Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-16
TEXAS.
The New Legislature Getting on
Swimmingly. ~
They Obtain Possession of the
GubernatOrial Returns.
The FarcieaI CfreunIOeution of Red
Tape.

l-H Tape.
GALVESTON, Jan. ia Nesrs special
from Austin to-day says: The Senate was
called TO order at ten, a quorum being
present. Mr.. Swift stated the Joint Com
mittee was still engaged. A motion was
carried that the Senate take recess till 2:30.
Nothing is done, ali waiting the action of
the Committee. The House met at 1880.
Mr.. Epperson reported that no report could
be made by his committee till thirty days.
Adjourned. The following is addressed to
Gov. E. j. Davis.
''Sir:- The House of Representatives of
the l4th Legislature yesterday passed the
following resolution.
"fWhereas the Secretary of State has re-
fused to deliver to the SpeakerOf the House
Of Representatives the returns of the cleo
ton held December last for Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and the constitution
al amendment: Therefore be it
"'ReSOlved, that committee Of seven
he appointed by the Speaker, whose imme-
date duty it shall be to arrive at the de-
termined results OF the returns of said cleo
ton for Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
and the constitutional amendment, from
such sources and by such means as is deem
Ell best and most practicable by said conf
mittee, and said committee shall repor.
their action 10 this House ut as early 4
period as possible. Said committee may
employ all necessary clerks and messengers
and may invoke the power of the sergeant
alarms and his assistant and other officers
Of the House, to aid them in the discharge
Of their duties. The committee shall have
the power to send for persons and papers
anywhere in the State. All processes is
sued by said committee shall be directed to
the sergeant-at-arms or assistant sergeant
alarms of the House Of Representatives,
and shall be signed by the chairman and at
least one of the members Of said committee,
and shall be executed by the sergeant-at-
arms and assistant E
sGov. Z. J. Davis, Sir: The House of
Representatives OF the 18th Legislature
yesterday passed the foregoing resolution.
The committee appointed under the resO-
luton have instructed me to address to you
this communication and request you as
chief executive Of the State to direct the
Secretary OF State 20 deliver to the Speaker
of the House of Representatives or to this
Committee. the returns of the election held
Dec. 20, 1873, in accordance with a law
recommended by YOU in accordance with
your proclamation. In reply to demand
by this House Of Representatives for such
returns, the Secretary Of State refuses to
deliver them till you recognize tue 18th
Legislature. The Secretary of State being
an officer of Your own appointment and
amenable to your directions and orders,
this Committee deemed II proper To invoke
Your aid in this respect, so that the laws
relating to this matter may be faithfully
executed. If the views held by you re-
sulting from the late opinion of the Su-
preme Count be correct, the delivery Of the
returns cannot affect the status of yourself
and Others interested, whilst the withhold
ing of them may tend to further cOmplica-
tionS and 10 entail considerable cost upon
the State in procuring them from other
sources. In view Of all the circumstances
the Committee trust YOU will comply with
this. Yours respectfully, DU BANZISA.
Chairman of Committee"
vOwIng He Would Ne'er Consent, Con-
scented.
Mr. Banzisa, ChairmIn, handed the letter
TO Gov. Davis in person. Davis replied
that he did not think BanziSa, his commit
tee, or the body lie represented We're en-
titled to them, but if Banzisa would 90 to
the Secretary s.Offiee and take them of his
own accord he would not be resisted.
WhereupOn. BaTZisa accompanied the See
rotary Of State, Newcomb, to his Office, and
NewcOmb pointed to the desk where the
retUrnsT were and Banzisa took them and
asked him to seal the ends of the package
which Newcomb did. NeweOmb declined
10 deliver or allow him 10 find out where
the returns for the constitutional amend
ments We're, but they can easily be gotten
after the Inauguration of Cooke and the ap-
pOintment Of Capt. George Clark as Secre-
tary of State.
A Protest.
Below is 4 protest Mr.. NegcOmb drew
up and had witnessed by three Of his
clerks:
Department Of State of Terds. dustin.
Jan. 15.-This day, the 18th of JANUARY,
De BanZisa did enter and take from theace
package Of documents purporting to be
the election returns for Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, without my consent
and against my protest.
JAMES Il. NEwCOMB.
Witnessed by
J. E. ALDHGHT,
\. u. Cox,
FRED y, DAVIS.