New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-01
TEXAS.
THE RIVAL CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.
LERnM Az ncc sInNLI con nRspnNnEN.r


GALVESTON, June l6-The last letter gave you the
names of the candidates of the two wings of the Re
publican party in Texas This will introduce to you
the candidate of the alb init0 Division wing for Gov
emor.
Edmund ]. Davis was born in Florida in 1927 or
1923. There he received a common English educa-
ton. While still youth his family removed to this
city, and he commenced clerkng in the Post-0fice.
He studied law, and when quite young be to the
bar. He removed to the Rio GTande country, and
shortly afterward was elected District Attorney,
which position he held several years. About 1856 he
was elected Judge of his district. He married the
daughter of Col Forbes Btton who for many
prominent politician Of Texas, and the leading State
Senator from the Rio Grande country In 1889, when
Gen. Houston defeated tile Democratic nominee, Gov H.
Runnels, for Governor Col BrittOn for the pom
nee, and Judge Davis was a warm supporter of "od
Sam" In 1851 Gen. Davis for seat III the Coryen-
ton that declared Texas out of the Union He was de-
feated by Dr. Luckett whom he aferward faced at the
head OF hostile regiment His enemies have charged
that when he for the Convention he occupied high
Southern ground, and only changed while smartng under
defeat f. j. Davis has been very decided II not 0Dstlh
ate man AL MS me- ana that alone throws the sha0" Oh
mprOmblity on the charge In the Winter OF 1861 and
1862 finding unpleasant for so prominent Unonst To
remain in the late socaled Coniederaey, Judge Davis
withdrew to the Mexican side Of the Rio Grande lie
had refused qualify and hold office under the ReoeQn
In the Summer of 1867, in company with Col John H.
Haynes and William Alexander, esq, Judge Davis
Butler. and sent to Washington City That Fall. both
Davis and Haynes were authorized to recruit Union reg
mens They both recruited from the Texas Union relu'
gees who had commenced TO make their appearance III
New Orleans. Col Davis's regiment was the most
rapidly recruited He appointed William ID. Price tine
nominee for Treasurer on his tekeD his AdJutant ana
continued him on his staff while commanding brigade
The Texans established reputation as good scouts
sometimes they were commanded by DAVIS ana at otheTs
by stensL Col Davis was not popular man In ms
regiment He strict discpnarian, and the frontier
boys were not used 10 discipline.
Added this, rivalry manifested itself between
Lieutenant &
men, and not few OF the officers, were In favor OF stem
vnced them that discipline necessary, particularly
while under fire, and he became better liked.
me eeng OF the men Sss % sgrse @ Dar but
II any one else does. there will be fight on hand
the Uaion forces In Galveston IL was garrisoned by
portion OF Massachusetts regiment, supported by the
ordered Col Davis and regiment to Galveston.
On the LIST OF January. the Rebel Gen. Magruder cap
tured the Union troops In Galveston, and the Harriet
Lane aud couple Of supply brgs. The fleet fled after
the Commodore had been blown up In the steamer West
When the transport with Daviss regiment to the
bar, Magruher sent Capt Paine 10 pilot them In. Paine
told the transport TO follow the pilot boat He
dered 10 go aboard the steamer As he did he
recognized; cry Sent mp, Hang him he Is Rebel
spy :" Some Of the men commenced TO prepare rope.
Pine Was Threatening retaliation by Magruder when
Davis advanced 10 him. aud told the men to stand back
treated that he would De taken to Now Orleans prs
Oner and closed his remarks by saying when you catch
us nennpg Union Texansl yon treat us like Dogs when
we catch you, treat yOulke men, Not knowing that
the Lane was disabled thought prudent to leave
the so ms 10 puzzle the COnederates All
put on, and kept until the transport arrived in
sight OF the Federal fleet at the mouth OF the mississippi
All supposed that the swift Harriet would soon be IN
! their wake.
