Omar Bennett
Following the end of the American Civil War, Edmund Jackson Davis, an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. He supported the rights of freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states. In 1868, he served as President of the Texas Constitutional Convention. Davis was elected governor in 1869, becoming the first Republican to hold the office. During his term, he continued his commitment to the civil rights of African Americans, creating the State Guard of Texas and the Reserve Militia, which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1866 |
| Role | Member |
| Supported | Rights of freed slaves |
| Urged | Division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states |
| Elected | Governor in 1869 |
| Political Party | Radical Republican |
| Police Force | Texas State Police |
| Powers | Extraordinary powers, including taking offenders from one county to another for trial and operating undercover as secret agents |
| Police Worked Against | Racially based crimes |
| Police Included | Black police officers |
| Created | "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard |
| Commitment | Civil rights of African Americans |
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What You'll Learn
Support for freed slaves' rights
Following the end of the Civil War, Edmund Jackson Davis became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. Davis, an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, supported the rights of freed slaves. He urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states.
Davis was a Southern Unionist and a general in the Union Army during the Civil War. He supported Governor Sam Houston in his stand against secession and urged Robert E. Lee not to violate his oath of allegiance to the United States. Refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America, Davis was removed from his judgeship and fled to Union-held New Orleans, Louisiana. He recruited the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment (Union) and was appointed brigadier general of volunteers by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
Davis's commitment to civil rights for African Americans was evident during his term as the 14th Governor of Texas from 1870 to 1874. He created the "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were precursors to the Texas National Guard. Davis also established the Texas State Police in 1870, which worked against racially-based crimes and included Black police officers, causing protests from former slave owners.
Davis's government was marked by his dedication to ensuring the civil rights of African Americans. One of his protégés, Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston, continued the fight for equality until his death in 1896 and is recognized as a significant figure in Texas and American Black history. Despite his unpopularity among former Confederates and those who wrote about him, Davis was regarded as a hero by the Union Army and gained the respect of Spanish-speaking residents on the Rio Grande frontier.
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Division of Texas into Republican-controlled states
Following the American Civil War, Edmund Jackson Davis, an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. He was a Southern Unionist and a general in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He supported the rights of freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states.
Davis sought a new political order that ensured equality under the law for all Texans, regardless of race. He was committed to the civil rights of African Americans and his government was marked by this commitment. One of his protégés was Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston, who continued the struggle for equality until his death in 1896. Cuney is now honoured as one of the important figures in Texas and American black history.
Davis's commitment to equality and his defence of African American voting rights made him a deeply unpopular figure among former Confederates. He was reviled by many Texans during and after the Civil War as a traitor for his open support for the North and his attempts to break up Texas into several Northern-controlled states. He was also unpopular for leasing prisoners to private corporations to alleviate state budget shortfalls.
Davis served as the 14th Governor of Texas from 1870 to 1874, during the Reconstruction era. He was the first Republican to be elected to this office. His term in office was controversial, marked by political turmoil as he sought to defend African American voting rights in the face of violent opposition. On July 22, 1870, the Texas State Police came into being to combat crime statewide in Texas. It worked against racially based crimes and included Black police officers, which caused protests from former slave owners.
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Commitment to civil rights for African Americans
Following the end of the Civil War, Edmund Jackson Davis, an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. Davis, a Southern Unionist and a general in the Union Army, supported the rights of freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states.
Davis was elected governor in 1869, becoming the first Republican to hold the office. His term in office was marked by a commitment to the civil rights of African Americans. He defended African American voting rights in the face of violent opposition. On July 22, 1870, the Texas State Police was established to combat crime statewide in Texas. It worked against racially based crimes and included Black police officers, which caused protests from former slave owners. Davis also created the "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard.
Davis's commitment to civil rights for African Americans extended beyond his term as governor. After Democrats regained power in the state legislature, they passed laws making voter registration more difficult, which worked to disenfranchise African Americans. It wasn't until after the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that African Americans in Texas fully recovered their constitutional rights.
