National Republican., 1881-12-05
e. j. DAVIS, OF TEXAS.
His Friends, Urge Him ns the Represent
ntIye or the south for the Cabinet.

His Friends Urge Him nA the Represent-
ntive OF the south for the Cabinet.
The fight over the Speakership has
grown so hot that II has drawn attention almost
entirely away from the scarcely less important and
interesting question as to what changes will be
made in the Cabinet No doubt the reticencc Of
President Arthur has assomething to do with the lul
in Cabinet rumors and surmises. REPUBLICAN
reporter ran across prominent Southern Repub-
lcan yesterday, who was innocent of knowledge
of the spcakership question, but who was decid-
cdly OF the opinion that the South should be rep
resented in the Cabinet.
"what southerner do you prefer for the Cab
inetg
phatic response.
because he is perhaps the most prominent Re-
publican In that section"
Wouldn't his candadaoy interfere with that of
Chauncey l. Filley, of ST. Louis"
Not at all. Missouri s not regarded rs South
ern, but rather as Western State, Governor
Davis IS a. warm friend of MIR: Filey, and he
ominenty proper man to go into the Clbiuet."
What is Governor Davis pubic record?
removed to Texas while yet q young man. He
began the practice of law ut Brownsville on the
Rio Grandc. He was elected district judge prior
to the civil war. When the war began and his
State had seeded, he refused to take the oath Of
allegiance to the confederacy, but, adhering to
the q9o rdTos he rgifnsd ooynSy and WbSS SS
he commanded participating in several hard bat
ties, being promoted to brndier. general for gal
liant services at the fight of Yellow Bayou, Ln
Amer leaving Texas he took refuge in Matamoras
Mexico, from which point he operated In raising
his regiment. While here, one Chiffon, an officer
on the staff of General Bee, confederate comman-
der at Brownsville, crossed the river at night, cap
turcd Davis aud another Union man named
Montgomery, with the intention OF hanging them
They executed their design so far us Montgomery
was concerned, but failed with Davis. who es-
capped" ..
AT the close of the war Davis returned 10
Texas, settling at Corpus Christi, and resumed
the practice of the law. He was elected
delegate to the constitutional convention
Of ls6S.'G9, of which body he was chosen
president. In November, 1869, he was elected
Governor of Texas for four years on the Republi-
can ticket In that Office lie displayed great
ecutivc ability, coupled with high honor and per-
feet integrity, ranking as Governor with sam
Governor Governor by ths ' RePubicansS Of Texas and re-
ceived, according to Spolords Almanac, over 1000
more votes than General Garfield. His large per-
sonal following he owes to his great popularity and
strength with the people"
"What of his private characterT
/" He is in the prime of life, of good habits, and
Of unsulied private character. Why, his worst
enemies, personal or political or both, have never
dared to say aught against his private character,
% Sn Edow oMe p o said henS hS
| ever so family toward wrong. doing or immoral
ity the fierce personal and partisan warfare that
! has been waged against him would have caused II
| to be proclaimed from the housetops."
is he man ofcultureY
ayes. He is fine lawyer, highly educated, OF
much reading and culture, splendid linguist,
often addressing his Spanish and Mexican fellow
| citizens in their native tongue"
"Would his appointment be acceptable to the
| Republicans and Liberals of the SouthT'
at would. He could and would rally around
him the entire Republican party of the South and
| also the old wings and the new Liberals of that
section. They would rally around him because
his gallant services In war and his eminent ability
in civil affairs show him to be a patriot and 9
statesman, and these classes respect him and have
| confidence in him."
| ut has been said that his strength lies in hi!
control of the Federal patronage of his State2'
| "That is untrue. He never had such control
| The Federal offices have been held by his per
sonal and political enemies Despite this he II
| the great leader of the Republicans of Texas
| His strength among them Is due 10 his high char
acter, great ability and eminent services alike II
war and peace. His appointment to the Cabinet
means the revivifcaton of the cause of liberty
free speech, free ballots fair elections and an hon
est count In that part of the country, where they
| have long been unknown"