The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-27

satisfied, would make good officers. The Federal
appointments were pretty evenly divided be-
tween the two factions, much to my gratiica-
tion, as / still hoped to see harmony brought
about.
The radicals e. j. DAVIS wing) charged,
while in Washington that the conservative Re-
publicans "a. j. Hamilton wing) had entered
into coalition with the Democrats of the state
to support A. j. Hamilton for Governor, and in
turn TO be permitted by him. If elected, to exert
their influence with the new State Government.
/ then offered to denounce this coalition to you
on the production of satisfactory evidence that
it existed. The evidence was not produced. L
said nothing on the subject, returned to Texas,
and have endeavored to keep myself well in
formed on all questions of public interest, and
especially those affecting the reconstruction of
the State
travelled from New Orleans to Galveston
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, urged upon Judge Bell that all
Republicans should attend the convention that
had been called by the ardcals to meet at
Galveston on the 10th of May, and there to
harmonic, bring out their candidates. and ce-
ment the party In the State He emphatcally
opposed such action. The same course of con-
duct was pursued by y. 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 busi-
ness, adjourned to meet in Houston on the 7th
of June.
At this last convention f. j. Davis was nomi-
mated for Governor. A. j. Hamilton, PeaSe,
Bell, Haynes, Langley, and many other con-
servative Republicans, were in Houston at this
time, but took no part in the proceedings of
the convention. am assured by parties in
whom / place reliance that overtures were
made at this convention by the radicals and re-
jected by the conservatives
A ticket with A. j. Hamilton for Governor and
f. j. Davis for Lieutenant-Goyernorm might have
been nominated then and there, and would have
produced harmony in the Republican party, but
for the persistent opposition of the A. j. Hamil-
ton conservative faction.
This convention might have been larger, or
another one held but for the same opposi-
tion, and to-day the only organized Repub-
ican party in Texas Is that headed by E. j.
Davis
The conservative action have opposed all or
ganiZed concert of action in the Republican
party. 1t is believed that the reason for this
action is found in the fact that although the De-
mocrats will not openly affiliate with the con-
servative Republicans, many Democratic papers
advocate the election of A. j. Hamilton for Gov
ernor. 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,
especially when in Washington, to stand on the
Reconstruction laws of Congress, nevertheless
come right to Texas, and in their district con-
ventions nominate men to office who cannot
qualify according to these very laws (EXam-
piles are StTibling, of San Antonio for Congress,
| and Mcfarland, of Austin, for State Senate)
They denounce such men as General William
| L. Clarke, who was nominated for Congress by
| a convention, but not of A. j. Hamilton men.
No fault has been found with such men as
William L. Clarke, whose military and civil re-
| cords are 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
scalawags. ..t
| The circumstances all considered, am con-
strained to believe that the coalition which has
been charged existing between the Conserva-
| tive or A. j. Hamilton Republicans and the De-
mocrats generally ex-Rebels) does actually
exist
The platforms of the two wings of the Repub-
liean party are precisely the same. The radi-
cal wing act out their professions of adherence
to the Reconstruction laws of Congress, and pre-
sent 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, ex-
| erted every nerve to destroy the Union, and who
| have uniformly opposed the Reconstruction laws
| with 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.