The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-18

Our friend of the Clarksville Standard
defends at some length his fore time ex-
pressed appreciation of the course of Gov
ernor Davis with regard to the Indian ques-
ton. Why the STATESMAN, which con-
tanned our expression of surprise at this,
did not reach his hands, we are at loss to
determine. It is regularly mailed to the
Standard, but then we do not receive very
regularly the Standard itself, and attribute
it to the fault of the mails. We will here,
however, assure the editor that we said
nothing more offensive than the paragraph
quoted We could net understand how
the editor of that old and reliable paper
could approve Governor Davis's course IN
relation to the Indians, nor do We now see
the force of his comments in explanation.
We do not think that ''cCery act of a polit-
ical opponent, whether wise or unwise,
should be denounced" as intimated by the
Standard, but we do think that the delivery
of Satanta and Big Tree by Governor Davis
to the United States Commissioner was
extremely uacise, and further, with
out the shadow of legal authority.
The Standard thinks that these chiefs,
when condemned, should have been
hanged, but as their punishment was com
muted by the Governor to Imprisonment for
life in the penitentiary, that it was right for
Governor Davis to set them free at the re-
quest of the government and make the best
conditions he could under the circum-
stances. While we agree with the first pro-
position the hanging-we cannot yield our
assent to the last. Governor Davis has
yielded in every instance to the solicita-
tions or demands of the central government,
as his friends say against his better judg
ment, thus showing a weakness and mean
ness Of spirit altogether unworthy the chief
magistrate of great and sovereign State
The government at Washington first de-
manded the commutation Of punishment.
Governor Davis granted it. 1t then made
promises to the Indians without consul
tation with Governor Davis and then
demanded of him compliance to
enable them to carry them out. He
held out little while and then
complied He did not pardon Satanta
and Big Tree, as the law gave him
the power to do, but he set them free with
out a pardon, which he had no right to do,
and for which bold breach of the law he
deserves impeachment The example is
full of danger If in this matte, it is clear
that the Governor went beyond his authori-
ty in the release of these chiefs. the results
show that the act was exceedingly impolitic
and unwisc as well as illegal. OF this, we
should imagine our friend of the Standard
was well convinced by this time, if he has
read his frontier exchanges. But we have
no wish to prolong controversy with the
veteran editor of the Standard, whose
Democracy we have never impeached and
whom we hold IN high respect, He is will
ling that the vote of ourrespective counties
shall settle the question of Democratic SER
vices in favor of the Standard or the
STATESMAN BE it so. We can stand
the ordeal. The county of Red Riv-
er, always a Democratic county, gave,
according to the report of the Stand
ard, Democratic majority of $50, while
Travis county, until last year Radical, gave
the increased vote of nearly sOO--more than
double that Of Red River. We are con
tent to let the matter rest here. We have
no wish to detract from the deserved merits
of the Standard, nor are we willing that our
own poor services should be deprecated
and moderated. We have labored as faith.
fully as VIC could for the Democratic cause,
and now, when victory has crowned all our
united cndeavors, we have no idea that an
honest difference of opinion, even about
Governor Davis Indian policy, should sep
aratc us from our friends of the Democratic
faith.