The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-31

convention. The Major then read
the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The taxes now in process of COL
lection for the revenue of the State and coun-
ties, and for other purposes, in the State of
Texas, are greatly in excess of any legitimate
want and, whereas, said taxes are UNDER
taken to be collected under unconstitutional
| legislation, and without the warrant of law
and, whereas, such unnecessary and unlawful
exactons should be resisted by all legal
means within the Fower of the people of the
State of Texas and, whereas, under section
XIX of the Bill of Rights the people shall
have the right, in peaceable manner, to as
| semble together for the common good, and
| to apply to those invested with powers of
| government for redress of grievances, or
other purposes, by petition, address or re-
mosstrsnee and, whereas, the citizens of
Travis county have suggested by formal ap-
| peal to the other counties in the State the
! propriety of assembling a convention of re-
| representatives. from all the counties in the
| State of Texas, on the 22d day of September
next, (lS7l,) to be held at the capital of the
/ State, (the city of Austin for the purpose of
/ taking under consideration the said subject
| of excessive and unlawful taxation, with a
I hlSH " oNS6SSh eAS -1SSS 0O'ASoSAO
for the evil; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, l. That we heartily concur in the
suggestions so made by the citizens of Travis
county.
Resolved 2. That the Chairman of this
meeting appoint fourteen delegates from the
| taxpayers and citizens of Galveston county to
attend the convention as aforesaid, to assem-.
| BILE at the city of Austin on the 22d day of
September next, or at any other day that may
be hereafter indicated for the purposes afore-
said.
Resolved 8. That the delegates thus ap-
pointed by the Chairman of this meeting, or
such of them as may attend said convention,
are hereby instructed to take such action as
they may deem best for the interests of this
county, and that they will report their &C
| ton, and the action of said convention to an
adjourned meeting of the people of this coun-
ty, to be convened by a call from said dele
gates, as soon as practicable after the ad-
journment of said Austin Convention.
The resolutions were adopted.
Secretary Mott then read the following list
of delegates appointed to attend the Austin
Convention John D. Rogers, G. B. Lee,
Hon. c. B. Sabin, Vol. Pool, W. L. Moody,
G. F. Afford, Adolphe Flake, NJ. G. Melee
more, A. P. Lufkin, Gen. X. B. DeBrsy, L.
Klopmsn, Edward Keough, ]. J. Hand, H. j.
Labstt
The Committee on Resolutions being ready,
presented the following report, through their
Chairman, Mr.. @. Cleveland
The Governors election circular
was given our readers before, and is
omitted here.
In connection with this "circular," sour
committee here present the following extracts
from the Constitution of the State OF Texas ::
ARTICLE bill OF RIGHTS.
SECTION 8. Every citizen shall be at lib
erty to speak, write, or publish his opinions
on any subject, being responsible for the
abuse of the privilege, and no law shall be
passed curtailing the liberty of speech, or of
the press.
SEC 6. No citizen of this State shall be
deprived of life, liberty, property, or priv
ileges, outlawed, exiled, OF in any manner
disfranchised, except by due process of the
law of the land.
SEC. II: The military shall at all times be
subordinate to the civil authority.
SEC. 10. The people shall have the right,
in peaceable manner, to assemble for their
common good, and to apply to those invested
with powers of government for redress of
grievances, or other purposes, by petition, ad-
| dress, or remonstrance
ARTICLE III.
Sec. 2. Electors in all cases shall be priv
LEGGED from arrest during their attendance at
elections, and in going to and returning from
the same, except in case of treason, felony,
or breach of the peace.
ARTICLE ".
SEC. IA. No person holding the Office of
Governor shall hold any other Office or COM
mission, civil or military.
The committee submit the following report:
l. That the assumption of authority by the
| Governor, as set forth in his "circular," are
without warrant of law and in palpable yio-
lation OF the foregoing provisions of the CEN
constitution of the State of Texas.
| 2. That his mandatory "circular" is in
derogation Of the common rights of the citi-
zens, of the freedom of speech, of locomo-
ton, and subversive of the fundamental
| principles of civil liberty.
| 8. That any attempt to control the elector
| in the time of his coming to, or the time and
manner of his going from the place of cleo
ton, or prevent the peaceable assembling to-
gether of the citizens then, there, or else
where, is an act of usurpation, as shocking
to the common sense as it is insulting to the
dignity of free people, and that for its des-
potic exercise the people will hold the Gov
eruor of Texas responsible in the forum and
at the bar of civilization, for all the evil
consequences thereof.
4. That we sincerely confde in the ability
and disposition of the people to deport them
selves as good citizens, in the exercise of the
right of suffrage conferred by the constitu-
ton and laws of the land, and to secure ia
full, fair and peacesble election"
5. That any use Of force, or display of it,
whether under color of authority or other
wise, not justified by any thing done or
threatened to be done, violative of the law,
upon the days of election, is to be regarded
as anti-Republican, and as declarative of the
purpose to coerce the ballot, to control its
exercise for partizen purposes, and to pre-
vent that vigilance which, as freemen, the
citizens should bestow upon the conductors
thereof, and as calculated to forestall, rather
than secure ''full, fair, and peaceable cleo
ton"
Wherefore, the committee recommend the
adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, By the citizens of Galveston
county, in mass meeting assembled, That the
Governor Of the State of Texas be respect
fully requested to withdraw his said "cir-
cular," order or proclamation.
ReS0lUed, That a committee of citizens OF
the county of Galveston be appointed to pre-
sent to the Governor the foregoing report,
as remonstrsnce and petition for the redress
of the grievances set forth therein, and that
the said committee are instructed to report
the result of their action to an adjourned
meeting to be hereafter called by the Chair
man of this meeting.
RESOLVED, That the citizens of all other
counties in the State cooperate herein, by
the expression of their will and sentiment in
such way as 10 them shall seem best.
ResOlred, That all newspapers throughout
the State friendly to the cause of civil lib
erty, are respectfully requested to publish at
length the proceedings of this meeting.
From Flakes Bulletin,
Official Proceedings of the In
deDendent German PonnIR3S