Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-05-14
Cayernors iIeSsage.
LArthliAf hftitLa !
AUsfIN, April 20 1870, J

AZ R,gn,iafirds ~ Ttpiss
=, long time has elapsed since the
session, within this stats, Uf a body
. competent Ia leslslate, that your
duties must ho many, and their
performance tedious and labQrlons'
h addition lo ordinary matters oI
legislation, YOU will iind i lncnm'
bent upon S0h In rcm0del, 10 u
great extent tho General Slaiaicsr
aud la accommodate them Ia iho
new order OF things, and 10 lhc rad
icnl changes cngrailod on our lnsl''
tulionf by The constitution lately
adopted,
Ia obedience TO that section ol
The constitution which requires ,hc
noycrhOr Ia recommend 10 the Leg
lslaturo ''suCh measures ns ha msi
deem expcdicni," now prop0S" 70
call your attention 10 such OI ihcso
matters us seem 10 mo Of SPECIAL im'
porlancc.
Al tho outset, | give precedence
| TO u subject which is believed 10 Ic
of primary Importance in the minda
of the great mass Uf our people, by
asking your attention to tho con-
sidcratiun OF measures 10 establish
law and order throughout the
State, and tie punishment or re
preston of crime. ! esteem this
matter of first importance, bcca,lsc,
having peace aud security for life
and property, everything else will
follow, oironrsc. recommend the
passage of II law for efficient organi.
cation df the militia, embracing all
able. bodied males, between the ages
Of eighteen aud foriy-tivc. IL has
been found, in some States, n good
arrangement 10 cmbUdy smaller
force of sucl OF the militia ~ may
be willing TO volunteer Into II Nh
tional Guard, aud 10 aid the latter
in arms and equipments, 10y Il levy
of Il tax on all persons liable 10
militia duty, who may, 10y paying
the same, avoid enrolment. This
policy is recommended 10 your con.
sidcrution. us | believe we can there
bt Secure II moro effective and casi'
~ handled force, disciplined, nrmcd
and equipped, sufficient III Numbers
for all probable necessity, with lii.
tic or no cost to the State treasury.
Thr militia, or military, should,
however, ynly be looked to in cX'
lrcmt emergencies, to aid in sns-
, tanning the laws. There is no great
reason to apprchcnd resistance TO
the las Ly organized bodies of men;
it is generally with individuals,
acting independently, that the con
scfvators Of law have to deal. 1t is
necessary, therefore, TO provide Il
police system that Will enable the
officers of the law to follow up and
arrest offers, and that will reach
efficiently TO all pa. Is Of the State
Heretofore, while in some counties
OF cities The laws arc enforced, in
other counties the authorities are
too weak to enforce rcepect, or IN
disposed to do so. These parts OF
the State furnish u sort Of ncutial
ground, where oil 'ndcrs cQngrcgatc.
| ] recommend that Il police system
be adopted, embracing the whole
State under one head, and that the
police OF the different cities, the
/ shcriifs and their deputies and con
| stables, be made part Of that gen
eral police, TO act in concert with it,
and 10 be subject to the orders OF
tie Gliicf. This officer might also
conveniently serve us adjulant gen
cral of the militia or military force
to be Authorised by you. AsJstth
thus orgaulzcd can be made without
great expense, very efficient in pur
suing and bringing 10 justice often
dcrs, aud in destroying lawless or
ganizations.
In connection with matters OF
public justice, l must invite your
4 attention to the want of safe .laIs
in most Of the counties. The means
appropriated to tl.s purpose by th(
local authorities has, in many coun
ties, been insufficient to secure good
buildings, and has also oiscii been
misspcnt. 1t would be good ocono
my for the State TO take upon itscl
the burden of building, on an ap
proved plan, jails and court hoosc'
where necessary, and provide fol
expense of some by spccial tax o.
the people Of the county.
The practice, which has bctom'
common, of mobs of lawlcss mcr
assembling and operating in dis
guisc, for the carrying out Of som'
unlawful purpose, mast receive
your attention. The operations o
this class of criminals arc generally
directed against the recently en-
franchised, and where repeated in
stances have occurred in the sam,
neiglfborhood, without arrest D
the offenders, color is given to III,
charge that the offenders are pro
tccted or encouraged by the major
ity of the people. There is no of
fcnsc cqualling this in danger to th'
public security, and L recommend
such modification of the crimina
code as will provide for punishin;
it with special severity Thcs'
measures will not be complete with
out such powers are conferred OF
the Executive as will enable hin
in any emergency TO act with au
thority Of Law. We may trust tha
no combinations Of lawlcss men Cal
be made in any part or fthc State II
sufficient numbers or force TO b
able 10 resist the local civil author
itics, bot as hong as such a condi
ton is possible, due caution adrisc
me 10 be prepared for il. 1t ma!
also happen that The local autbori
ties would be bound in symPath!
Il a = u