REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS 
 The First 50 Years

HOUSTON, June 7 and 8

The Houston Union and the San Antonio Express had called a convention of dissatisfied Republicans to meet at Houston May 24th. J. G. Tracy, editor of the Union and prime factor in this move, attended the Hamilton Convention. When the Hamilton Convention adjourned to meet on the first Monday in June at Houston, Tracy promised to change the date of his convention so as to correspond. By the time the first Monday in June arrived nothing distinctive was left of the Hamilton Convention; it was all of Tracy's following. "At that convention three- years ago, fifteen white men and some thirty colored men were all that mustered.¹ The absence of the old leaders of the party was particularly noticeable. About thirty counties were represented.

Officers: President, J. G. Tracy. Vice-Presidents, John Dix, J. S. Mills, Richard Allen, Erastus Carter, Murry Cole, and W. E. Parker. 

Secretaries, George W. Honey, J. W. McDonald and John Keppard.

Nominees for State Offices: Governor, E. J. Davis, of Nueces; Lieutenant-Governor, J. W. Flanagan, of Husk; Comptroller, W. Frank Carter, of Parker ; Commissioner of the General Land Office, Jacob Kuechler, of Bexar; Treasurer, W. D. Price, of Travis.

Committee on Platform and Resolutions: J. P. Butler, G. T. Ruby, W. A. Saylor, Richard Allen, A. Siemering, R. P. Tendick, and P. W. Hall.

PLATFORM ²

Resolved, 1, That the Republican party of Texas heartily accepts the conditions of reconstruction embraced in the several Reconstruction Acts of Congress, and will in the future, as heretofore, fully sustain the same in word and spirit.

2. That the amendments to the Constitution of the United States, known as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, are necessary to the pacification of the country, and the security of the equal civil and political rights of all classes of the people. The Republican party, therefore, pledges itself to the prompt adoption of those amendments.

3. That the resolutions adopted by the Chicago convention on May 20th, 1868, where not modified by the proposed Fifteenth Amendment, are accepted by the Republicans of Texas as the embodiment of correct principles of public policy. That the Republicans of Texas especially commend the spirit of the additional resolutions adopted in that convention at the instance of Hon. Carl Schurz; and we will cheerfully accept the assistance of such of our fellow citizens as served in the late rebellion, but who now frankly and honestly co-operate with us in restoring the peace of the country, and reconstructing our State government on the basis of impartial justice and equal rights.

4. That the payment of the debt incurred in preservation of the unity of the Nation, to the last dollar, is in our opinion the sacred duty of the American people, and the Republicans of Texas will condemn all attempts to evade in any manner the payment of this debt according to the intent of the creators of the same.

5. That the Republican party of Texas earnestly desires the encouragement of internal improvement and immigration, and will, as a party, press the adoption of measures having these ends in view. That in connection herewith, we condemn the demagogical use of the term of "carpetbagger" and other terms of reproach applied to strangers who may come among us, designed to keep alive the prejudices of the ignorant and deter immigration.

6. That while the constitution submitted to the people is in some respects imperfect and objectionable, it is believed on the whole to propose the main object of constitutional government, viz.: The equal civil and political rights of all persons under the law. This convention, therefore, recommends the ratification of the same.

7. That the preservation of the unity and the organization of the Republican party is essential to the safe progress of reconstruction in this State, and they believe that to effect this reconstruction a great work has yet to be performed. They, therefore, warn the loyal people of Texas that opposition to the organization of the Republican party Is the result of an insidious design of the enemy purposing the practical surrender of the State to the disloyal.

8. That the Republicans of Texas heartily express unqualified confidence in the administrative abilities and integrity of the honored head of our government, President Grant, and in the patriotism and wisdom of the majority in Congress.

9. That to this end we earnestly Invite the cooperation and support of all good citizens, advocates of peace, law, and order, and who believe in the principles of the party of union, progress, liberty, and reform, which has done so much for the pacification and well being of the country.

Additional Resolution

[10] That the commanding general of this military district, Major General J. J. Reynolds, deserves the approval of the loyal people of the United States for his activity in ferreting out and bringing to justice the murderers of the patriot, George Smith, and for the measures he has adopted for the security of life and property and the establishment of peace.

State Executive Committee: J. G. Tracy, of Harris, chairman; A. B. Hall, of Harris, Treasurer; John W. McDonald, of Harris, Secretary; 1. Judicial District, W. G. Phillips, of Wharton; 2. M. C. Hamilton, of Travis; 3. G. T. Ruby, of Galveston; 4. Dr. D. C. Marsh, of El Paso; 5. A. Bledsoe, of Dallas; 6. J. W. Flanagan, of Rusk ; 7. F. W. Sumner, of Grayson ; 8. G. T. Garland, of Marion; 9. G. H. Slaughter, of Smith; 10. W. M. Varnell, of Victoria; 11. N. Patton, of McLennan; 12, blank; 13. P. W. Hall, of Robertson ; 14. A. Siemering, of Bexar ; 15. H. C. Pedigo, of Tyler.