The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-07-06


gland, where he died.
The following address will be issued
by Ex-Governor Davis, chairman of the
Republican state executive committee,
to-day:
AUSTIN, TEXAS, June 81, 1882.
TO the Republicans of Texas:
convention OF the Republicans of
Texas is called to meet in Austin, Travis
county, on Wednesday, the twenty-third
of August, 1882, ut noon, then and there
to consider and decide the course to be
pursued by Republicans in the general
election to be held in November next.
The date is fixed as an average of the
recommendation of the members of the
committee, and the place OF meeting is
the choice of most of the members who
have answered enquiries sent them.
Subject to such notifications as the
| convention may make, the basis of repre-
| sentation will be one delegate for every
400 Republican votes and fraction OF 200
| or more as given in the respective coun-
ties for governor at the election of No
vember, 1880, and also one delegate for
| every 800 or fraction of 400 or more of all
| other than Republicans for that officer,
provided. that every organized county be
| entitled to at least one delegate without
| regard to number of votes.
The chairmen of the respective sena-
| torlal and county committees are re-
| quested to call conventions or meetings
| Of Republicans at the county seats of the
| several counties, to select delegates to
| this conventions; these calls to be duly
| published. AS this convention must con-
slider and define the poll, y to be pursued
| by the Republicans of Texas under
| the present circumstances of our state, L
| have thought proper to accompany this
call with brief review of our party al
fairs and situation. When after the late
war the reconstruction of Texas was
depending, and the people of the state
had commenced a new formation of party
lines, the opposition to the secessiOnists
had to choose party utilization. 1t was a
| question which caused some discussion
| whether we should attach ourselves to
| the Republican party, or merely retain
| the designation of UniOnists, which had
| distinguished during the war those who
had opposed secession. 1t was objected
| that an alliance with the Republicans
would direct against us all the animosity
which had grown up against the party
| that had carried On the war and destroyed
slavery. On the other hand, the difficulty
of maintaining an organization unallied
| with either of the great parties of the
country was apparent, and then there
was feeling OF sympathy, and, in the
main, of common political sentiment,
which attracted southern Unionists to the
Republicans, and this prevailed. some
| of the disadvantages we labor under now,
| the result of that determination, were
not then anticipated. While the Repub-
llcans of the south and Texas have been,
| by their local neighbors, held responsible
| as co-workers for the management and
| policy of the national party, they really
have had no control or direction of its
| councils, the whole national government
| being as completely at distance and
apart from us as IL we were another
| people. 1t is curious, on this POINT, TO
| note the want of progress of the Repub-
lican party towards Matchmaking itself.
Mr.. Lincoln took the government under
very discouraging circumstances, but
his administration was more national in
Its composition than any since.
Gradually the party has withdrawn itself
north of Mason and Dixon's line, and
even the appointments to our local fed
eral offices have been too frequently made
to suit the wishes of persons living at a
distance from us. We should not try to
disguise or conceal these things from
corrected in time. Under the present
organization of the Republican party, cor
rection seems impossible. Its each sue
ceeding administration looks more and
more for its support to the section where
the strength OF the party lies, SO IL does
and will listen to the clamOrs of those
who represent that section. 1t necessari-
lLbtll W WE'VE anu Qc-
mands, and thus perpetuates this condI-
ton of affairs. Thus the national Re-
publican party has not invited support
here. but has unintentionally aided the
secessionists or Bourbons to maintain
their hold on the southern people and
keep the solid south in line. 1t has
offered no opportunity to our young men
for distinction and preference, though it
is to the thoughtful, intelligent and en-
terprising of that class that it ought
to look mainly for recruits. Ger
tain it is, whatever may be the
course of immigration to the south, that
the great majority of the people will al
ways be, not only of southern birth, but
of those who were here during the war
or their descendants, and the descend
ants of new corners. The most of them
may naturally be expected to take their
political colOring from their surround
ings, and to sympathize with those among
whom they are raised. Every man who
loves the Union and believes its per-
manency to be the best guarantee of the
peace, prosperity and liberty OF the mill
ions inhabiting and to Inhabit this cont
nent, must feel anxious that the division
of north and south should be forgotten,
and that anything which tends to recall
1t (as toe present party lines) should be
removed. The first and essential thing
to be done towards this end Is the release
of these states from the grasp of the party
which tried to destroy the Union. The
movement ought to commence In Texas,
because there was always less
reason or consistency for the adhesion
of Texas to the secession cause than any
other southern state. Texas has great
future before it, and at an early day 1t
can be brought into accord with the lib
eral ideas of this part of the nineteenth
century, concerning education, immigra-
ton, security OF the franchise, suppress
sion of lawlessness and encouragement
of labor. We will all be gamers If our
state government can pass into the hands
of men sincerely In favor of these meas
ures, even though they be not Republican,
and do not agree with us in our opinions
touching national politics, and were on
the other side during the war. Let us
consider this question without passion or
prejudice. We need not surrender any
of our opinions or ask that those with
whom we may cooperate shall do so.
In joint effort for the Improvement of
the state we have a common ground on
which to meet them. lido not offer any plan
to effect this cooperation, nor do 1 have
any. In fact, probably the best way is
to effect no forward arrangement, but
merely to resolve as individuals to
vote for those persons Offering them |
selves for the several offices whose char
acter and opinions in regard to the meas
ures mentioned are satisfactorily known !
to the people BV this method the neonIe |