TEXAS. 



675 



You will remember that about the 4th of March 

 last there were present in Washington two delega- 

 tions of Texans, Doth claiming to be representatives 

 of the Kepublican party of Texas. One of these 

 delegations, headed by General E. J. Davis, was 

 appointed by the Constitutional Convention} the 

 other delegation, headed by General A. J. Hamilton, 

 was self-appointed. 



Pursuing the policy which I had decided upon in 

 October, 1867, upon my arrival in Austin, of always 

 endeavoring to produce harmony among all classes 

 of Republicans, 1 declined to permit myself to be 

 identified specifically with either faction, but frankly 

 told their leaders (E. J. Davis and'A. J. Hamilton) 

 that I would recommend for office men of both fac- 

 tions, who, I was satisfied, would make good officers. 



The Federal appointments were pretty evenly di- 

 the two factions, much to my gratifica- 



vided between tl 



tion, as I still hoped to see harmony brought about. 



The Radicals (E. J. Davis wing) charged, while in 

 "Washington, that the Conservative Republicans (A. 

 J. Hamilton wing) had entered into a coalition with 

 the Democrats of the State to support A. J. Hamil- 

 ton for Governor, and in turn to be permitted by 

 him, if elected, to exert their influence with the new 

 State government. I then offered to denounce this 

 coalition to you on the production of satisfactory evi- 

 dence that it existed. The evidence was not pro- 

 duced. I said nothing on the subject, returned to 

 Texas, and I have endeavored to keep myself well 

 informed on all questions of public interest, and 

 especially those affecting the reconstruction of the 

 State. 



I travelled from New_ Orleans to Galvestion with 

 Judge J. H. Bell, who is one of the leading men in 

 the A. J. Hamilton faction. He is an ex-Confederate 

 judge. In conversation about Texas politics, I urged 

 upon Judge Bell that all Republicans should attend 

 the convention that had been called by the Radicals 

 to meet at Galveston on the 10th of May, and there 

 to harmonize, bring out their candidates, and cement 

 the party in the State. He emphatically opposed 

 such action. The same course of conduct was pur- 

 sued by A. J. Hamilton, Governor Pease, Colonel 

 Haynes, and all the leading men of that wing. 



The convention met in Galveston on the 10th of 

 May, and, without transacting much business, ad- 

 journed to meet in Houston on the 7th of June. 



At this last convention, E. J. Davis was nomi- 

 nated for Governor. A. J. Hamilton, Pease, Bell, 

 Haynes, Langley, and many other Conservative Re- 

 publicans, were in Houston at this time, but took no 

 part in the proceedings of the convention. I am 

 assured by parties in whom I place reliance, that 

 overtures were made at this convention by the Radi- 

 cals, and rejected by the Conservatives. 



A ticket, with A. J. Hamilton for Governor and 

 E. J. Davis for Lieutenant-Go vernor, might have 

 been nominated then and there, and would have pro- 

 duced harmony in the Republican party, but for the 

 persistent opposition of the A. J. Hamilton (Con- 

 servative) faction. 



This convention might have been larger, or another 

 one held, but for the same opposition, and to-day 

 the only organized Republican party in Texas is that 

 headed by E. J. Davis. 



The Conservative faction have opposed all organ- 

 ized concert of action in the Republican party. It is 

 believed that the reason for this action is Kmnd in 

 the fact that, although the Democrats will not 

 openly affiliate with the Conservative Republicans, 

 many Democratic papers advocate the election of 

 A. J. Hamilton for Governor. Some of them place 

 his name at the head of their papers, others do not 

 announce his name, but support him. 



The Conservative Republicans who pretend, espe- 

 cially when in Washington, to stand on the recon- 

 struction laws of Congress, nevertheless come right 

 to Texas, and, in their district conventions, nomi- 

 nate men for office who cannot qualify according to 



these very laws. (Examples are Stribling, of San 

 Antonio, for Congress, and McFarland, of Austin, 

 for the State Senate.) 



They denounce such men as General William T. 

 Clarke, who was nominated to Congress by a conven- 

 tion, but not by A. J. Hamilton men. 



No fault can be found with such men as William 

 T. Clarke, whose military and civil record is without 

 blemish. No reason can be given for any Republican 

 to oppose such men as Clarke, unless, to be sure, 

 they are included in the class that A. J. Hamilton 

 has denounced from the stump and called carpet- 

 baggers and scallawags. 



The circumstances all considered, I am constrained 

 to believe that the coalition which has been charged 

 as existing between the Conservative, or A. J. Ham- 

 ilton Republicans, and the Democrats (generally ex- 

 rebels), does actually exist. 



The platforms of the two wings of the Republican 

 party are precisely the same. The Radical wing act 

 out their professions of adherence to the reconstruc- 

 tion laws of Congress, and present for office men 

 who are qualified under these laws. 



The Conservative wing frequently nominate men 

 for office who are known to be disqualified under the 

 reconstruction laws, but who are also known to be 

 acceptable to the Democrats. 



The success of the A. J. Hamilton faction, as it 

 will be produced by Democratic votes, will be the 

 defeat of Republicanism in Texas, and will put the 

 State in the hands of the very men who, during the 

 entire period of the rebellion, exerted every nerve to 

 destroy the Union, and who have uniformly opposed 

 the reconstruction laws with a persistency worthy 

 of a better cause. 



This letter is already too long. Use it as you please. 

 Believe me, very truly yours, 



J. J. REYNOLDS, 

 Brevet Major-General, U. S. A. 



On publication, this letter was charged with, 

 partiality and untruth by both Democrats and 

 Republicans. The Democrats disclaimed all 

 intention to favor the election of such as could 

 not take the test-oath, or were for any reason 

 disqualified according to the requirements of 

 the reconstruction law; they also disclaimed 

 their connection with Republicans of any sort, 

 though they would support those among their 

 adversaries who cherished sentiments of mod- 

 eration and impartiality, to all. Nor was a 

 large portion of the Republican party better 

 satisfied with General Reynolds's letter. In 

 consequence of the representations made by 

 him to the President, that " the only organized 

 Republican party in Texas was that headed by 

 E. J. Davis, 1 ' and of his belief that the A. J. 

 Hamilton Republicans had actually entered 

 into a coalition with the Democrats, and that 

 their success " would be the defeat of Repub- 

 licanism in Texas, and put the State into the 

 hands of the very men who, during the entire 

 period of secession, exerted every nerve to 

 destroy the Union," the Administration at 

 Washington seems to have entered into a sys- 

 tem of removing from Federal offices the sup- 

 porters of A. J. Hamilton, and filling them 

 with favorers of E. J. Davis. This was gen- 

 erally complained of, as depriving the people 

 of the freedom of suffrage, and forcing them 

 to vote at dictation. On this account, and to 

 clear himself of all suspicion of being an 

 accomplice in this seeming persecution of Re- 



