Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-06-29
To the Voters of Texas

| Felioic Citi=ens AS the nominee o. Demo
cratic Convention, assembled at Houston, reno"
senting platform Of the purest political priu-
oiples on earth, am before you iog ra,clecua7
to the Office which now hold In regard to pol
itics, deem it unnecessary to make any rolnarks,
especially as the time honored principles % which
am devotedly attached are well known aud ~
derstood by you They breathee spirit Of Justice
and patriotism, equality and unI5u, in every sea
tence, and at the same time are 20 protective OF
the reserved rights Of the State under the Coust
tuition, as to command the admiration and satisiJ
the Just demands Of the most ZcGlous. I wGs
elected two years ago the coming August, and In
Quoted into this Office on the first iar Of March,
1858, consequently the shortne- of the time
which have served as Commissiuner veulora u
impossible that can give you an account Of my
Stewardship; neither can do so IN lu'sunti the
next meeting of the Legislature svi!l say this
much however, that | have not betrayed the cor
fdence heretofore placed in me, either by dis
regard Of the individual rights OF rhe ciSizen,
of tho interest Of the State. On entering anon
the discharge of my duty, promulgated certain
regulations by which to be governe3, those rules
you have Doubtless seen in the newspapers, and
need not be recapitulated--only One uf which, 50
far as know, gave any dissatisao.iou. Ihi5
was the rule gai,ug tiic luslns5s of sh5 Office
10 be dispatched in its order Of Sling 10 say
nothing Of Tvs perfect equality and iairness, 1t
VIA ta 1ea upon my obi gution es an oGlesr 10
iissharSe my duty faithfully aud impartialiy~-
which in ny jpIgmeut could onlybe done by re
goioti ~ .ort. Tie
.,..,.,.i ., .,.,5 propr.g,, u. ...s .4.g
has been questioned, nud some Dissatisfaction
has been manifested 10 you, telIow-c,tiaens
] appeal, aud shalt be Gontsot with your verdict.
adopted it ss measure Of justice to tho citizen,
and duty TO the public, rhac would greatly
facilitate tie dispatch Of busiue5s [ had no
doubt; and ths experiment for one year baa prov
ed its excellence; tjr greater amount Of work
has been done in the Office, in proportion Gt the
force employed, chan has ever been parDnned in
A like period since its organization The amount
Of work done by an officer, however, does not coz
stitutc the only criterion by which his merit
should be judged. AS to my genera. qualifaG-
lions for the duties of the Office, you ,nnst deter
nine for yourselves. take this oaolsoa to say.
for the benefit of all concerned, tha, the rule Qf
taking up the business in it's order. has nayes
1oen applied to school lands OF set I.g'a clAimt.
We have been, and are still, pat,ntng school
ands upon application of the coIuEss, as
measure of public policy also settler el4ims
upon the payment of the amount REQUIRED by
aw.-for the same reason. ThemonaY upJn set
.ler's claims must be deposited in no Land
Office by the frat day of October. 1857, or their
ands are forfeited. This therefore il do.'gasd
ls notice to oil concerned
In regard to the re-opening d tho African
Slave Trade, Secession, &c, l WI sly ina.
these question are wholly unimportar in CON
nection with the duties of the Office which seek,
and would not alludc to them, were not FROM
the fact that my views and sentim. qts though
Of private character as citizen, haze been ana
doubtless will continue to be made subject of
comment, and perhaps msconstruction; and MS
ntertain no sentiment on questions Of BIC ia-
crest which desire to conceal nor wish shat
ny fellow citizens should be misled Either into
upport or proposition of me from al ignorance
f my views respecting them will briefly stats,
hat am opposed to the re-opening OF tie Arri
an Slave trade. l regard the question as ans Of
olicy, in which no political principle whatever
3 involved, ,-unless, its agitation be prompted b.
desire to produce an exciting secti9ars issyo
atween the North and the South, viii & vswt,
ring about dissolution of the Unico, L. tl!s
lew of the case, the question would p. repUg-
mt TO Democratic principles. am opposed 10
isunion, secession, and any and al questions
ending to bring a3out such result. As an ad-
ocate of our National ard States Rights plat
Drms as promulgated by the Cincinnati Conygn
ion, and re-arsdnciated at Waco anl Touet0n
regard such questions as being opposa3 % Den
cracy. The paramount object o Americas
Democracy us [ understand it, is, to pyeser"stt5
Jniop all its Constitutional vigor, and toe re-
er,ed rights Of State, by strict con sfOoticG of
lie powers delegated to Congress by tbs CCn,Ji-
iition. In my opinion these objectsarl elLbraca0
our platforms, which are broad enough s11
trong enough to carry out these designs, All
lat is upon them alone that this Union c4a re
ose in safety:
In conclusion, fellow -citizens, Uhas bos. ob.
cted that am supported by somevio nre op-
osed to the Democratic party. Fo5 his ! ain
OF eulpable nor responsible; neither have any
ish or desire to refuse the support Of any, and
elected. promise TO the best of my ability.
fol nd i'm, an har IF l.,g,