TEXAS. 



765 



ing to abide said interpretation, the courts of the 

 country are open for a reversal of my decision. 



This so-called law provides for the issuance of ten 

 thousand dollars to the mile, or about sixteen mill- 

 ion dollars, and for the payment of eight per cent, 

 interest and two per cent, sinking fund, for a period 

 of thirty years, which would swell the debt, prin- 

 cipal and interest, to about the sum of twenty-four 

 million dollars. 



The said appropriation, together with an appro- 

 priation of three million dollars to the Southern 

 Pacific Kailroad Company, and three millions to 

 the Southern Transcontinental Railroad Company, 

 with eight per cent, interest and two per cent, sink- 

 ing fund, running through a like period of thirty 

 years, provides lor the creation of an additional 

 debt of say twenty-four million dollars making a 

 grand aggregate of about forty-eight million dol- 

 lars, it is proposed to tax the people of this State for 

 the next thirty years, for the purpose of making an 

 unconditional present to railroad monopolists. 



Some time in the month of May last, George 

 W. Honey, the State Treasurer, disappeared 

 from the State, leaving the Treasury in the 

 hands of a clerk. There were suspicions that 

 he had used the public funds in speculations 

 of his own, and Governor Davis appointed a 

 commission to examine the records and funds, 

 and turn them over to Mr. B. Graham, who 

 was appointed Treasurer. The clerk, "W. 

 Burns, refused to reveal the combinations of 

 the locks of the safes, or surrender any of the 

 papers or moneys, and it was found necessary 

 to take possession of the office by force and 

 break open the safes, an order being first ob- 

 tained from the district court on a present- 

 ment of the facts by a grand-jury. Mr. Gra- 

 ham obtained possession of the Treasury in 

 July. The books, papers, and accounts, were 

 found in great confusion, and, as nearly as 

 could be ascertained, the absconding officer 

 was in default to the amount of $31,171.062- 

 in specie, and $45,977.54 in currency. After- 

 ward, $28,596.13, which had been loaned out 

 by Mr. Honey, was recovered, and there was 

 other evidence that the funds of the State had 

 been used in private speculations. 



The Adjutant-General, James Davidson, re- 

 signed on the 4th of November, and it was 

 shortly after discovered that his accounts were 

 incorrect, and that there had been a defalca- 

 tion in his office amounting to about $80,000. 



There was no election for State officers in 

 Texas this year. The Governor, who was in- 

 stalled on April 28, 1870, holds his office for 

 four years ; but, as the constitution provides 

 that the Governor "shall be elected by the 

 qualified voters of the State, at the time and 

 places at which they shall vote for representa- 

 tives to the Legislature, " and as the represen- 

 tatives were to be chosen in November, 1872 

 and 1874, the question was raised whether it 

 would not be necessary to vote for Governor 

 in 1872. Governor Davis, being consulted on 

 the subject, replied: 



It is my understanding of the tenure of office of 



the Legislature to be elected in November next, that 



it expires on the 2d day of December of the year 



18T3, being two years from the 2d day of December, 



1871, on which last-mentioned day, according to the 



opinion of the Attorney-General, and, I believe, of 

 most lawyers of the State, the Legislature elected in 

 the fall of 1869 expired. It will, then, be the duty 

 of the Legislature to be elected on the 5th day of 

 November, to provide for the election of their suc- 

 cessors in November, 1873, and at the same time 

 of Governor, Lieutenant - Governor, Comptroller, 

 Treasurer, Commissioner of General Land-Office, 

 etc. ; also of sheriffs, district clerks, justices of the 

 peace, and other county officers. * * * 



I must further, on this question, call attention to 

 the circumstance that there is now no law fixing a 

 day for the election of Governor and other State offi- 

 cers, either in November next or at any other time. 

 This was undoubtedly an accidental omission or 

 oversight of the late Legislature, but the new Legis- 

 lature will have ample time to remedy the defect ; 

 and, should they fail to do so (which I will not pre- 

 sume), it will then be soon enough to inquire as to 

 the duty and power of the Governor in the prem- 

 ises. In conclusion, and to relieve all doubt, if any 

 exist, in the public mind on this subject, I will say 

 that no election for Governor and other State or 

 county officers, except to fill vacancies, will be held 

 at the election in November next. 



A Eepublican Convention was held at Hous- 

 ton on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of May, for 

 the nomination of presidential electors and 

 Congressmen at large, and the appointment of 

 delegates to the National Convention of the 

 party. The candidates for Congressmen at 

 large were L. D. Evans and A. B. Horton. 

 The following platform was adopted : 



Whereas, The Kepublican party of the United States 

 is about to appeal once more to the nation for the sup- 

 port of its principles in the coming presidential elec- 

 tion: and 



Whereas, The election in this State in November 

 next will decide whether or not the Democratic ^ arty, 

 with its prejudices against the equal rights of men 

 and against popular education, is to be restored to 

 power in Texas : 



Therefore, the Kepublican s of Texas, in convention 

 assembledj do now make the following declaration 

 of their principles as a party : 



1. We declare our full fellowship with the national 

 Kepublican party of the United States, and our un- 

 qualified devotion to its principles and to its for- 

 tunes. 



2. We declare that the grand and fundamental idea 

 of the political equality of all men, and their equal 

 rights before the law, is peculiarly Republican, and 

 is not professed by any other party in this nation ; 

 that it is the mission of the Republican party to carry 

 this idea into full, practical effect, and therefore the 

 Democratic party cannot safely be intrusted with the 

 powers of government, either national or local. 



3. That there are but two political parties in the 

 nation, the Republican and the Democratic ; that the 

 nomination of Horace Greeley for the presidency of 

 the United States was made in the interest ot the 

 Democratic party, and that the Republicans of Texas 

 will follow no such lead, but will give their firm and 

 zealous support to the nominees of the convention to 

 assemble at Philadelphia on the 5th of June next. 



4. We indorse the Administration of General U. S. 

 Grant as wise, just, and honest ; and we instruct our 

 delegates to the Philadelphia Convention to vote for 

 his renomination for the presidency. 



5. The Republican party in Texas regard the free 

 education of all the children of Texas as a sacred 

 duty, the first and most sacred of all our public du- 

 ties ; and we hereby pledge ourselves to secure, to 

 the children of all, the facilities of free public educa- 

 tion, at the smallest cost possible to the people ; and 

 we will hedge the system of public education with all 

 possible safeguards, endeavoring to secure the most 

 rigid economy and the best administrative experi- 



