The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-30
TEXAS.


The election in this State begins to-day ana
by an order issued by General Sherman on Septem-
Der 49, extends through four days. closing therefore
on the 4th OF December
The Presidents Proclamation
ordering the election to be held was issued on the
18th OF July last, and reads as follows:--
By the President cfthe United States Of An,ertca;-
A PROCLAMATION.
In pursuance OF the provisions OF the act OF Con-
gress approved d. April i8 1869, ! hereby designate
for submitting the Constitution adopted by the Con-
venton which met in AUSTIN Texas, on the 10Th day
date Of such submission, viz. -
direct the vote to be taken upon the said Consti
favoring the ratification of the Constitution as
adopted by the Convention of the 10Th of June 1868,
shall express his judgment by voting "For the Con-
stitution" Each voter favorng the rejection Of the
Constitution shall express his Judgment by voting
against the Constitution
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to be
Done at the City Of washington, this fifteenth day
of July, in the year Of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sXty-nne, and OF the Independence
Z. s. GRANT.
BY the President a--.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary OF State.
An Embarrassing Side Issue.
Although the great majority of the people Of the
State appear disposed to accept the proposed cons
tution there is an embarrassing side issue which
may endanger its ratification. In connection with
the constitution, vote is to be taken upon several
ordinances adopted by the Austin Convention. Some
OF these appropriate large amounts Of the public
domain and State bonds to public corporations, and
others exempt such bodies, to greater or less ex-
tent from the burdens Of taxation directly or ind
recty. 1t is claimed that the ratification of the con-
stuton will carry with it the approval of these ordi-
nances, against which there is arrayed strong OPP
position throughout the State.
The Three Parties.
In Texas, as well as in Mississippi an election for
State officers, members Of the Legislature, and Rep
resentatives in Congress- will be held at the same
time that the Constitution is voted upon, that,
with the ratification Of the Constitution everything
will be in readiness for the restoration OF the State
and the termination Of military rule.
The convention which placed the radical or regu-
lar Republican ticket, headed by General E. j. Davis
for Governor, in the ield assembled at Houston on
the 7th Of June last, having previously held ses-
sion commencing on May 10, at Galveston, at which
nothing Of Importance was transacted, and remained
in session three days. In the platform adopted by
this convention the main principles of the Republi-
can party were endorsed, and the adoption OF the
new constitution recommended. resolution re-
commencing the enfranChsement of all the whites
was objected to by prominent member, who moved
its reecton but this motion was lost, and the reso
luton was adopted. resolution approving the &C
ton of General Reynolds in bringing the Jefferson
prisoners to trial was also adopted.
In letter dated September A. 1869, and addressed
to President Grant by General Reynolds the military
commander of the district, is given the following
account of the origin and progress OF the breach in
the loyal ranks OF the State, which resulted in the
formation, subsequent to the Davis Convention of
| the conservative ticket
"You will remember that about the 4th of March
last there present In Washington two delega-
tions of Texans both claiming to be representatives
| OF the Republican party of Texas. One OF these
delegations, headed by General E. j. Davis was ap-
pointed by the Constitutional Conventions the other
delegation, headed by General A. j. Hamilton, was
| self-appoiDted.
"Pursuing the policy which had decided upon in
S S 1pS6 may IN al
| OF Republicans, declined to permit myself to be
dented specifically with either faction but flankly
| men of both factions who, was satisfied, would
make good officers. The Federal appointments were
| pretty evenly divided between the two factions,
much to my qualification, as still hoped to see har
mony brought about
| Washington, that the conservative Republicans "a.
j. Hamilton wing) had entered into coalition with
ton for Governor, and in turn to be permitted bS
him, if elected, to exert their influence With the new
| State Government l then offered 20 denOunce this
coalition to you on the production of satisfactory
evidence that 1t existed evidence was not pro-
"At this last convention"-the one held in Austin,
/ June 7-9-"E. j. Davis was nominated for Governor.
A. j. Hamilton, Pease, Bell, Haynes, Langley. and
many other conservative Republicans were in Hous-
ton at this time, but took no part in the proceedings
OF the convention; ! am assured by parties in whom
convention by the radicals and rejected by the con-
servatives.
| "a ticket. with A. j. Hamilton for Governor and
| Il. j. Hamilton for Lieutenant Governor, might have
| been nominated then and there and would have
produced harmony in the Republican party, but fol
the persistent opposition of the A. j. Hamilton (con
servative) faction. This convention might have
been larger, another one held, but for The same
opposition, and to-day the only organized Repub
lican party in Texas Is that headed by e. j. Davis
The conservative faction have opposed all organized
concert OF action in the Republican party 1t is be-
eved that the reason for this action Is found in the
fact that although the Democrats viii not openly
affiliate with the conservative Republicans, many
Democratic papers advocate the election or A. j.
Hamilton, for Governor Some of them place his
name at the head of their papers, others do not an
nounce his name, but support him.
''The circumstances all considered, | am con
strained to believe that the coalition which has beeI
charged as existing between the conservative or A
j. Hamilton Republicans, and the Democrats gene
rally eX-Rebels) does actually exist The platforms
OF the two wings of the Republican party are pre-
cisely the The radical wing act out their pro
fessions OF adherence to the reconstruction laws o
Congress and present for otfice men who are quail
He'd under these laws. The conservative wing fre
be disqualified under the reconstruction laws, bu
who are also known to be acceptable to the Demo
Gratis"
But, since there was no issue OF principle involves
ostensiby in the conflict between the radicals an
conservatives, the old-fashioned ire-eating an(
negro-shooting Democracy were not content will
their chances of restoration to power, although q
General Reynolds said in the concluding paragraph
of his letter to the President quoted above:-
'0The success OF the A. j. Hamilton faction, as
| would be produced by Democratic votes, Will be tn
defeat OF Republicanism in Texas, and will put tn
State in the hands OF the very men who during tn
entire period OF the Rebellion eXerted every nerv
to destroy the Union, and who have uniforml
opposed the reconstruction laws with persStenc
worthy OF a better cause
The out-and-out secession Democracy therefor
| held convention Of their own at Brenbom on tn
10th of September, made up exclusively Of editor
n wh a Waq