The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-11-20
Letter from Kaufman County.
KAurMAN. Tlxas, Oct. 20. 1878.


THE GOVERNORS SPEECH AND THE CAM
.PAIGN STATE JOURNAL.
KAUFMAN, Texas, Oct. 30. 1873
Editors Democratic Stdtesmqn-A few days
since the usual quiet of our town was dis
turbed by loud and repeated calls and the
ringing of a gong at the court house, and
on inquiring as to the cause, we were in
formed that the Governor was going to
speak. Proceeding to the court house, we
were Just in time 70 hear him introduced by
one of our lawyers, who requested all to be
silent and hear his Excellency. Commenc-
ing about 1, he spoke until 8, and to say we
were disappointed would hardly express it.
We had hoped to hear him try to defend the
administration acts of the memorable
Twelfth Legislature, but he barely alluded
to any of them. His entire speech was
confined to charges against the Democratic
party, which he did not attempt to prove
and to a 'review," as he called it, of its
past iniquities. He dwelt at length on the
Galveston Convention of 1860, which in
corpOrated as plank in its platform the re-
opening of the African slave trade.
This we are told is untrue; we
are told that General w. H. Parsons
at present the Governors right bower, did
introduce a resolution to that effect in that
convention, but that it was Coted down or
tabled by Hubbard and others, whom Davis
now accuses of endorsing it. He next as
serted CONTRARY to his Galveston speech)
that it was the policy of the Democracy to
establish an aristoeracy which should crush
the poor and enrich the rich. He cited as
evidences the landlord and tenant bills of
1866 ind 1873, both passed by Democrats
also the recent titled gentleman's cOnven-
ton at Austin. All of these he discussed
at length, and closed by asserting that he
taxed the people of Limestone, Walker and
Hill for the purpose of intimidating the
others, and that he intended to refund the
money. These were his main points, and
let the people of1Texas Judge whether upon
them the Radical party is worthy of success
in the coming election.
A few days after the Governor left, there
was discovered in circulation in our town, a
Campaign State Journal. This precious doc
.ument sets forth, at great length, the claims
of the Republican, party upon the people of
Texas It sets forth how Governor Davis
saved the people of Texas millions of dol
lars It goes on to prove that by his veto
he kept the Twelfth and Thirteenth Legis-
latnres from squandering thirty millions or
more, and then asserts that had the Democ-
racy been in power they would have stolen
enough more to raise the sum to fifty mil
lions.
The campaign State Journal only states
one side of the question, so in order to have
a fair thing of it. I propose TO go over few
of the reasons why E. j., Davis should not
be elected. l do this in a spirit of fair
ness and candor, believing that both sides
of Davis's record should be read to be APP
preciated; and even assuming that the cam
paign Journal meant to be fair, will notice
a few things which it forgot.
It forgets, in its abuse of the titled
gentleman's convention" that Democratic
conventions are not formed like Radical
ones are, where they allow every one to go
who wishes, without reference to the wishes
of his party constituents; but Democratic
conventions are composed of regular dele
gates, who are chosen by the people, and
who always carry credentials as such.
1t forgets that E. J. Davis was a war
Democrat in 1860, It forgets that when a
majority of the people of Texas chose to
cast their lot with the balance of the South,
that E. j. Davis was one of the first to
desert to the encmys' camp; and that when
all our bravest and best men were upon
the field of strife, there contending for
rights and honor, that DAVIS was the
first to lead band of ignorant negroes
and merciless hirelings upon us to pill
lage our homes, insult our women and
children, and lay waste to the broad
lands of our magnificent State. 1t forgets
that when we were defeated and Invested of
all ourrights, and the major part of our prop
erty-when the rattle of the equipments of
conquering soldicry could be heard all the
time, that E. J. Davis was with the con-
'querOr and the first to join hands with the
miserable set of renegades and camp follow
ers that come to tighten the already burden
some letters upon the limbs of every free
man in the State of Texas. It forgets that
when the convention which framed the pres
emit Constitution was just completing their
labOrs that s. ]. Davis solemnly protested
against the adoption Of that Constitution,
because it did not disfranchise every white
man in the State, who even sympathized
with the South in her struggle, and because
it did not declare null and void eCery civil
contract " hich was cOnsummated under the
Confederate government. Thus branding
as. usurpeTs and robbers every heir to prop
erty that had received his share from 1861
to 1865, also stamping as adulterers thou
were married during the war and marking
their children out as bastards and outcasts.
II forgets that E. J. Davis. backed by mill
itary satrap, did so manipulate the ballot
boxes rs to get himself counted into the
g0yenorship. It forgets that his first acts
were to have series of oppressive laws
passed placing autocratic powers in
his hands, whereby he was cna-
bled TO gOad and prosecute our people
It fOrgets that under his police law hun
dreds Of wanton murders were committed
and that there was no way Of bringing the
perpetrators to justice. HIS police were
free from arrest. Il forgets that under his
enabling act many corrupt and worthless
officials were appointed, who have stolen
and run away with thousands Of the poo
pies money. L forgets that the lnterna-
iional Railroad subsidy, which, interest and
principal, Win amount 10 thirty-lve million
dollars. only becamca law BY small major
itv. and the Govcnor's veto would have
killed H. IL forgets the immense sums he
taxed the counties Of Limestone and
Walker, and the highway robbery Of Col.
Oeteings. Of Hill county. lt forgets ms
election order, which placed the state IN
der patrol guard. and forbid the peacea-
Ole assemblsgc 81 the people tor any put.
pose whatever, tt.s % acfsfip Goi. Ii for.
gets Tie Clark ccrtifcatc, where, after !
series 81 unprecedented fraudulent manipu-
iaiicqs ,. i. Davis gave certificate u
election % Congrcss Is W. Fl. Clark. which
bore such unnlisialahlc cridcncc 81 false
hood upon is Lacc that even q Radical Cen
grezs iCncred t. Ilfcrecis that after prom
izins tie thirteenth LeEisIaluro 10 sind Isl
AGENT 81 sen The State boads, he went him
SELF ara spent thousands 81 dollars 81 Is.
peoples money, waxing rlfsorel ouarrt
+ Tor Federal patronage. And il iorect
bis absolutely releasing Sstanls and Biz