In the Spring OF 1863. Col Davis, in company with
| William Montgomery, ut the mouth OF the Rio
Grande on the Mexican side gomery had authority
To recruit a company OF Union Texans one night they
were surpsed and captured by party COnfoderates,
and Days and brought the Texas side OF
had drawer ranger than Montgomery lie had been on
| herr tier
have since said "Our boys hanged Bill Montgomery but
they could not make HIM Ed Davis scared" IL is said
NH that saved Davis was his wifcs being Bagdad with
him when captured. She reared In the Rio Grande
| country and had many acquaintance among the Rebel
officers The Mexican Government demanded Col Davis
He was returned. with Gen Bees assurance that the
nroceedlnc was not sanctioned at his Headquarters
In September, Is63 Col Davis was In the expedition
against sabine Texas when fortyhye Irish Rebel gun
turned beck Frankn's corps after capturing two
guuboats Franklin landed the west coast OF louisiana
aud Col Davis led the cavalry toward OpeI3nshs' oeihs
| generally successful in the skirInshes While but
| Colonel Davis frequently commanded several regi
I'm the Fall Of $685. expedition under Gen Banks sud
denly ON the coast of West Texas Davis
among lie rst 10 land lie and Col Dudley, of the LIST
! Maine landed at 1.-THE Boca." The surf was heavy
Tbry lost some men In it aud wet their ammunition; II
the Courederates had opposed thom, they would have
Jared badly. During the occupation Of BROWNSVILLE Col
| Davis recruited his regiment
Gen Banks left Heron with small army In Western
Teas and undertook his disastrous Red River campaign
After being repulsed at Mansfield and Pleasant HILL and
commencing his retreat he ordered Col. Davis 10 JON
him Davis was placed in command OF n cavalry force
yLep The Army Of the Gulf" turned the pursuing
Cgufederates under Wharton, and defeated them at lei
! - p,ynu A l. Smith commanded the force engaged
and Davis the cavalry. Col Davis was compimenedfoI
his mart I'm the battle. When the Federal army camped
Us Nnyganza Davis commanded large cavalry force
e was In the expedition OF Gen. Davidson against the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad in the Fan oi Iooa IL Was un
| In is6t the two Texan regiments were consolidated
Davis became Colonel Haynes LieutehhntC Colonel anu
Lent Coils Stensl aud PaSchal. and good number OF
rnupnny officer. wont out IL noticed that most OF
The stes party IN the first were among the nlI0ftu'
mates Ills adutaut Price, had passed aud was TO have
| ham ned uH "A
aftcrward DAVIS Wa promoted TO BIlEausI
I'm 1900 when Gov Hamilton called the Reconstruction
Convention Cen Davis beat his old opponent Co Luck
EFT for a la It. His military record made MN Proni'
| neut lie was distinguished rs being ohe OF the Two
speakers who favored Negro Suffrage: lie voted Tor
proposition looking 10 the division OF te elat9 M "a"
election following Gen. Davis was defeated by Con-
federae Captain for the state Senate lie was IN Tue
Southern Loyalist Convention at philadelphia, IN com
many with Jack Hamilton" Bell. Pease, Paschal' C@ld
we'll aud Sensil, with whom he has been having A'oy
Cen Grimm. at the organization of the Provisional
Government appointed Cen Davis one Oh que and
| GOV. Hamilton given the vacancy -.,.
Gen Davis chosen memDer OF the ihte COnsulu,
tona Convention: lac was elected us fIesldehI nI9 ou
officers warmly eoctOneered for HIM. ana expressed the
made record them IL Is remarkable that al O ms on
field officers who live IN Texas, Win large NUMBER VI
company officers, are now suppoImf h h
he alb nito party and he carried other Republicans on
account his military record; among otntTs' Juuso
Lindsey an antab nitio leader voted for nm against
his associate on the bench, Colbert e. Caldwell CaIuWei
very evenly divided inc hepu9oSIn ,T heasa 1ad
majority Of the Democrats voted Tor DAVIS because Ia
well had been the active leading Republican IN the East
Cen Davis warmly espOused alb inltio ana contehdSu
tbnt nu Iars passed 1861 were null ana Vod lie
was defeated In the Constitutional Convention. Last
August me introduced set Of resolutions IN the Repuol-
CO., T,n veniinn avowing alb iuitio as they being
voted down when with small minority, lie lef ana SET
M an organization with that theory. ,,- -,
president Davis the leader OF the DIVISION party
In tbe summer he was defeated. In the Winter WITH
small majority OF the mombers present, he attempted 10
cr"yd n tbronVh But Jack Hamilton Landry, Thomas
and Mccormick handled the minority 80 skllnly that
they lied the Convention. Finally Cen Davis took the
bt In mia mouth and by entertaining mOuOh 10 eAPTi
an absent member while the Convention was nhuer eau
from the house another question: succeeded III passing
asoItnn that Texas nrge and ought 10 Dc Ill
- Washington 70 urge