The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-10-19
Moderation Is DulY.

The declaration of martial law in the
counties of Limestone and Freestone,
is another exhibition on the part of
Governor Davis and his friends, that
they are determined to rule Texas by
measures not warranted by the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and of
Texas, and not recognized by any law
of God or man.
The question is not whether a police
man has been wantonly killed by a
citizen, or whether four policeman mur,
dered a citizen in cold blood? 1t is
whether Governor Davis will be sup
ported by the President of the United
States in an effort to supelsede laws,
courts, juries, and all the appliances of
civilization, and rear on the ruins of
civil and religious liberty a military
despotism-,thc rule of the bayonot in
the hands Of negro soldiers?
There is just cause to fear the latter
is one Of the things, not in the distant
future, but near at hand.
No one will counsel a tame and
cowardIy submission to tyranny in the
most revolving form. But there are
reasons why the people of Texas should
be extremely cautious in action and
language. The course Of Gov. Davis
has been such as to ALLEVIATE every pa
triot who can distinguish between
country and party. He has justly lost
their confidence and their respect.
They feel assured that he aims to rule
or ruin Texas. His incapacity stands
in the way CT wise administration of
affairs, and he designs to substitute
force for capacity and wisdom, and to
thus coercc an unwilling and injured
people into submission to his will.
1t has been his hope, that the pco =
pie, goaded by his tyranny, would lose
all patience, and be guilty Of acts of
violence to afford him a pretext to call
upon the President for aid, in enforc-
ing his edicts. He has on all occa-
sions appealed to the bayonet and ig-
nored the existence of courts. He has
bclieI ed that resistance would even
tually spring up, and, that he could
plead it to cxtenuate his despOtism,
and to appcase the Indignation of an
offended people. He would he delight
cd to have the people of Limestone
and Frccstonc meet his black cohorts
with arms in their hands. He would
then subvclt our free institutions, and
openly inaugurate his long contem
plated career Of despotism. lie would
tear off the mask, and assume his true
appearance. lie would become the ty.
rant over a people whose good opinion
he has forfeited.
\ quiet submission TO the curse Of
military rule, peaceful and orderly con
duct, are demanded of the people Of
Limestone and Freestone, because the
interests and the welfare of themselves
and families, and the people of Texas
will be secared and enhanced by such
a course hereafter. The misrule, tho
waste and the ruin, of the Radical
usurpers now administering the State
government can not be arrested anC
checked by armed resistance. Oul
salvation can be achieved by a dignifet
submission TO the exactions, and enor
mites they have imposed and will i'm
pose upon US. We must appeal TO thC
bar of public opinion by our irreproach
able conduct, and We shall obtain 6
verdict in our favor. We have lost
and we shall have to pay the penalty
of failure Let US not forget that, i
indignities are heaped upon US, if dis
honorable terms are imposed, the dis
honor clings not to us, but to those wilt
forced themupon an unresisting people