The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-09-07
The Question.

The great question for the people OF
Texas to-day, that which overrides all
others, is as to the defeat of the party
now in power. There can be no inquiry
whether this or that act of past State
Legislation be wise or unwise. All are
agreed that every act, without excep-
tion, of the Davis administration has
been conceived in sin and born in
iniquity. The Governor and his CO.
adjutors have proved themselves the
enemies of the State. They can scarcely
point to single act, either of admin
istration Or Legislation, which is not an
outrage on the people, designed to op-
press rather than protect They have
obtained power by fraud, and they
know it. They fear the free voice of
an indignant people, and hence they
have made laws, not for the welfare Of
the State, but for the advantage of
their own faction, struggling TO retain
ill-gotten power.
Of course, when State has become
subject to the control of such faction,
all idea of anything like just govern
ment is necessarily at an end. All
other questions then become absorbed
into one single one: How shall we con-
sign to eternal oblivion these upstart
tyrants, who have forced themselves
into place2 That's the question. We
have nothing now to do with the Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments to
the Federal Constitution. More impor-
tant matters of State administration
demand our attention.
There is but one way in which the
people can or should assert their rights
and independence at the present time,
and that is by the ballot. But they
should see to it that the exercise of the
right to vote is left free and untrammel-
ed, as guaranteed by the Fundamental
law. The election older of Gov. Davis is
intended as direct blow at the free
dom of the ballot, the great bulwark
of liberty, and thus the most sacred
rights Of the people are to be destroyed.
This order, so far as it attempts to
control the elector in the time of his
coming to, or the time and manner of
his going from the place of election,
or to prevent the peaceable assembling
together of the citizens then, there, or
elsewhere, is an act of usurpation..
The organic law of this State pro-
vides, that mo citizen shall be de-
prived of life, liberty, property, or
privileges, outlawed, exiled, or in any
manner disfranchised, except by due
process of the law of the land ;" and,
again, chat electors, in all cases, shall
be privileged from arrest during their
attendance at elections, and in going
to and returning from the same, except
in cases of treason, felony, Or breach
of the peace.'
In view of these plain and well
known provisions for the security of the
liberty of the citizen, we advise the
people of Texas not to permit them>
selves to be imposed upon by those
exercising pretended authority. De-
mand your rights at the polls and insist
upon them. Resist no law; but do not
submit to authority exercised without
law. We do not advise armed resist
ance to any man or set of men, acting
under coverof authority. Stand upon
the defensive, and if any man be
disturbed in the exercise of his con-
stitutional rights, see to it that he is
protected, and secure for him the
redress to which he is entitled under
the law.
Avoid physical resistance, but hold
the aggressors to strict accountability
according to law for any invasion of
personal rights.