little uneasiness was felt by Texas in regard to the course of the Federal government. They now had to do only with their own State government. The period coveriug the administration of Governor Davis was one of such bitter animosities, involving such a series of events, as to preclude its elaboration in a school history; the detailed occurrences must be sought in a general history of the State.

The Legislature made grants of six million dollars each to the Texas and Pacific and the International Railroads, to be paid in interest-bearing bonds running thirty years; one set drawing ten, and the other eight per cent, interest, thus aggregating an interest-bearing debt of twelve million dollars. Laws were passed creating a body of State police, reserved militia, and State guard; leaving one per cent, school tax for erecting schoolhouses, creating a large number of State, district, and county school officers, and clothing the Governor with the power of appointing these and others, from town officers to judges of the supreme and district courts, numbering over nine thousand official positions. The Governor was clothed with power to suspend the civil, and, in its stead, to proclaim martial law at his discretion. At different times this power was exercised in the counties of Limestone, Marion, Hill, Walker, and others.

In 1871 there assembled in Austin a Tax Payer's State Convention, non-partisan in character, and largely composed of men who had opposed secession and adhered to the Union during the war. Among these was its president, ex-Governor Pease, ex-Governor Andrew J. Hamilton, and others of the same class.

This body, in an elaborate exposition, recited and condemned the acts complained of, as tending to inevitable bankruptcy.

The thirteenth Legislature assembled January 14, 1873. It sat till June and did much in correcting the abuses complained of in regard to elections, martial law, State police, and other matters. It rid the State of the six millions impending bonds to the Texas and Pacific Railroad, by substituting land instead of bonds. In November, 1873, Richard Coke was elected Governor, and Richard B. Hubbard LieutenantGovernor. One-half the Senate and a full House of Representatives were also elected.

Coke's First Administration.

The fourteenth Legislature assembled in January. Governor Davis assumed that his term should continue to April 28th,. four years from his installation. Four years was the general constitutional term; but a special clause, in order to avoid confusion as to the time of subsequent elections, provided that the first Governor should serve four years from his election. There was much excitement.

President Grant refused Governor Davis's application for troops to maintain his position. Thus admonished, the Governor retired on the night of January 13-14,1874. Coke and Hubbard were sworn in, both branches of the Legislature organized, and the last semblance of authority not springing from the voluntary action of the people disappeared.

The promised six millions of bonds pledged by the twelfth Legislature to the International Railroad were substituted by a grant of lauds. Under Coke's first administration much was done to further correct evils complained of; but the most important step taken was the enactment of a law, March 15, 1875, calling a convention to form a new constitution. The delegates were elected August 2, 1875, and assembled in Austin, September 6th. After framing a constitution, and submitting it for ratification or rejection by the people at an election to be held February 18, 1876, the convention adjourned November 25, 1875. At the election in February there were one hundred and thirty-six thousand six hundred and six votes cast for the constitution, and fifty-six thousand six hundred and fifty-two against; thus it was ratified by a majority of seventy-nine thousand nine hundred and fifty-four. The new constitution was to take effect April 18, 1876, hence it is known as the constitution of 1876.*

At the same election in February a new Legislature was chosen and a full set of State officers; Governor Coke and Lieutenant-Governor Hubbard were reelected.

The Legislature assembled and organized April 18th, Thomas R. Bonner being Speaker of the House. Coke f and Hubbard were reinaugnrated on the 25th.

On the 5th of May, Governor Coke was elected to the United States Senate, resigned the governorship December 1st, when Lieutenant-Governor Hubbard became Governor, with a little over a full term to serve.

Among the reforms under Governor Coke, the financial condition of the State rapidly improved—State bonds rose from a greatly depreciated value to a little above par; the enormous State taxes were reduced from two dollars and thirty cents on the hundred dollars valuation to fifty cents; the public debt was reduced four hundred thousand dollars; the frontiers were better protected and extended, and the State institutions fostered.

