Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-08
THE TEXAS TROUBLES.
A Republican Organ Condemns the
Course OF Its Party Leaders I'm
Texas.

/ 0OAADC - 80 A@~e~~-~@S -
Texas.
From the New York Times, Jan. 5.
On the ID day of December, an cleo
ton was held in Texas for State ant
county officers and full Legislature
The result, as everybody supposed would
be the case, was complete Democrats
victory. That party secured all thi
State officers, a large majority in eacl
branch of the Legislature, and nearly
all the county officers. Since the cleo
ton, doubt as to- its constitutionalitJ
has been raised, which has already
caused great agitation IN the State, and
threatens serious consequences unless
it is speedily settled. AT this distance
there seems to have been little
occasion for the raising of this doubt
and still 'ess for its continuance. We are
aware that this opinion may be con-
strued as a condemnation of the course
of some Of the Republicans IN the
State, but we cannot for that reason
refrain from expressing it. The pros
perity and good name of the nation are
of more consequence than the interests
of parties or individuals, and we do not
care TO have the story of Louisiana re-
peated IN Texas, merely that few Re-
publicans may retain Office upon legal
bubble, however plausible it may be,
The case of those who deny the va
hdity of the late election rests upon the
following provision of the State consti-
tuition:
"All elections for State, district, and
county offices shall be held at the
county seats of the several counties,
until otherwise provided by law; and
the polls shall be opened for four days,
from 8 o'clock, A. M. until 4 O'Clock,
P. M. of each day"
The last Legislature, which was
Democratic, passed law increasing
the number of voting places, by direct
ing that the counties should be divided
into precincts, and enacted that the
election should be held on one day.
1t is admitted that the Legislature had
power to change the places of voting,
because the Constitution expressly
provides that elections shall be held at
the county seats only until otherwise
provided by law" But it is asserted
that the Legislature had no authority to
changethe number of days,for thereason
that the last clause of this section is
peremptory. This being the case, and
the late election having been held on
one day only, it is urged that it is void,
and that the Republicans should con-
tinue in Office Whatever may have
been the intent Of the trainers of the
Constitution, it is obvious from the
place of the limiting words in the sec
ton that this construction is fair one.
Had the words ''until otherwise pro-
vided by law" been placed at the be-
ginning or end of the section, no ques-
ton could have been raised. Being
found where they are, it is hard to con-
lecture why they were so placed, unless
TO give the Legislature power to change
the places of election, and deny such
power as to the number of days.
While the Republicans who propose
to ignore the election appear to have a
plausible case, there are weighty
reasons why they should not take ad-
vantage of this technicality. In the
first place, to do 50 would be an act of
bad faith, and no party can afford TO be
guilty of such an act. With full knowl-
edge of the point now raised, the Re-
pubhcans appear to have acted under
the new Election law without question
ing it, until after they had been defeat
ed at the polls. They certainly nomI-
mated State ticket, county officers,
and candidates for the Legisla-
ture and voted for them. So far
as we have been informed, they did not
hint that they considered the law IN
nor that they would re-
gard the election as a nullIty. They
should also remember that the people
have decided In favor Of the Democrats
by large majority. There is reason to
believe that the election was fair and
free. Such being the case, the will of
the people should be respected. No
party can long endure which many way
defes the people. Believing that the
of the Republican party IN
the future is necessary for the progress
os the State, we have no wish TO see 1t
destroyed by a fatal blunder.
The Republicans of the State should
also remember that it is not probable
that the Democrats viii submit quietly
if a legal DECISIONS obtained declaring
the election void. In that case, if the
Republicans continue in Office, the
Democrats viii inaugurate their officers
elect. and Texas will not only have a
double State government, but two sets
Of officials in many of the counties.
The Texas quarrel is, therefore, certain
to appear in Congress Just as that Of
Louisiana has done. Appeals will
be made by both to the general
Government for recognition and
support. The squabble will then be-
come national instead of local. What
ever odium may attach to it will assur-
edly be cast upon the Republicans as
the or1ginators of the movement. The
Republicans in the State should submit
with good grace to temporary defeat,
and endeavor to so enighten the peo-
pie that they will be certain of triumph
in the future. This course is demand
ed, not only by their duty to their par
ty in the State, but by their obligations
to their party in the nation.