The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-17

The Texas Trouble-Attornoy General
Williams ON the Duties or United
states Msrshsls.
The unfortunate action of the administra-
ton in the Louisiana case is producing evil
results in Texas. Notwithstanding the sig
nificant suggestion offered to Ex-Governor
Davis by President Grant when the former
made his ill-advised request for federal troops
to aid in setting aside the verdict OF the people
of Texas in the late election, it seems that the
deposed Executive and his partisans have not
abandoned the attempt to hold violent posses
sion of the State government Governor
on Thursday evening but United States
Marshal at Austin, emulating the example of
Packard, of New Orleans notoriety, sends
telegraphic despatch to Attorney General Will
liams, informing him that earned men'-we
presume in the interest of Davis-guard the
Capitol that "other armed men, hold pos
session of the Legislative halls, and
that ga conflict seems inevitable" This
duplicate Packard appeals to the Attorney
General to interfere as he interfered in Louisi-
ana. ga message from you" he says, ''may
save us from disaster" But Mr.. Williams has
learned by experience the danger of meddling
in State quarrels, and, taking his cue from the
response of President Grant to the ex-Gov-
ernor he wisely replies that he can do nothing
except to advise a peaceable adjustment Of the
difficulty, cautoning the United States Mar
shall that he has no duty to perform in respect
to the matter save to use such "moral in
fuence' as United States Marshal may be
supposed to possess to avert a collision. In all
this we have a gratifying change from the
official action in the Louisiana case, in which
the Attorney General acted the roles of judge,
jury and dictator, and, after securing prem
AZURE recognition of the usurping govern
ment, refused to allow the legally elected gov
eminent to be heard in its own behalf.
The Texas question is simple enough An
election was held in that State for Legisla-
ture and State officers, under law passed by
the political friends Of Governor Davis, and
receiving his approval as Executive. Davis
was candidate for reelection, and was de-
feated by large majority, while his party
was badly beaten for the Legislature. After
their overthrow decision of the Supreme
Court Of the State was obtained adverse to
the constitutionaity of some part of the cleo
ton law. If Davis and his friends had been
successful no such decision would have been
rendered On the fimsy pretext of this de-
cision is based the attempt of the defeated
politicians to overthrow the newly elected
government and to retain possession of the
Offices To uphold them in this usurpation
they seek the aid of federal bayonets. But for
the experience OF Louisiana they would never
have made so preposterous request It is
to be hoped that the changed attitude
of the President and the Attorney General
will convince Davis and his friends that it
will be prudent, as well as right, to yield to
the verdict of the people, expressed by their
ballots" Indeed should they by their I'M
lawful acts bring about domestic violence"
which the State authorities are unable to sup
press they may find the forces Of the United
States called into service against themselves
President Grant has already pronounced the
election of the new State government to be
''the verdict of the people, expressed by their
ballots" AS such he would be bound to
recognize the application Of Governor Coke
or the new State Legislature for protection
against domestic violence, if such an applica-
ton should be made. At the same time it is
not likely that Congress, after the evidence
that has been afforded of the unpopularity
of the Louisiana policy, would be any
better disposed than is the Presi-
dent or the Attorney General to aid
the DAVIS malecontents in Texas So, on the
whole, we are disposed to believe that the ex-
Governor and his friends will hesitate to push
their rebellion against the new government to
extremes Davis has already proposed, as
way out of the difficulty, an appeal to Congress
and the President to settle "what body of men
form the State Legislature and which is the
proper State government" The President
has already decided the question, and Davis is
at liberty to make such an appeal to Congress
if he should see fit to do So But in the
meantime he must not make an armed resist
ance to Legislature and government duly
elected and properly qualified. That is re-
bellion, and he and his friends will Justly be
treated as rebels and incendaries if they
should madly provoke the conflict apprehended
by the Austin Marshal.
Senator Sherman on Finance.