TEXAS. 



731 



accordingly adjourned from tlie 3lst of Au- 

 gust to the first Monday in December. 



The Democratic party in Texas held a con- 

 vention on the 7th of July, and took steps to 

 organize its forces for the presidential cam- 

 paign. Electors were nominated, a platform 

 adopted, and an address to the people was 

 published. The following are the principal 

 resolutions contained in the platform : 



2. That we acquiesce in good faith in the abolish- 

 ment of negro slavery, the repudiation of the war 

 debt of the State, and its abandonment of the doc- 

 trine of secession as a peaceable remedy for State 

 grievances, as results of the war finally settled, and 

 do not propose to disturb or change the result. 



3. That it is our purpose to adhere in good faith to 

 our renewed allegiance to the Constitution and Gov- 

 ernment of the United States, and to cultivate frater- 

 nal good-will with the people of all parts of the 

 country ; and we repel with indignation the charges 

 of disloyalty falsely made against us by the radical 

 party for the purpose of perpetuating military des- 

 potism over us, and as a pretext for the disfranchise- 

 ment of those who do not agree with their political 

 opinions, and to maintain themselves in political 

 power, in disregard of right and of the popular will. 



4. That we earnestly desire the restoration of the 

 Constitution of the United States to its original su- 

 premacy and vigor ? and the faithful enforcement of 

 the Federal laws within their sphere in all the States 

 of the Union ; that we earnestly seek to be restored 

 to all the rights of local self-government; that we 

 earnestly desire the reestablishment of the civil law 

 administration by constitutional courts^ and to see 

 its supremacy established over the military; that 

 we are unalterably opposed to the consolidation of 

 the powers of the Federal Government in the legisla- 

 tive department, or to the encroachment of the legis- 

 lative upon the executive and judicial departments ; 

 that we deplore the unlimited and irresponsible mili- 

 tary despotisms which now exist in the States of the 

 American Union, and we earnestly appeal to the 

 people of the States now represented in Congress, to 

 remove the odious and oppressive tyranny from over 

 us ; that we declare the practical operation and usual 

 effect of. the Freedmen's Bureau e&tablished amongst 

 us, is to cultivate and stimulate discontent, with both 

 the white and black races, and calculated to promote 

 differences of opinion and contests between the races, 

 which may prove more disastrous to both, and highly 

 injurious to the whole country. That we declare it 

 to be our deliberate conviction that there exists no 

 necessity for continuing the disfranchisement of any 

 portion of the white people of the Southern States, 

 and that the continued disfranchisement of the large 

 number of intelligent classes now deprived of politi- 

 cal rights, while the rights of suffrage and the hold- 

 ing of office are conferred upon all the negroes, must, 

 in the nature of things, endanger the stability of 

 government, the peace and security of society, and 

 prove destructive to good order and happiness 

 amongst us. That we entertain no feelings of ill- 

 will or hostility to the negro race amongst us, and 

 that we desire to see them protected by the laws of 

 the State in all their rights of person and of property, 

 and will do whatever we can to promote their im- 

 provement in knowledge and virtue, this being alike 

 necessary for the general welfare, and for the happi- 

 ness of both races. 



5. That we adhere to the constitutional doctrine 

 that the power to regulate the question of suffrage 

 in the States, rests exclusively with the States them- 

 selves, and we therefore deny that Congress has any 

 constitutional power whatever to enact laws on that 

 subject. 



The Republicans also held a convention, but 

 carrying their disagreement on the ab initio 



question into this body, they divided into two 

 factions, and finally adjourned without making 

 any nominations. 



The Democratic State Central Committee 

 published a circular under date September 28th, 

 in which it was claimed that the laws provided 

 for the holding of an election for presidential 

 electors in every State, and that there was 

 nothing to prevent the people of Texas from 

 exercising the right. As no provision had 

 been made by the State authorities for the 

 regular holding of such election, the people 

 were " advised and earnestly recommended to 

 assemble peaceably at their usual voting-places, 

 appoint a presiding officer, and proceed to cast 

 their votes for electors of President and Yice- 

 President." It was " particularly and urgently 

 advised that, in organizing the polls, casting 

 the votes, and in making returns, the law be 

 strictly complied with." This circular was 

 submitted to General Reynolds, with a letter re- 

 questing him to order the election, and suggest- 

 ing, " in the event that the general commanding 

 should doubt his power, and decline to order 

 the election," that "the laws of the State of 

 Texas as now in force are broad enough to au- 

 thorize the people of the State to assemble at 

 their usual voting-places and appoint the ne- 

 cessary officers to conduct the election." In 

 reply, General Reynolds transmitted to the 

 chairman of the committee the following ex- 

 tract from Special Orders, No. 44 : 



Special Orders, No. 44. 



HD'QRS FIFTH MILITARY DIS'T, STATE OF TEXAS, \ 

 AUSTIN, TEXAS, September 29, 1868. ) 

 [Extract.] 



IV. The following Act of Congress, passed the 

 20th of July, 1868, is published for the information 

 and guidance of all concerned : 

 Joint Resolution excluding from the Electoral College 



votes of the States lately in Rebellion which shall not 



have been reorganized. 



Eesolved, etc., That none of the States, whose inhabi- 

 tants were lately in rebellion, shall be entitled to repre- 

 sentation in the electoral college for the choice of Presi- 

 dent or Vice-President of the United States, nor shall 

 any electoral votes be received or counted from any of 

 such States, unless, at the time prescribed by law for the 

 choice of electors, the people of such State, pursuant to 

 the Acts of Congress in that behalf, shall have, since the 

 4th day of March, 1867, adopted a constitution of State 

 government, under which a State government shall have 

 been organized, and shall be in operation ; nor unless 

 such election of electors shall have been held under the 

 authority of such constitution and government, and such 

 State shall have also become entitled to representation in 

 Congress, pursuant to the Acts of Congress in that be- 

 half: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be 

 construed to apply to any State which was represented 

 in Congress on the 4th day of March, 1867. 



No election for electors of President and Vice- 

 President of the United States will be held in the 

 State of Texas, on the third of November next. Any 

 assemblages, proceedings, or acts for such purpose 

 are hereby prohibited, and all citizens are admon- 

 ished to remain at home, or attend to their ordinary 

 business on that day. * 



By command of 



Brevet Major-General J. J. EEYNOLDS. 



The State of Texas accordingly took no part 

 in the presidential election of 1868. 



The Constitutional Convention reassembled 

 early in December, and spent upward of two 



