The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-19
The New York Post on the Carpet
Bagxers I'm Texas.

the people of Virginia hot to put them
selves in that position. The story OF
Texas we gave, the other day, from the
New York Nation, q Republican author
ity. And now We give it from another
able and well informed Republican
Journal, the New York Evening Post.
How can any one read this narrative,
and hesitate what to think about the
rule OF the carpet-baggers and the ne
groes in the South? The Post rectes
the first election in Texas under the
Reconstruction acts, and proceeds:
The acts Of the Legislature, under the
dictation of Governor Davis, have been
simply atrocious. 1t first extended its
own term OF Office by declaring that the
first annual session OF the Legislature
should be held in January, 1871, more
than a year after its election, and near
ly year after it actually held it9 first
session. Governor Davis and his friends
then demanded extraordinary powers,
under various pretexts. The Legisla-
ture was singularly obedient. 1t estab-
lished regular" State police Of two
hundred and fifty-eight men, TO he ap-
pointed by the Governor, at a cost Of
nearly three thousand dollars per year.
1t also gave the Governor discretionary
power to call into service two thousand
six hundred special policemen, at three
dollars per day each, and this number
were actually acting under his order
during the late canvass. A State militia
was also established, the entire organl-
cation of which is in the Governor :
hands.
With all this force at his command
the main object of the Governor was to
make it useful to himself and his
friends. The election laws which Gov
ernor Davis Legislature made are mod
G, of arbitrary rules. The polling
places can only be opened at county
towns, and many voters must travel
forty miles TO register and again to
vote; all the registrars are appointed
by the Governor revising board is
also appointed in each county to correct
the lists. These men make the returns
Of the ballots at the election; they are
required to report all disturbances to the
Governor, and if any persons are kapt
from veting by such disturbances they
are to report how they would probably
have voted. The Governor has the
power to declare martial law at his own
discretion in any county. And finally,
the Governor and two officers OF his
own appointment are the board OF can
vassers for the whole State, and have
the right to throw out the vote Of any
district TOR any supposed irregularity.
Some weeks before the late election
Governor Davis issued a proclamation
assuming command of the State militia,
the police, the county sheriIs, and all
officers known to the law. These Off
GERS were directed to arrest all persons
in the neighborhood of the registration
or polling places who shouted or Jeered
at voters, or held meetings at the coun'
ty seats when the registry OF the cleo
ton was in progress. II a man re-
mained near the polls beyond reason
able time to cast his vote he could be
imprisoned by the State police.
In other affairs the acts OF the Gov.
ernor and the Legislature have been no
less Objectionable The Governor has
the appointment of nearly all the Off
GERS in the State, from judges to district
school teachers. He appoints three
Supreme and thirty.tive District judges; /;
thirty-six attorneys; two hundred militia
officers, besides the police before men
toned; six officers OF asylums; one hun
dred pilots and pilot commissioners; :;
three hundred county officers; five hun
dred officers OF towns and cities; thirty
five official newspapers; more than five
thousand school superiDtendents, agents
and teachers; and many other officers
for whom places have been made by
the ruling power. The patronage which
Governor Davis absolutely controls ls
worth about five millions Of dollars per
annum.
Of course, the taxes OF the State
have been enormously increased. Be-
fore the war the annual expenditures oi
the State were considered extravagant
at $4,000. The people will this year
paw a tax of nearly six millions. The
militia and police cost more than the
whole machinery OF the government
formerly cost. The school system is
cumbersome, and is more expensive
than that OF any other State in the
Union. Every part OF the administra
ton seems to be arranged for the pur'
pose of maintaining large number o.
pensioned dependents. In 1859 the
State had no debt. 1t is now estimated
at from twelve to twenty millions o
dollars. But the Davis ring is as carefu
as the Tammany ring to conceal it
work, and the exact figures are not pub
lished.
This is fair outline OF the govern
ment OF Texas, many details equal.
disgraceful with the facts given beinl
omitted. 1t is an oligarchy, resting
upon ignorance and cupidity. Tn
power OF Governor Davis over the free
dom and property Of the people o
Texas is almost absolute, and his eel
wants are as numerous and obedient a
those of any monarch. His thirty-iy