Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1874 — The President and Texas. [ARTICLE]

The President and Texas.

The action of the President in the Texas difficulty has been universally satisfactory. Even the Democratic and “Liberal” journals commend it. Fortunately the facts are undisputed. The Legislature of Texas passed an election law. It was approved by Governor Davis and by all parties, and an election was held in pursuance of it, which resulted in a large Democratic majority. After the election the Supreme Court of the State declared the law to be unconstitutional, and thereupon the Governor issued a proclamation warning tlie persons elected not to assume their functions, and, supposing that they would not heed him, be called upon the President for troops. The President replied: “The call is not made in accordance with the Coqflitution of the United States and the acta of fongresa nnderit, and cannot, therefore, he granted. The act of the Legislature of Texas, providing for the recent election having received your approval, aud hoth political parties having made nominations and having conducted a political campaign tinder -its provisions, would it not be prudent as well as right to yield to the verdict of the people as expressed by their ballots! 1 ” Governor Davis and liis friendshave done what the Southern rebels did in 1860. They took part in an election, and then refused to abide by the result. The action qf the President is characteristic. He Is severely criticised for much that he does, but he has never shown a disposition to stretch or strain his constitutional prerogatives. In the Louisiana case he earnestly requested Congress to act, and acted himself only when some action was imperative. He has-been accused of acting wrongly, but it can not be truly said said that lie showed any wish to act at all, certainly none to act unconstitutionally. In the present instance his reply is full of quiet good sense, and disposes of the subject. It has been said that it is shocking to think that he might ' have interfered and have set aside the undoubted will of the people of Texas. ; But it is always possible for a State court to declare an election law unconstitutional, and for a Governor to hold with it and 7 appeal for lielp “to Washington; Iftlre i authorities there should act as requested, - the will of the people of a State might be ! set aside. But all this would be within ' the forms of the Constitution. And it is undeniable that a government may be overthrown under its own forms, as that of the old republic of Rome was, and as the rebels hoped to overthrow ours. The security against such efforts isthe virtue and loyalty of the people. The Constitu- ' tion authorizes the Government to protect a State against rebellion upon the application ofthe Legislature, or of the Governor when the Legislature can not be convened. Congress therefore must deeld'd what is rebellion, and who rebels.— Harper's Weekly.