In 1860, the Texas population of ALL free people was 604,215 and the slave population was 182,566 (31%). The vote to ratify the Ordinance of Secession passed by roughly the same margin as the votes for/against the Breckinridge ticket, 46,139 to 14,697. Total vote count was 60,836.

Secession was voted down in ten counties in Northern Texas (along the Red River) ten counties in the heavily German populated hill country of Central Texas; and one county in East Texas (Angelina).

In other words, statewide and countywide, there was a correlation between the votes cast in the Presidential election of 1860 and the vote for Secession. Correlation should be placed in italics-----not to read anything into it. Like someone mentioned in AL-MS thread, Breckinridge was running for POTUS, not for Secession.

As for the influence of slave owners, keep in mind that Texas, even in 1860, had a very diverse topography and much of the land was not suitable for farming cotton. And the issues of slavery in the election and the vote for Secession are often overstated. Texas had numerous complaints with the Federal Government, including the bias towards Northern interests unrelated to slavery (e.g. tariffs, federal funds spent on infrastructure). Border security for Indian and Mexican bandit raids was a HUGE concern.

Total Votes 62,855

Numbers/Percentage

Lincoln 0.0

Douglas 18 0

Breckinridge 47,454 75.5 4

Bell 15,383 24.5