Military Rule.-In March, 1867, Congress passed a bill placing the South again under military rule. The President vetoed the bill; Congress passed it over his veto. General Sheridan was made military commander. All civil elections were forbidden until they should be ordered by the general government. The tests of registration were made more severe; no one could hold office or vote, who could not take the "iron-clad oath.”*

Governor Removed.-During these trying times, Governor Throckmorton did all in his power to carry out the commands of Sheridan's officers, and yet act justly toward his State. In spite of this, on July 30, the following order was issued by Sheridan: "A careful consideration of the reports of Brevet Major-general C. Griffin, of the United States Army, shows that J. W. Throckmorton, Gov

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He entered the Confederate army, and made a noble record. At the close of the war, he retired to his home in Collins County. He was elected a member of the Reconstruction Convention," of which body he was made President. When he was removed from the Governor's chair by Sheridan, Governor Throckmorton returned home. He remained in private life till 1874, when he was made Congressman. He served in this capacity four years; his health failing, he again retired to private life.

*This oath read as follows: "I do solemnly swear, that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever under any authority in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution within the United States hostile thereto; and I do further swear that, to the best of my ability, I will defend and support the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will faithfully perform the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God."

ernor of Texas, is an impediment to the reconstruction of that State, under the law. He is therefore removed from that office. E. M. Pease is hereby appointed Governor of Texas in place of J. W. Throckmorton, removed. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly."

PEASE'S ADMINISTRATION.

(August, 1867-September, 1869.)

General Hancock.-Sheridan was now removed, and General Hancock was placed in command of Texas. Hancock forbade the military to interfere with civil affairs; he encouraged the people to take matters into their own hands; he made the registration laws more lenient. But this displeased the rabid leaders of Congress, and Hancock was displaced.

*

Convention Called.-In 1868, it was decided to call a Convention that should form a new State Constitution. This was done with a view of gaining the re-admission of Texas to the Union. Little interest was taken in the matter by the best citizens, who seemed to have fallen into a state of apathy concerning all public matters. Austin was selected as the place of meeting. After much debate, a Constitution was adopted.

Governor Pease Resigns.-Governor Pease, feeling that he could do neither himself nor the State justice while he

* Hancock won the lasting affections of the Texans. When he became a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, his nomination was seconded by Governor Hubbard in so eloquent a speech as to win for the orator a national reputation. Texas did not fail to roll up a handsome majority for Hancock in the election.

was under the control of military officers, resigned, September 30. For three months Texas had no Governor, an adjutant performing the duties of executive.

Constitution Adopted.-In November, the new Constitution was ratified by the people. At the same time, according to military orders, an election for State officers was held. Edmund J. Davis was chosen Governor.

DAVIS' ADMINISTRATION.*

(1870-1874.)

Texas Re-admitted to the Union.-Before Texas could be again admitted to the Union, she was required to ratify the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. This was done by the Legislature in February, 1870. At the same time United States Senators were elected. On March 30, 1870, by act of Congress, Texas was re-admitted to the Union. Her Senators and Representatives once more entered the halls of Congress. Military rule was withdrawn.

Disabilities Removed.-The "iron-clad oath" had disfranchised most of the native Southerners. This caused

* Edmund J. Davis, a native of Florida, came to Texas in 1848. He held various offices of trust until 1861, when he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. The next year, he went North and joined the Union army, in which he remained till the close of the war. Returning to Texas, he was elected a member of both Reconstruction Conventions, being made President of the second Convention. He was one of six Commissioners sent to Washington to secure the recognition of Texas' new Constitution. Elected Governor in 1869, he remained in office four years, as was the law under the Constitution of that time.

them to take little interest in public affairs. With the return of civil authority, however, the skies grew brighter. Congress passed a bill removing all disabilities from the majority of the ex-Confederates. Those who were not included in this list could secure the full rights of citizenship by applying to Congress; the "iron-clad oath" was no longer required. The Texans awoke from their lethargy, found that they were once more in their Father's house, and resolved to stay there.

Legislative Acts.-In the Legislature a special bill was passed providing for the protection of the frontier. A Homestead Law was formed, granting to every married settler one hundred and sixty acres, and to each single settler eighty acres of land from the public domain. Homesteads were more rigidly protected from seizure or sale. Cities and towns were given the right to grant subsidies for carrying out external improvements. The Governor was given the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.* The public-school system received attention ; laws were passed to encourage and build up the cause of public education.

Immigration and Railroads.-The population of Texas now increased as never before. During 1872, ninety-one thousand six hundred immigrants came into the State, making a gain of ten per cent. in one year. An immigration bureau did much to inform the world as to the climate and resources of Texas. From that date to the

*This was strongly opposed by the Democrats. Its passage caused much bitter feeling. Governor Davis made use of this power three times.