Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-18
TEXAS.
Letter from AttOrney-GeReral Williams
Declining to Interfere In the
Imbr0gIi0.
Correspondence Between Ex-Governor
Davis and Governor Cooke
No Let Up Yet.

WASHINGTON, January l7.-Attorney
General Williams this afternoon sent
the following telegram TO Governor
Davis, of Texas:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Washington, January IL, 1874.
Governor E. J. Davis, Austin, Texas:
Your telegram of yesterday, stating
that, according to the constitution OF
Texas, you were governor until the
twenty-sixth of April next, and that
Hon. Richard Coke has been inaugu-
rated, and will attempt to seize the
governors Office and buildings, and
calling upon the President for military
assistance, has been referred by him to
me, and / am instructed to say that,
after considering the fourth section of
article four Of the constitution of Texas,
providing that the governor shall hold
his Office for the term of four years from
the date Of his instalment, under which
YOU claim, and section three of election
declaration attached to said constitution,
under which you were chosen, and which
provides that State and other officers
elected Hereunder shall hold their re-
spective offices for the term of years pre-
scribed by the constitution, beginning
from the day Of their election, under
which the governor elect claims Office,
and more than four years having ex-
pired since your election, he is of the
the opinion that your right to the
office of governor at this time is at
least so doubtful, he does not feel war
ranted in furnishing United States
troops to aid you in holding further pos
session of it, and he therefore declines
to comply with your request.
ISignedl GEORGE H. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.
A WAR OF CORRESPONDENCE
GALVESTON, January IA NeaOs
special from Austin, Texas, dated the
seventeenth, says that Governor Davis
still holds out. No transfers of either
State officers have been made. His
friends say he will await the result of
the cabinet meeting at Washington to-
day. This evening seven of the ring
leaders of the mob who arrested the
mayor yesterday, were arrested by civil
process, which caused quite a stir in the
basement of the capitol, but no other
demonstrations were made. The follow
ing is the correspondence:
STATE CAPITAL, January IS.
To Hon. Edmond J. Davis:
SIR-Haying been, on yesterday, the
fifteenth day Of January, duly and con-
stitutionally declared elected governor
of the State of Texas, and having fully
qualified as such, have to ask of YOU
respectfully, the delivery into my pos
session the executive office of the State,
together with the papers, archi YES, and
all the property pertaining thereto, as
well as office of secretary Of state and
its archives, papers and property. Very
respectfully, your Obedient servant,
RICHARD COOKE.
1REsPONsE.l
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF TEXAS,
January Il, 1874.
SIR-Aeknowledging the receipt of
your communication of yesterday, I
have to say in reply, that do not, as
YOU know, regard you as the executive
of this State, or entitled to the possession
of the governors Office or any of
the official records. 1 am myself
the governor Of the State till the
twenty-eighth of April next. So much
on this point. Twill add, sir, to my view
and hope also to yours: It becomes US
as citizens desirous of the peace of our
State, that we should, without delay,
concur in some plan for settling the
question as to which is the legiti-
mate State government, and of
putting an end to the present
disturbed condition of the State.
As matters now stand every day adds
greatly to the injurious complication of
our affairs. I therefore now propose to
you to submit the question of recog-
milton of the legitimate State govern
ment to the executive or congress of
the United States, or to both, as
the executive OF the United
States is bound, under the
constitution, to sustain the legitimate
government against domestic violence.
This question is proper one for him to
decide, and l pledge myself to abide the
decision to be thus made, and will ad-
wise all good citizens to do the same. l
also propose to join with you IN adopt
ing the means best calculated to
secure a prompt decision Of this ques-
ton. Greatly desiring an early settle
ment of these troubles, and hoping you
will meet this offer with similar spirit,
I remain respectfully,
EDMOND ]. DAVIS, Governor.
To Honorable Richard Cooke, Executive
Onheer.
AUSTIN, January II.
o
SIR-Yours of this instant, in reply to
mine yesterday, received. By the will of
the people OF Texas, fairly and legally
expressed at the polls, and the recognition
of their representatives in the fourteenth
now in session, it has
been decided that l am 1.-THE con-
governor Of Texas, and as such
have been duly installed, and hold
ing this decision absolute, and declin-
ing, under any circumstances, to con-
slider your proposition to refer the mat
ter to another authority, 1 respectfully
renew the request made in my note of
RICHARD COOKE.
Following these Captain George H.
Clarke made demand upon ]. P. New
comb, for the State department, etc,
and was answered that Newcomb
would comply with whatever Davis Or
iered; that he held by his order and un-
til Davis surrendered the executive Of
fee, he would remain.
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