels repeatedly stated Texas might secede if needed.<ref name="Harper" />

On the issue of frontier security, the governor commissioned Colonel John "Rip" Ford as senior captain of the Texas Rangers on January 27, 1858. Ford led the Antelope Hills expedition into the Comancheria, winning the Battle of Antelope Hills in May. Later in the year, the Rangers fought an inconclusive battle in the Rio Grande Valley against Mexican bandit Juan Cortina. Despite these efforts, the Rangers failed to secure peace on the frontier.<ref name="Hendrickson 70" />

Runnels advocated for reductions in the level of support the state provided railroad companies, arguing that the railroads had been slow in fulfilling their contractual obligations.<ref name="White" />

The Democratic party renominated Runnels for governor during the election of 1859, with Houston again running against him.<ref name="Harper" /> Runnels, however, received most of the blame for continuing frontier depredations, while Houston had regained his popularity. As a result, Runnels was defeated by Houston by a vote of 33,375 to 27,500.<ref name="Hendrickson 71">Hendrickson, p. 71</ref>

Later life

After leaving office, Runnels returned to his home and never again ran for elected office.<ref name="Hendrickson 71" /> He remained active in politics, serving as a member of both the 1861 Secession Convention and the 1866 Constitutional convention.<ref name="White" /> Runnels died on December 25, 1873, and was buried in a family plot in Bowie County. His remains were re-interred in a state cemetery in Austin in 1929.<ref name="Hendrickson 71" />

Runnels was a slaveholder. In 1860, his net worth was reported at $85,000, and he owned 39 slaves.<ref name="Harper"/>

References

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