THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

HOUSTON, July 4 and 5

By the passage of the Reconstruction Acts of March, 1867, the President's plan of reconstruction was set aside. The re- constructing of civil government, therefore, had to be begun over again. The negro was given the ballot to assist in the process. A large number of ex-Confederates was disfranchised. Registration of voters began about the middle of May. The conservative white men were slow to register. The freedman showed great eagerness to do so. The Radicals lost no time in seeking to enlist the colored voters on their side. Mass meetings were held, local organizations perfected, and a State convention was held in Houston in July. The convention was overwhelmingly African in its composition; the white delegates did not exceed twenty in number, while the colored numbered about one hundred and fifty. The absence of Union men was conspicuous. Only twenty-six counties had delegates present.

Officers: President, E. M. Pease. Vice-Presidents, Jesse Stencil, of Galveston; G. T. Ruby, of Galveston; Burl , of Harris; "William Richie, of Navarro; and W. B. Moore, of Bexar.

 Secretaries, William R. Fayle, Charles W. Winn, and Scipio P. McKee.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: S. P. Butler, of Walker; W. C.Jravis, of Lavaca; A. J. Evans, of McLennan; Jessie Stencil, of Galveston; John H. Lippard, of Hill; C. M. Winn, of Navarro; B. W. Hall, of Freestone; G, R. Scott, of Travis; W. Cowan, of Anderson; S. Mullin, of Falls; J. Reinhart, of Grimes; J. H. Bell, Williamson; W. E. Horn, of Wharton; H. Ledbetter, of Fayette; R. Haywood, of Washington; W. B. Moore, of Bexar ; A. Henry, of Chambers ; Oscar Kneese, of Caldwell; A. Wade, of Gonzales; E. Cross, of Comal; C. B. Sabin, of Harris ; J. F. Gordon, of Guadalupe ; S. Curtis, of Fort Bend ; D. Gregory, of Fort Bend.

PLATFORM 1

WHEREAS, The Loyal men of Texas, without distinction of race or color, believe it to be their duty, under the circumstances of the country, to organize for the purpose of more effectually aiding in the reconstruction of our State government, in accordance with the Re- construction Act passed by the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States, on the 2nd of March, 1867, and the Supplementary Act, passed by the Fortieth Congress on the 23rd of March, 1867; and to that end have now assembled in convention; and,

WHEREAS, it is proper that we should publicly declare the views and principles upon which we propose to act, and by which we intend, as a party, to be guided; therefore,

Resolved, 1. That we recognize the National Republican party as the means under Providence of saving our country and government from the calamity of successful rebellion, and of incorporating into our National legislation, as a living and fruitful principle, the declaration of our fathers, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that our gratitude is due to this party for their great services in the cause of free government and human liberty; that we do now take our place in its ranks, and call upon every man in Texas, who loves the Union or desires its perpetuity, to rally to its support.

2. That we do not hesitate to declare ourselves unconditional Union men; not because we would invite from the National government oppressions and wrongs, but because we see in the past abundant evidence of a determination on the part of the people of the United States to preserve a free republican government; because the policy and temper of the National government appear to us to have been always parental, inspiring us with confidence that we will never be called upon to submit to measures not directed by a supreme regard for the general safety and welfare of the Nation; and because we esteem union as the fundamental condition of the greatness, prosperity, and happiness of the American people.

3. That we pledge ourselves to a hearty support of the reconstruction measures enacted by the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses of the United States, and that we will do all that in us lies to secure the reorganization of our State government in free accordance with the principles of the said acts of Congress.

4. That we deem the continuance in the civil offices of the State of those who actively participated in the late rebellion, and who are hostile to the Reconstruction Acts passed by Congress, as constituting an impediment to the execution of those acts in their true spirit and intent, which is insuperable.

5. That as a measure of State policy, we will endeavor to establish, at the earliest practicable time, a system of free common schools for the' equal benefit of all children and youths of the scholastic age, without distinction of race or color, to be supported by equal and uniform taxation, until a school fund can be made available for this purpose.

6. That we will also advocate the enactment of an equitable law by which those of our citizens, without respect to race or color, who have never received any portion of the public lands of the State, may secure homesteads out of our vacant, unappropriated public domain.

7. That we appreciate the disposition which has been manifested by Major General Sheridan and Brevet Major General Griffin to extend protection to the lives and property of the people of Texas, and that we respectfully invite their consideration of the necessity which still exists for the adoption of active measures to increase this protection, and to secure freedom of speech and of the press throughout the State.

8. That we deem it due to ourselves to declare that the charge which is confidently made against us, of a desire to induce the general government to deal harshly with those who participated in the late rebellion, is a foul slander, propagated for party and unpatriotic purposes; that we have constantly and deeply regretted that a contumacious spirit of hostility to the government has survived the overthrow of the rebellion, and has manifested itself by opposition, by a majority of our citizens, to measures deemed necessary by Congress to the National' security; that we earnestly desire to see a spirit of concord amongst all the people; that we hail with gratification every evidence of the return of such a spirit; but we will make no further attempt, by any compromise of our principles, to conciliate the enemies of the National government.

Central Committee: J. L. Haynes, chairman, A. H. Longley, William Alexander, Ed. Wilkinson, and Henry Dickinson.