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

taxpayers, WlGnOuB ulSunctl0n oil Il
party, met at Auction Mart, corner of
Congress Avenue and Pecan streets,
on last Saturday. Hon. George Han
cock took the chair S.. G. Sneed was
appointed Secretary; and Maj. C. S.
West, c. Spauldlng, Peter Smith, R.
Berlram, Behnke and Giles II.
Burditt were appointed to prepare suit
able resolutions, during the sitting of
which the meeting was addressed by
S. G. Sneed, Esq in substance as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Sneed said that the meeting
was one in which every citizen was
deeply interested. 1t was not a
meeting of partizans of any parties
ular political party, but that all were
invited to participate and exchange
views as to the best course of action.
The election "Order" of Governor
Davis had raised a cry of Indignation
in every part of the State, and the
people everywhere knew he had as
sumed powers that we're not within
his prerogative, and had taken step
even higher than ever before towards
the chair of Dictator. Mr.. Sneed
said he disliked to take the initiatory
step of suggesting course of action
in advance of the report of the COM
mittee, but would not shrink from
the responsibility of openly express
ing his views. Much had been. said
of the "order,' and with some the
impression existed that the restric-
tions on the citizen embraced in every
paragraph of the order were dictate
rial and unauthorized by any law.
This view was erroneous, and it was
important that we distinguish sharply
between such portions OF the order
as should be observed, by virtue of
existing laws which made such re-
quirements, over those portions that
were purely carnations from Davis,
in his capacity as Dictator, and which
every one knew were encroachments
on that liberty guaranteed by the
Constitution.
That paragraph of the order which
prohibits the giving away or sale or
barter of Intoxicating drinks, at or
within two miles of the county seat
either during day or night of the time
the election is going on, is nothing
more than an announcement of the
law. 1t was true that Gov. Davis
had interfered in this order in regard
to this matter, by directing his min
ions to take steps to close all such
establishments. The jurisdiction of
this matter was given by law to the
managers of the election. But of
this we should raise no question.
Whoever violated this paragraph of
the order was violating the law of
the land, and must take the conse-
quences. The selling, bartering or
giving away liquor or intoxicating
drinks was illegal, and it was hoped
no one would get into difficulty on
this account. ......
Many, owing to an imperfect read
ing of the law touching the carrying
of arms, labor under the impression
that the law no where prohibits the
carrying of guns, but is confined to
prohibiting pistols, knives and other
deadly weapons that can be con-
cealed on the person. This is an
error. One section of the law pro-
hibits the carrying of pistols or any
other firearms, or concealed deadly
weapons, at elections or any other
place where the people are assembled
to perform any public duty. This
would also include registrations. The
law permits the carrying of arms at
all places and times by the citizen,
if he has reasonable grounds for
fearing an unlawful attack on his
person, and the danger of attack is
Immediate and pressing. The arms
in such instance must be borne
openly on the person. Davis, in this
part of the order, has done no more
than to announce the law.
The remainder of the order could
not be justified. The requirements
to vote with the least possible delay,
and then leave the polls and county
seat, and return home to the usual
avocation, was unauthorized by any
law-was dictatorial, tyrannical and
q direct blow at the liberties of the
whole people. Gov. Davis, in other
portions of his order, has shown such
portions Of the law as he relies on to
support them. As to this portion,
he has cited no authority-he has
none. He establishes a rule of con-
duct for the citizen, by restricting
and combining his action, and thus
making a law. 1t is the highest-
handed act of a dictator that has
yet been done. No law nor part of
law can be tortured by any construc-
ton into giving authority to Davis
for this portion of the order. 1t is
the act of a tyrant bent on mishief-
, a blow at the liberties of the whole
/ people of every party, and every
party is interested in this awful emer-
gency. How shall we treat it Shall
we submit to be controlled in our
action by one who has no more au-
thority for such control than any
t private citizen Can we submit to
! uiiUw tyrunt and dictator, who
!. makes his own laws, to suddenly seat
e himself on a throne among us, and
issue his supreme DEGREES J? We must
meet this terrible issue, let the respon.
sibility for the consequences fall
where they belong. Whoever may
attempt to interfere with a citi-
o zen, whether he be State guard,
:" militiaman, State police, sheriff OF
: constable, or whatever else may be