New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-02
THE TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION

THE TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION.
We observe that there is an important
question now agitating the people of our
sister State. 1t is relative to the proper
time for holding the general election.
The constitution provides for annual
sessions; that the members of the House
of Representatives shall be chosen by
the ualifed electors for the term of two
years from the day of general election
elections for Senators throughout the
State shall be general, and shall be regu-
lated by law.
The first Legislature was elected in
pursuance of an order of the military
commander. The election was begun on
the first Monday of July, 1869, and. a
strict construction of the constitution
vacates their positions in July, 1871.
The first session was called by the Gov
ernor, and was begun on the twenty-sixth
April, 1870. There had been previous
meeting of the Legislature called by the
commanding general for the purpose of
electing Senators in Congress, but no gen.
eral legislation was had. The Legislature
was considered provisional in its nature,
and it has been held by the jurists of the
State that it was part, and very neces-
sary part of the plan of reconstruction,
and peculiarly charged with the duty of
organizing the machinery of the new State
government. In pursuance of this idea,
the Legislature, in August, enacted gen.
eral election law, which provided that the
first election under it shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November, 1872. This extends the time
to more than two years from the day of
the preceding general election, viz: July,
1859. But there is no difficulty in this
regard about any officers of the State ex-
cept members Of the Legislature (if they
may be considered officers at all, which
many doubt), as the Texas constitution,
like that of our own State, provides for
all officers to hold their offices until
properly relieved by their duly elected
successors. But the point of anxious doubt
lies in the query-can legislative body
perpetuate its own term of existence be-
yond that plainly pointed out by the con-
stitution by postponing the day for elect
ing their successors for more than the
two years? We notice that the Democrats
of Texas, who are out of Office, unan-
imously hold the negative of this propo-
sition, and many of the Republicans
coincide with them. We are inclined
to take the same view, with the modi-
fcation that we do not see any neces-
sity to change the day of the election as
it now stands on the Texas statute books.
The inevitable consequence of falling to
provide for an election will be, in our
Judgment to vacate the positions of the
members of the House, and one-third of
the Senate. A legislative session in 1872
will be impracticable, but no great harm
can come of it, as no penalty whatever
is imposed by the constitution for a
failure at any time to hold an annual ses-
sion. AS no laws will be passed, no
question or dispute can arise concerning
their validity.
There are many reasons for retaining
the present day for the general election.
On that day presidential electors and
of Congress are to be chosen,
md the latter are to be elected every two
years thereafter. Economy, convenience
md nearly every consideration of public
interest obviously require that at the gen.
.ral election, all the officers, State and
ederal, should be elected, thus avoiding
he expense of holding two elections to
accomplish what may be done at one. A
general election in a large and sparsely |
ettled State like Texas is a matter in
'olving serious expense to the taxpayers;
nd further, it is calculated to arouse tur-
,ulent passions and engender strife which |
hould be avoided when it can be done |
Without jeopardy to the public interest.
These reasons no doubt had their due |
influence with the Legislature at the time
he present election law was passed, and |
he time fixed for holding the election.
md the time should not be changed for a |
ight reason. Until, therefore, some
mergency shall arrive greater than the |
esire of the hopeful outs to get into Office |
he people of Texas will probably do well |
o let their present election law remain
Indisturbed