The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-09-14

W. ALExANDER, Sec. Chairman.
Letter to the Frontier PeOpIe--
The Difference between Han
cock and Degener.
Editor Democratic Statesman.
AUSTIN, Sept. 9, 1871.
Gentlemen ofthe Frontier: Hav-
ing been delegate for one of your
counties in the Frontier Convention
at Lampases, in April, 1870, and
member of the State Democratic
Convention at Austin in January
last, as well as the Convention in
which Hon. John Hancock was NOM
mated as the Democratic candidate
for Congress in this district; and
feeling a great interest in the frontier
people on account of former residence
and association, and present profess
sional and social relations; all these
facts being considered, 1 hope you
will not think it presumption for me
to address you on the important
matters concerning the political can
vass which is now progressing; and
it is perhaps more proper, under the
circumstances, for me to perform this
pleasant duty than any other person
living at the State Capital.
In a letter which has lust been
published, written by Col. James E.
Ranck of Mason county, to the from
tier people, telling them to vote for
Mr.. Degener, Col. Ranck, says ::
''We unanimously instructed our
delegate to support Mr.. Degener for
reelection to Congress, provided,
said Degener would pledge himself
to sustain Governor Davis in offer
ing a liberal reward for the capture
or arrest, dead or alive, OF each and
every hostile Indian found in our
settlements. The New Braunfels
Convention, by a unanimous vote,
adopted our resolution"
The New Braunfels Convention
Resolutions are published, and they
show that Col. Ranck's Revolution
sOas not adopted. He seems to
think that he can gull the frontier
people by such groundless assertions.
And again, in addressing the
voters of the frontier, he says
"Have you found frontier plank
upon which Mr.. Degener's opponent
is supposed to be standing? Come
now, tote fair, sing out! The truth
is that, unfortunately for Mr.. Dege-
ner's opponents, they did not use any
frontier timber at all in the con"
struction of their platform.
1t cannot be supposed that Col.
Ranck, who appears in the Radical
newspapers to tell the frontier peo-
pie how they shall vote, is ignorant Of
the existence of the following resolu'
tions, which are to be found on the
18th page of the resolutions and pro-
ceedings of the State Democratic
Convention which convened at Aus
tin, January %, 1871:
"Judge ]. F. Oatman, representing LlanC
county, seconded by h. E. McCulloch, offered
the following resolutions, which wert
adopted:
ResolUed, That our deepest sympathies ar,
with the suffering people of the frontier, Il
whom the present State administration ha
given such inefficient protection from Indian
outrage, and we here express our unqualified
condemnation of the employment by the
administration of the men and means tina
should have been used to the uttermost mai
and dollar in defense of the frontier in har
rsssment and oppression OF the people in tn
| interior.
Resolved, That we pledge the Democratic
party to protect the frontier people, and saw
their women and children from Indian rapine
murder and outrage.
Twenty thousand copies of tht
proceedings of the Democratic Con
vention were published in pamphle
form, and distributed throughout thu
whole State; besides, these proceed
ings and resolutions were published
by the newspapers all over Texas
When my frontier resolution wa
presented-the resolutions here pub
lished anil unanimously adopted
being more expressive, were Offered
as substitute, and by me accepted
in place of the original-I explained
the condition of the frontier people
and my reasons for the adoption o
the resolution. l was particular,
supported by Hon. Charles S. West
the law partner of Judge Hancock
and by Gen. Henry E. McCulloch
who commanded a regiment Of Ran
gers on the frontier in 1861. TIL
substance OF my remarks were after
wards published in the State Gazette
and circulated extensively in tn
upper counties.
The Convention which nominate
Judge Hancock, endorsed the actio
of the State Democratic Convention
and Judge Hancock, the next even
ing after his nomination, made
speech in which he planted himsel
firmly upon the principles adOpte
by the State Convention, and pledg
ed himself to carry out the policy G
the Democratic party of Texas.
From these facts you will see tina
Mr.. Degener should have selected a
his frontier champion, man VIII
had a greater esteem for integrit
and Veracity, or one who was not s
unpardOnably ignorant in pOlitica