One of Davis's protégés was Norris Wright Cuney of Galveston, who continued the struggle for equality until his death in 1896. Cuney is honoured as one of the important figures in Texas and American Black history. Davis's attempts to defend equality under the law made him unpopular among former Confederates, but his legacy lies in his commitment to ensuring equality and justice for all Texans, regardless of race.
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Texas State Police establishment
Texas State Police was established on July 22, 1870 by Radical Republican legislation during the tenure of Governor E.J. Davis. Davis, a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention, was a strong advocate for the civil rights of African Americans and supported the rights of freed slaves. He played a crucial role in the creation of the Texas State Police, which was established to combat crime across Texas and specifically target racially motivated crimes.
The Texas State Police were granted extensive powers, including the ability to transfer offenders across counties for trial and to operate undercover as secret agents. Notably, the force included Black police officers, a decision that sparked protests from former slave owners and segregationists. This inclusion of Black officers was a significant step towards equality and representation in law enforcement.
Governor E.J. Davis, who served as the 14th Governor of Texas from 1870 to 1874, was a Southern Unionist and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was committed to defending African American voting rights and ensuring equality under the law for all Texans, regardless of race. Davis's stance on racial equality and his attempts to break up Texas into several Republican-controlled states made him highly unpopular among former Confederates.
The establishment of the Texas State Police was a significant development in the state's history, reflecting Governor E.J. Davis's commitment to civil rights and his efforts to combat crime and racial injustice. The inclusion of Black police officers within the force was a bold statement towards creating a more inclusive and just society in Texas. However, the controversy surrounding Davis's term in office and his commitment to racial equality highlights the divisive nature of Reconstruction-era politics in Texas.
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Presidency of the 1868 Texas Constitutional Convention
Following the end of the American Civil War, Edmund Jackson Davis, an American lawyer, soldier, and politician, became a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention. Davis was a Southern Unionist and a general in the Union Army during the Civil War. He supported the rights of freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states.
In 1868, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, commander of the Fifth Military District (Texas and Louisiana) under Congressional Reconstruction, called for an election to be held in each Texas county seat between February 10 and 14, 1868, to determine whether a constitutional convention should be held and to elect delegates to such a convention. The election was easily won by the Radical Republicans, who supported holding the convention, by a vote of 44,689 to 11,440. The ninety delegates elected consisted of eighty Whites and ten Blacks. The convention assembled at Austin on June 1, 1868.
The 1868 Texas Constitutional Convention was marked by a struggle for civil rights and governance. It represented the interests of Unionist strongholds in Northeast Texas, supporting agricultural and commercial interests, law and order, and Black civil rights. The convention was also attended by blocs representing East Texas interests, Unionist supporters from western counties, and supporters of Black civil rights and free education, including George T. Ruby, a Black agent for the Freedmen's Bureau schools.
Despite being in session for 150 days and spending over $200,000, the 1868 Texas Constitutional Convention did not complete a constitution. The convention broke up in confusion on February 8, 1869, with only 45 of the ninety delegates signing the partially assembled constitution. An election was held in July, and the proposals of the convention were approved by the electorate as the Constitution of 1869.
Following the 1868 Texas Constitutional Convention, Davis was narrowly elected governor of Texas in 1869, defeating Andrew Jackson Hamilton, a Unionist Democrat. As a Radical Republican during Reconstruction, his term in office was marked by a commitment to the civil rights of African Americans but was also controversial.
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Frequently asked questions
Edmund Jackson Davis (October 2, 1827 – February 7, 1883) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician. He served as the 14th Governor of Texas from 1870 to 1874.
As a member of the 1866 Texas Constitutional Convention, E.J. Davis supported the rights of freed slaves and urged the division of Texas into several Republican-controlled states.
Davis's term as Governor of Texas was controversial. He was committed to the civil rights of African Americans and worked to defend African American voting rights. He created the "State Guard of Texas" and the "Reserve Militia", which were forerunners of the Texas National Guard. However, he was unpopular among former Confederates and his election defeat in 1873 was marked by irregularities.
After leaving the governor's office in 1874, Davis remained active in politics. He lost an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1882 and was nominated for Vice President of the United States at the 1880 Republican National Convention. He died in 1883.
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