Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-19
THE TEXAS FRAUD.

be sarcastic upon Gov. DAVIS, OF Texas.
That paper puts the action of the Govern
or in relation to the late election for mem
bers of Congress in Texas as follows: "In
one case, he gave the certificate of election
to the man who got the most votes, but
who was not lawfully elected, as the Gov
ernor thinks. In the other instance, he
gave the necessary document to the man
who got the least votes, but who, he be-
lieves, was legally chosen. Gov. Davis was
in dilemma, evidently, between his desire
to do right and to serve his friends at the
same time" That the reader may the bet
ter understand and appreciate this bit of
sarcasm, we reproduce from the New York
Eoening Post (Radical) the facts in regard
to the election in Texas:
"Gov. Davis, of Texas, apparently
thinks that the slow process Of Republican
government is not adapted TO that State, or
that he was born for more absolute rule
than the Governor of one of the United
States is entitled to. We have before reported
that, although all the Congressional districts
elected the Democratic candidates by large
majorities, Gov. Davis refused to give
the certificates to one or two of them. We
have now received the official canvass of the
Third District, which is made by Governor
Davis and two officers appointed by him.
1t is one of the 6ost remarkable documents
which was ever produced i'll free country.
@This official report gives the vote ofeach
county in detail. The second county in
this district, Rosque, bears this endorse
ment: 'Rejected-no official returns were
received Notwithstanding this endorse
ment, the same paragraph contains state
ment of the vote for Congressman. Now,
all the election inspectors are ap-
pointed by Gov. Davis, and he is
responsible for their acts. How
did he get the report of the vote, if not
through them? The reason for this en-
dorsement may be found in the vote as he
gives it, which shows that Col. d. G. Gid
dings had $50 majority over Mr.. w. T.
Clark, the Governors candidate. BraZos
county was also rejected, because the tickets
were marked with numbers by the Govern
or's inspectors, and because fifty foreigners
registered without legal proof of naturali
cation. Brazos county gave Col. Giddings
So majority. Freestone and Limestone
counties were rejected because Gov. Davis
says acts of vi .lence were committed, and
many persons registered Illegally. Those
counties gave Col. Giddings 1867 majority.
The injustice of throwing out these cOun-
ties is shown by the Governors own action;
he declared martial law there for illegal
lawleSsneSs, and, when rebuked by the
Legislature, revoked the order, and acknowl
edged that he had been misinformed in re-
lation to the acts of violence.
"The Governors logic is Illustrated in his
report upon Washington county. He says
that two polling places were provided there,
and no doubt he is right in rejecting the
votes received at the second one. But he
also alleges that many persons registered
illegally, of whom, says Gov. Davis, nearly
all voted in what was called the white mans
box But he apparently thinks that some
of them voted in the other box, and, there
fore, it would be natural to conclude that
the whole poll should be rejected, as in other
similar cases. Gov. Davis, however, seems
to have changed his mind before he reached
Washington county, for he counts all the
votes, except those in the illegal box. We
cannot resist the conclusion that he draws
this remarkable distinction where there is
no difference, because here his friend, Mr..
Clark, has the handsome majority of 2,425.
sThe report contains another instance of
the Governors remarkable legal logic. He
refuses to count the votes of six hundred
men in Harris county, who, it was reported,
did not vote, but would have voted for his
friend Clark, had they voted at all. The
reason he gives for this magnanInoCs act
will at once convince everybody; it is be-
cause Gshe application to be counted in this
manner must come from the voters them
selves. and this they have not made But
the reported intimidation OF these voters In
Harris county does not prevent the Cover
nor's counting the vote. This Is natural
enough, according to the logic Of the Gov
ernor. because his friend Clark has four
hundred and twelve majority in the county.
"By this ingenious application Of the rule
yulgarly known as sheads, win; tails, you
lose,' Gov. Davis is able to count in his
candidate by majority of nearly one thou
sand. Col Gliding will, OF course, contest
the seat, and the case should receive the
early attention of Congress. If such an
election system as that which Gov. Davis
has invented for Texas is to be tolerated,
there is little hope for peace in the South,
and we may as well abandon all hope of re-
form. 1t is reported that MFR. Edward Dig
ener, the Republican candidate in the fourth
district, when offered his certificate of cleo
ton upon canvass similar to that in the
third district, refused to take it, and thus
generously prevented a further outrage up
ON the right Of election