The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-22
President Grant in a New Role.

ClQcQ LnlC Tile cleCIlOu uelu Ill tuo1 So1''o A'-0
December was null and void, as the law pro-
yiding for the election was unconstitutional.
1t appears that section in that article OF the
Constitution relating to elections declares that
the State County and city elections shall be
held at the county seats respectively, until fur-
ther provided by law, and that the polls shall
be kept open from eight o'clock a. m. to tour
p. m for four days." The Legislature enacted
law, under which the late election took place,
and the polls by this law were opened for only
one day. Hence, the decision of the Supreme
Court.
AS our readers know, the Democrats won the
election by large majority, and Judge Richard
Coke was chosen Governor. The election law
was accepted by the Radical party, but when
this discovery was made by the Supreme Court,
that party attempts to defy the will of the
people as expressed at the ballot-box. Gov.
Davis, who was the Radical candidate for re-
election, and who signed the election law, un-
dertakes to hold on to his Office, which created
intense excitement among the Texans. lie
telegraphs to President Grant that violence is
apprehended, and asks the interference OF
United States troops to maintain his doubtful
authority.
In response to this request, President Grant
makes an emphatic reply, declaring that 'the
call is not made in accordance with the Con-
stitution of the United States and the acts of
Congress under it, and cannot therefore be
granted The act of the Legislature of Texas
providing for the recent election having re-
ceived your approval, and both political parties
having made nominations and having conduct
ed political campaign under its provisions,
would it not be prudent as we'll as right, to
yield to the verdict of the people expressed by
their ballots ?"
The newly elected Legislature assembled, and
attempted to take control of affairs. Gov. Coke
was duly inaugurated, and a collision seemed
inevitable. The United States Marshal tele-
graphed to Attorney General Williams that
armed men were guarding the legislative halls
and the approaches to the public offices, to
which the Attorney General replied that he
could only appeal to the parties for peacea-
BILE adjustment of their difficulties, and that he
has no power to interfere with force, nor the
United States Marshal any duty to perform,
except to exert his moral influence.
Simultaneous with this application, the Pres
ident received another dispatch from Gov. Da-
Wis, stating that under the Constitution he can
hold the office of Governor until April 2Sth
and that he is making preparations to protect
the officers, and for second time asks for mil
itary assistance. To this call the President
makes more emphatic response than before
in the following dispatch from the Attorney.
General:
| WASHINGTON, January II.
Governor e. j. Davis, dustin, 7s.ras: Your
| telegram stating that, according to the Consti-
tuition of Texas, you were Governor until the
2Sth of April, and that Hon. Richard Coke
has been inaugurated and will attempt to seize
the Governors Office and buildings, aud calling
upon the President for military assistance has
been referred by him to me for answer; and
am instructed to say, that after considering the
fourth section of Article w of the Constitution
of Texas-providing that the Governor shall
hold his office for the term of four years from
the time of his instalment, under which you
claim, and Section of the election declaration
attached to the said Constitution, under which
YOU were chosen, and which provides that the
State and other officers elected Hereunder shall
hold their respective offices for the term Of years
prescribed by the Constitution, beginning from
the day of election under which the Governor
elect claims the office, and more than four years
having expired since your electon-he is cf the
opinion that your right to hold the office of
| Governor at this time is at least so doubtful
that he does not feel warranted in furnishing
| United States troops to aid you in holding
| further possession of it; and he therefore de-
clines to comply with your request.
| (Signed,) GEO. Fl. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General
This unexpected action of President Grant
is receiving an unqualified approval throughout
the South. We need not inquire into the
causes which have led the President to assume
| the present attitude of non-interference with
the affairs of the reconstructed States 1t may
be too late for instant effect upon the welfare
of some States, but the gradual growth of the
idea upon which President Grant is now acting
must have a beneficial tendency upon the
politics Of the whole country. 1t is retroces-
sion from the advanced and pernicious doc
trine heretofore maintained by the Republican
party, that there was power lodged in the Fed
eral government to coerce the action OF the
States. The case of Texas is similar to that OF
Louisiana, where Grant took different course,
and the worst consequences ensued. He now
sees the folly of his interference with Louisiana
affairs, and proposes to act with frmness and
discretion in the case of Texas, looking to the
true interests of the people His conduct will
tend to increase the prospect for a restoration
of amicablc relations between the different
sections of the Union, and will relume the
hopes of the harrassed and oppressed South,
now that justice and right are made TO prevall
over the Vaccinations of trading politicians.