Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-06-04
an Act that shsuIa bs nniiii.a

noeent name, When tho ioVil per
suaiel our oh mother Eve 10 disc
boy the command of Heaven an,
plungo all our race in woe, he eallel
il ay the pleasant name ~ tie ptr
suit Of knowledge OF good aud evil
Something OF the same scrt Wa
done by tho Texas Legislature viii
the Militia bill, which, as our Aus
tin correspondent truly says, is 4
bill for tho creation al a standing
army. The general impression
abroad is, that the bill provides i6I
an oll-hshioned cornslalk militia
but il does nothing OF the sort, III,
Militia bin Is Of tho standing army
kind, and Of the most approved sorl
for controlling elections.
Seetionl provides that all able
bodied male citizens, save a few
CLASSES Of eXempls, shall boenrollet
in tho Militia or State Guards.
SECTION 2 makes tho uOvern5!
commander in-ehief Of all military
forces and divides them into tive
classes, tho Estate Guard" and the
"Rescryc Militia"
This State Guard Is n pretty
thing for ruling and governing :
FREQ people. Y ehhll consist OF sucl
persons as voluntarily enrol and
uniform themselves for service.
Section 3 provides that they may
retain possession of their arms and
equipments, during their term oI
service. Their horse, equipments
etc, arc exempt from sale sor debt
The various sections OF the bill pro
vide for tic organization Of thi.
Sate Guard, and gives tic Gov
ernor tho appointment OF every oil
Ger in the force. The organization
is complete, rs much SO rs the army
of the United States. Tho Adiu'
tant General is to receive $4,000
ard is obliged to attend parades
and encampmcnts. \ man may
compound tor service in the reserve
militia, by paying s5 q year. We
will give four sections, %, 20, 27i
IS, in full, as showing what is cX-
pectcd to do with this army:
Section %. In time Of war, re.
bcliion, instruction, invasion, re-
sistance of civil process, breach OF
tho peace, or imminent danger
thcrsof, the Governor shall have
full power to order into active ser
vice the military force of this State
Section 2G. 1t shall be the duty
of the Governor, and he is hereby
authorized; whenever, in his opin-
ion, the enforcement Of the laws OF
This State is obstructed within any
county or counties, by combinations
of lawlcss men too strong for the
control of the civil authorities, to
declare such county or counties un-
der martial law, and to suspend the
laws therein. In this event the
Governor, by his proclamation,
shall designate the county or coun-
ties wherein the laws are to be SO
suspended, and. the Governor shall
call out such part Of the State
Guard, or reserve militia, or State
police, as may, in his opinion, be
necessary to the suppression Of dis
order. The cXponso CT maintaining
the State guard, or reserve militia
called into active service under this
section may, in whole or in part, in
tue discretion of tbs Governor, bs
assessed upon the people OF the
county. or counties where the laws
arc suspended, For the assess
mont and collection of such part o.
this expense as may be required tc
bo paid by the county or counties
whore the laws are suspended, the
Governor may provide ard fio may
Also prescribe tho necessary regu
lations therefor, and he may desig
nate the officer or officers who shal
mako such assessment and collec
tioh thereof.
Section 81. Whenever tho law;
may be- suspended as provided fol-
in last preceding section, it shall b'
the duty of the Governor to pro
vide for the trial and punishmen
of offenders, and the aoverfor shal
mako all details of officers of thi
purpose, and prescribe all necessity
regulation for the formation ant
government of court-martials an(
military commissions established
for this purpose.
Section 28. All officers, non-com
missioned officers, musicians ant
privates, whenever called into ser
vice, shall receive the same com
/ pcnsation as tho commissioned Off
GERS and enlisted men of the regula
army of The United States, togethe
with all necessary rations and foi
are and for the horses of an.
mounted men, one.half dollar pc
day.
1t will be seen at a glance tina
| this is no innocent militia bill, bu
an act providing for a rcgula
standing army, and one whic
makes the Governor despot OF th
| first water. Every officer in th
| force is his creature. He can d.
clare martial law when and wher
he pleascs he can send his arm
into any locality, and quarter hl
troops on the people of the vicir
age. We are prepared to show tbs
no European country, not eve
i Austria, is half SO despotic. Pas
Ills law, and Edmond ]. Davis is \
longer Governor of the State
Texas. He will then be the despo
ruling a province, and obedient
, no will but his own.
1t is idle 70 talk Of law goveri
, ing the commander-in-chief Of thi
! ty or forty thousand soldiers, wit
, ( every jail in the State ready I
open its doors and receive his mi
tary prisoners. To whom will