The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-10-05

Sec. 10, Art. s of the Constitution.
Sec. II, p. $50, laws 1870.
Z. The present State administra-
ton loses its authority on the claims
ed results of the general election
held on the 30th of November,
and 1st, I'd and Sd days of De-
cember, 1869, and yet has omitted
and refused to order and provide for
general election until the first Tues
day after the first MondayIn Novem-
Der, 1872, thus throwing the second
general election nearly three years
from the first. Section 4, Article
8, Constitution; Laws of 1870, p.
100, sec. Z.
8. The State of Texas is practi-
cally left without a Legislature from
December 1871, until November
1872, and that too while the Execu,
tive is clothed with, despotic power.
9. Newspapers have been estab-
lished in the several judicial districts
of the State to bolster up the pres
ent despotism, and to familiarize the
people with Executive usurpation
and thus forced patronage to gain
great profit, and thereby help to
impoverish the citizen: Laws of
1870, p. IA.
10. The courts of the State are eff
fectually closed against tie approach
of the citizen, and prohibited from ex>
tending relief for an existing wrong,
in this, that though judge of elec~
ton may wilfully and corruptly refuse
to permit a qualified electOr to vote,
yet their courts are forbidden to
compel such officer to do his duty, or
refrain from the commission of a
wrong, by injunction, maintained or
otherwise. Laws of 1870, p. 1872,
sec. %. Constitution, Sec. II,
Art. 1.
II. An election law has been pass
ed and is now enforced, which breaks
down in practical effect, all the safe.
guards of the ballot, and places in
the hands of those who receive and
count the votes, the unrestrained
power to defeat the will of the cleo
tors, and to substitute their own in>
stead; it authorizes those who have
the handling of the votes, on one
pretext and another, to cast out large
proportions of the votes, and to am
nounce partial and untrue results;
it, by the non-identifcation of tickets
voted, prevents fair and full investi-
CATION, in cases of contested elections;
it requires electors to travel long dis
tances, to undergo heavy expense,
and to consume much time needlessly,
to exercise the right of suffrage, thus
compelling the citizen to forego the
exercise of the elective franchise, or
else to submit to exactions, Oppres-
sions, and wrongs, to person and
property. Laws of 1870, p. $50,
ct seq.
II. The Enabling Act places
great power in the hands of the Exc
cutive, in palpable violation of the
Constitution, in that, it authorises
him to appoint various important Of
fcers, who are charged with respon-
sible duties, who under the Constitu-
ton are elective by the people, and
to remove others, who are alone re-
movable by due course of law.
Laws of 1870, PIP. II and IS. Con-
stitution, Sec. Il, Art. 5.
Is. The terms of the Police bill
constitute of themselves, an author
lied violation of nearly every private
right of the citizen. The police force
Is chosen by the Executive, and
placed under his command, without
restriction or responsibility; it is
always ready for action with arms
in hand, having for its duties the
part of spies, informers, and detec-
tiVes, circulating through the whole
community. The very vocation of
such force, renders them odious to
the people, and unprincipled of them.
selves; they are dangerous as hire
lings to the reputation and lives of
the people. The practical workings
of this force, varied under the pre-
tence of securing peace and quiet,
and to arrest violaters of the law, has
demonstrated, beyond doubt, that it
is an armed body Of men, massed to
overawe the citizen, and to give an
active arm to the Executive to up
hold and maintain him in his usur>
pations, and exercise of the unlaw-
full power concentrated in him. Its
work has been succession of wrongs
mingled with blood-its continuance
is death to every private right, and
ia innumerable instances, to life it
self. Laws of 1870, P. 10.
IA. Large amounts of money have
been subjected and appropriated to
the use of the Executive, obtainable
on requisitiOn, and on the sale of
State bonds, to be held and used by
him, without any of the restrictions
and safeguards which the laws re-
quire of all others who handle public
moneys. Laws of 1870.
Is. Under the authority of the
Militia law now in force, aud being
daily executed, the Executive is YES
ed with unlimited power.
He may organize standing army
in q time of profound peace; in the
face of heavy fines and penalties,
the citizen is required to perform
military duty, and to form part of
such standing army. A State guard
is provided for, the men and officers
of which are chosen and selected by
the Executive, thus creating special
organization of great strength, COM
posed of the pets, favorites and tools
of the Governor, whose interest is to
maintain him in his usurpations, and