The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-07-19
DALLAS, TEXAS, July -. 1877!

| To the Editor Of The Dallas Herald:
In your issue of the 9th, you refer to
an article published in the Waco EX-
aminer, charging me with being can
didate for Governor, in the interest of
railroad rings, and say my friends de-
sire that | should express myself "on
the railroad question, which seems to
be paramount to all others now before
the people of this State" dc. had
hoped, and still desire not to be drawn
into the discussion of any political
questions whatever in the comingcam
paign.
1t is unnecessary fer me to deny that
| am the candidate of any railroad
rings for Governor, or II candidate at
all, for You are aware that am in 10
wise responsible for my name being
before the people of this State for that
position, and / mus be permitted TO
say that there are other names men
toned, older and better qualified for
the place than myself, and represent
ing men whom | would gladly sup
port. The State of Texas can
well afford to encourage internal
improvement OF every kind, that tend
develop her great resources. Rail-
roads accomplish this result more rap
idly than anything else, and hence
this should meet with liberal encour-
agelncnt and treatment from the State.
[ am opposed to. any further monicd
subsidies to railroads. The last Legis-
lature granted landed subsidies to u
sufficient number of roads, which If
built, will absorb the whole ofthe pub
lie domain left indicated, and hence
this is no longer an open question, and
the query is how far the State shall
exercise control over such corporations,
and the spirit in which such authority
should be exercised. Capital invested \
in railroads is as sacred az that invested
in merchandise, farming or anything
else, and should be so considered
by the Legislature of this State. We
have a general railroad law
to which all railroad corporations are
subject, and good faith ON the part of
the State demands that all other re-
strictions imposed, or to be imposed,
upon such corporations, except such
as are provided fer by the general law
existing at the time, should, so far as
n Is practicable, be embraced in the
charters themselves, thus giving the
eompauies epplyins Tor such charters
,they being contracting parties with
the State an opportunity of accepting
OF rejecting the Specified conditions.
am opposed to ihc idea advanced lF
some ardent enthusiasts, to get rail
roads the besi way we can, on first
promises, and losislnte rthair govern
ment afterward. soc no immediate
danger to be apprehended from rail
road corporations, or that any further
legislation is needed to protect the peo-
ple against them at present, and should
they become monopolies, as is feared
by some, it will then be time, and
presume the Legislature of this State
will act promptly and efficiently for the
proper protection of the people and
their rights on this great question.
For the present, say, let the railroads
alone, except TO encourage their speedy
construction.
What are known as the mterna-
tional railroad bonds have, perhaps,
more than anything else, given rise to
the discussion of this question. i
think it exceedingly unfortunate that
the last Legislature saw fit to take any
notice of this matter. Nothing in the
deliberations Of that body has done
more TO injurc the credit Of the State,
and TO check the rapid construction Of
railroads, so auspiciously begun, when
no possible good can be expected from
ID, unless IL is an attempt on the part
of the legislative branch of the govern
ment to Influence the judiciary, which
would certainly be very dangerous
precedent The question ~ the legal
ity OF the bonds claimed by the lntcr-
national road is now before the courts
Of the State T;.erc it should rest, and
not be made an issue in the next can
vass. But should the courts decide
them to be valid and binding debt
upon the State, then unhesi.atingiy /
saw. nay them; 10 refsse is repudiation !
Of q state obligation Of The highest
character am vegy respectfully,
+. J. ADAAlR