Questions.—When did a second convention assemble? Who was president? How long did it sit? When did it reassemble? What of the constitution framed by it? What officers were elected at the same time? What change did President Grant make? Who was elected Governor? What did the military order declare? What did they order? What did they do on meeting? For what did they adjourn? Did Congress accept the

* This constitution, as since amended, is yet in force, and is appended in full, as now existing, to this school history.

t Richard Coke was born in Williamsburg, Va., in 1829, came to Waco, Texas, his present home, in 1853; a member of the Secession Convention, and a captain in the Confederate army ; served as a judge after the war; Governor in January, 1874; in the United States Senate since 1876; present term expires March, 1895.

In order to fix all future elections for November, the terms of these first officers were to run from January, 1877, thus making this term two years and nine months.

v constitution? Who acted as Governor during this delay? When did the Legislature re

assemble ?' How long did Governor Davis serve? Who was President at this time? What of the period during Davis's term? What was done by the Legislature? What convention assembled in 1871? What did it do? When did the thirteenth Legislature meet? When was Coke elected Governor? Who was Lieutenant-Governor? When did the fourteenth Legislature meet? What did Governor Davis claim? Was he successful? To whom did he appeal? What did President Grant reply? When were Coke and Hubbard sworn in? What of the bonds pledged to the International Railroad by the twelfth Legislature? What was the most important act of Coke's first administration? When did the convention meet? When did it adjourn? By what majority was it adopted? As what is it known? Who were Governor and Lieutenant-Governor at this same election? What were some of the reforms of Coke's administration?

CHAPTER LXIII. Hubbard's Administration,

Beginning December 1, 1876, was a continuation of the reforms earnestly advocated by him as Lieutenant-Governor, during the two terms of Governor Coke. A new penitentiary was established at the iron mines of Rusk, -in Cherokee County; the public debt was reduced a million of dollars ; the cause of education was much advanced.

The administrations of both Coke and Hubbard,* by their wise and economic, yet progressive, measures, added greatly to the general prosperity.

Roberts's Two Administrations.

Oran M. Roberts, by a large majority, became Governor January, 1879. \

* Richard B. Hubbard was born in Walton County, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Virginia, and from the law department of Harvard; settled at Tyler, Texas, still his home, in 1852. He served in the Legislature, and was United States District Attorney before the Civil War; was a colonel in the Confederate army; Lieutenant-Governor from January, 1874, to December, 1876; then Governor till January, 1876 ; American Minister to Japan from 1885 to 1889. His speech at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 gave him a national reputation as an orator.

t He was reared in Alabama, came to East Texas in 1840 or '41, had been district judge and a member of the Supreme Court before the Civil War, president of the Secession Convention, a colonel in the Confederate army;

He urged upon the Legislature the policy of "paying as you go ; " in other words, reducing the public expenses within the public revenues; for this emergency recommending a less appropriation for public schools. This caused opposition, but when, after a fair trial, it was shown that twenty-two thousand more children than ever before had been taught for a longer time, by a better grade of teachers, for one hundred and ninety-seven thousand dollars less money, the public sustained him. He was reelected and took the oath of office January, 1881. At the close of his first term there remained in the treasury three hundred thousand dollars for current expenses, and fifty thousand dollars to diminish the public debt. A million additional acres of land were set apart to the university, and three hundred and twenty-five leagues were surveyed and reserved as a special school fund for counties yet to be organized. Joseph D. Sayers was the first, and Leonidas J. Story the second Lieutenant-Governor under Roberts.

began in 1883, when he succeeded Roberts, and was re-elected two years later. Marion Martin was Lieutenant-Governor during the first term, and Barnett Gibbs during the second.

Some grave questions were wisely met and settled by Governor Ireland ; * among these was the matter of immense inclosure of land by wire fencing, for stock-raising purposes, chiefly in the northwest and southwest portions of the State.

and, after reconstruction, up to this time, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. After four years as Governor, he became Professor of Law in the State University till his resignation in 1893.

* Governor Ireland was born in Hart County, Kentucky, January, 1,1827. He settled in Seguin, Texas, in 1853. He served in the Secession Convention, also in that of 1866; then in the Senate ; in the House in 1873; next in the Senate; afterwards in the Supreme Court, from which he resigned; was major and lieutenant-colonel in the Confederate army.

John Ireland's Administrations