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

polls on the merest pretexts; it sub
jects the citizens motives and Iur-
poses to the judgment of policemen;
it authorizes policemen to dispense
bodies of citizens without warrant of
law, and when they have been guilty
of no violation of law; it subjects the
citizen to arrest and detention, while
in attendance at an election, when he
has not been guilty of treason, felo-
ny or breach of the peace. 1t is or
dered to be executed as a criminal
law of the State, when it has not a
single feature of law. 1t is the
unlawful will of the Executive, en-
forced by him, through the power
of an armed police upon an unarmed
people. 1t is the will of a despot,
and the act of tyrant avoiding the
supreme law of the land. Sec. 2,
Art. 8 of the Constitution.
10. By orders executed through
his armed bodies of police, the Ex-
ecutive has taken control of. peace
able assemblies of the people, called
together for peaceful and lawful pur-
poses, and there suppressed free
speech, under threats of arrest and
subsection to punishment as Grim
inals. Galveston case.
20. The Executive has deliber.
ately disregsrded the solemn judgs
ment of the district court, and ord
cred his policemen to contemn the
court, and by force, with arms in
their hands, to defy the court, and to
execute his will in question of law,
where the court had decided the case
and entered its judgement of record.
Brownsville case.
81. For the purpose, and with the
intent to retain the power they now
hold, and to avoid having the free
will of the people expressed in the
enactment of laws, the Executive and
others in authority contemplate land
are now actively engaged to accom-
plish their object so apportioning
representation in the Legislature as
that only the voice of small proper
ton of the people shall be heard.
1t is proposed to give some localities
much larger representation than the
population thereof lawfully author
ICES, and to take from other localities
representation to which their popu-
lation entities them. 1t is purposed
to ignore local representation, and
to make large areas of territory rep
resentative districts to the end that
the sentiment of the population of a
few localities may control the voice
of the State in the enactment Of
laws. Bill in both Houses.
| While, sir, we have not specified
all the acts of the present admins
tration infracting the Constitution,
in violation of law, and in willful dis
regard of the rights of the people,
nor entered infinitely into the features
of those named, yet we think we have
shown enough to call upon all men
for the most serious reflection, and
to show the tendencies of the present
administration of the State Govern.
ment.
Without charging, we may say,
that the power, which in Republican
government is supposed to rest in the
people, is fast departing from the
people of Texas, and concentrating
itself in the hands of one man, the
Executive. That the people of this
State no longer govern themselves,
but are governed by E. J. Davis, as
completely as if there we're no Con-
situations, State or Federal. While
in form We have Republican govsrn-
ment, in substance and in fact We
have a despntism which constantly
becomes more and more absolute,
and will certainly end in the unquali,
fed enslavement of the people unless
some check is interposed.
Respectfully,
WALTON, Chairman.