The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1858-02-06

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In the Democratic caucus for the no'n'na-
ton of L. s. Senator's, Mr. Wigfall did him.
self grca, eredI, By the msgnan'mity OF his
course. which elected the livelies, expressions
Of appreciation from Ire leading men Of the
marty. lie has participated since then to
considerable extent In the discussions OF the
mo $, important subjects Of the session Inc
for,c of his intellect will not fail to leave
profound impression upon the legislation OF
the State. Such men are Of great service IN
a legislative body for the reason, that IN the
diseu ssion of leading questions affecting the
public interest, those who occupy opposite
grounds must tuly prepare themselves 10
combat their arguments while those whs are
srrayed on the same side are inspired to emu
late them. Their presence, therefore, to
considerable extent, has a tendency to prevent
ha.ty and inconsiderate action, to which
legislative bodies are often too prone.
Mr.. Murrah Is winning golden opinions
in the House, by the force of his iHsef'e' and
hi. cour,eou. bearing No man in that body
of his age ranks higher as dictator. lie Is
everywhere regarded as man OF promise
MIR Craig, (,he Flag to the contrary not
with.landng) has acquitted himself WIN
credit, aud is universally respected Tor the
attention which he hestows upon The in'osu'
cation Of every subject the soundne~s oi h''
Judgment the mode-ty of his demeanor ana
the urbanity of his manners
The same may be said of DIR. Baldwin, who
seems to be occupied with but one idea, and
that i, to perform his duty to his 60 ns'iaents
md TO consult the horror and interests OF the
state.
In tine, no one who had any agency IN
+ ,leetirr these men, If they could remain IN
Austin but u day, but would feel proud oil
the, choice. Harrison county occupies n
proud position in the present Legislature
Col. VI. + Johnson is here, looking better
than ever saw him No public man IN The
State is more universally admired.
But few bills Of y general character have
We, passed into Laws The following bill
haze passed tie Senate, and are now pending
IN the House
A Bill to authorize geological survey of
the State.
A Bill TO amend the general railroad law
Of which spoke q. length ia my Last (snee
passed
; \ Bill 10 restrain the Commissioner Of the
General Land Office from issuing patents upon
certificates ISSUED in Peters colony, since
February. 1888 (Al,o rissci) This bill
hA. been introduced on account of the Frauds
which have been recently discovered.
F A bill to allow free negroes to choose their
i masters and 20 into slavery. (Passed)
The FOLLOWING bills are now pending in the
Senate and before committees.
A bil, to cake an appropflt,i Of Sl.100o
to aid counties in the West which have failed
from droulh to maze supplies. Referred to
the committee on state affair. Tai. bill i, a
pure piece of demagoguism L. niroductio d
MO the Legislature wi,l injlrc, intellectually,
the counties whlyh are named ia o.
A bill to appropriate 100000 and df'y
dowmcnt of a State university; with sub
siuute proposing 10 4 apart hity leagues 81
lard for the endowment of two universities
or colleges Referred to anne committee.
Many of the mrmbers are in ia, or Of uniting
NIL the resources # thn State upon one uni
yersitv, II a location could be agreed upon
Bat tina, is the difficulty. Austin, OF any
portion Of this prairie country will not 40 for
the location, and the west w;Il not agree, /
fear to moving it Tar enough East TO insure
health boarding, and abundant hre.wood
which are ud-peusably requisite. And if the
West would consent to the location in the
East, the Eastern members would perhaps
disagree us to the location.
A bill to authorize the sale Of the public
domain at fifty cents an acre. Referred tn
the committee on the Judiciary, This is an.
other measure of demagogui.m, it seems to
me Its progressed ohJee, is TO beneh, the
settler but its real purpose is 10 throw The
whole Of our valuable public land, into the
hands of spectators Five years ago, urged
tial inc HthNt Snnutu Nv atitf surrey anu N'''
lionize her public domain. It was believed
that it could have been done for S600,0o0
This measure had !, been carried out, would
nave added great value to our public lands
have prevented endless litigation and Frauds,
aud have been Of inealculable service TO our
works of internal Improvement, and 10 rals-
,uy fund fir educational purposes II is
not too late to do it yet. And 1t certainly
seems to me TINT the w-e-t policy would be
to hold up the public lands until they are IN q
proper condition 10 be sold There are plenty
Of cheap lands in the market. A. 1t is, where
thc hardy settler gets one section, the specu
lator gets twenty, Every one knows thai
such has been the case for the last twelve
months, and tina, the policy of this legislation
has been to uujnslly injnrc the character of
Texas lands abroad, and to initiate against
the interests Of our railroad companies. Under
the operation of the law selling the publ,
lands, at nifty cents an acre, capitalists a's
enabled TO monopolisc the valuable lands o
the State. The present settlers. to Limited
ex,eu, ore benefited, bu, lasting injury to oui
[ interests is Inflicted BY the law proposed, Of
selling the public lands IN tracts of 100 acres
settler can take gu, Of league that portion
of il containing the timber and water, nnc
4 ia, rphv roulsr yaIueleS. the remainder