The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-06-19
The DaVIs PronuncIamento.


We eaIluded on yesterday to this precious
document in connection with the call for a
Republican State Convention, both OF which
appeared in the Austin Journal Of thetenth,
but we had neither space nor time to do it
full justice. We now propose to give it
some further attention, although from its
weakness, both as to style and matter, it is
scarcely deserving it. 1t is not as well
written as the call for convention, and we
presume it is one of the slipshod, bungiing
productions of Governor Davis, whose
name appears at the head of the list of sig
natures. The odd jumble of ideas about
governments and the governed, and the
very common place observations about the
greatest good to the greatest number, the
sovereignty Of the people, the duty of Legis-
latures, etc., ETC., indicate very clearly its
parternity. 1t begins by statement that
'All who believe that our governments
State and National, should be governments
of, by and for the sovereign people, main
tained for the greatest good to the greatest
number, and not devices for the profit of
professional ofice-seekers and SPECTATORS
have been so profoundly disguised by the
course of the Thirteenth Legislature that
they have determined, if possible, to put a
stop to legislative abuses"
Indeed It is great pity that the Radicals,
who have been ruling the nation and Texas
for so long period, did not find out these
sage general principles sooner, and act in
accordance with them. 1t would have saved
the good people of the United States, and
of Texas especially, great deal of suffering
and any amount of disgust The total
disregard of all these fundamental princi-
pies by the Radical party, ever since its at
tainment to power and place, is melan-
choly matter of history not to be questioned
1t drove out, at the point of the bayonet
the undoubted Representatives of the people
of Texas, duly elected and every way quail
fed, its Governor its other State officers
and its judges, down to its lowest officials,
and in their place installed set of ''pro-
fessional office seekers and spectators, F."
who harrassed, plundered and yillifed its
good people at pleasure, and with the en-
tire appreciation and cooperation Of Cover
nor Davis and the signers of his virtuous
manifesto. Even when the military rule pre-
tending1y ended and the farce of an election
was had, does not everybody know, and no
one better than. Governor Davis, that the
voice of the sovereign people" of Texas
was suppressed, that, by excluding thou
sands of proper voters and voting negroes
over and over again, and fraudulently mis-
counting the actual result, a set of worth
less officials, ''office-seekers and specula-
tors, " carpet-baggers and scallawags, were
declared the true and lawful representatives
of the sovereign people, of Texas, and
the plumber and vilihcation Continued and
was gloried in. And now, Governor Davis,
who has profted by all this outrageous and
disgraceful violation of every principle at the
foundation of republican government,
comes forward without blush to give the
Democracy and people of Texas virtuous
homily on government, and to prate about
disgust at the action of the Thirteenth
Legislature This is rich and exhibits a
hardness of face incredible, if we did not
see it in all its disgusting foelassity strait
before us. We have coined word, for the
dictionaries afforded none sufficiently ex-
pressive for the subject.
Governor Davis admits that the Twelfth
Legislature ''did very badly" was cor
rupted by a powerful lobby with money,
and yet he says that it is entitled to the
credit of having done much to carry the
salutary provisions of our State Constitu-
tion into effect and to maintain law and or
der, and blames the last Legislature for re-
pealing the work of these corrupt, money
bought men, all of whom were the Govern
or's friends and associates, and over whom
he exercised almost the sway of little
monarch and despot. 1t is a vain thing for
him to attempt to separate himself from the
leading men of his party in the Twelfth
Legislature, and throw off his own shOul-
ders the Just odium attached to its conduct.
They were all ''birds of the same feather, -
and though they frequently quarreled with
each other and befouled one another's nest,
yet for the oppression and injnTy Of the
good people of Texas, they were always a
unit, and they must all go down together
with due condemnation and contempt To
say, with Governor Davis, that few Demo
crats, joined with the Radicals, did al the
mischief, and that the Twelfth Legislature
did not truly represent the Radical party,
is absurd. The Democrats, who were permit
ted to remain in hatbody were too few to
have any influence, and were acting under
restraint all the time, not knowing when
they would be turned out, as many true
representatives Of the people wen, without
a hearing even
The Governor tells US "thc Democratic
party no longer exists as a national party.
He viii find ont his mistake very soon, a.
wen as his friend Grant, whom he worships,
and whose mandates he is proud to obey.
The Democrats party is neither dead noI
dying. Il is stiH fun Of vitality, as the next
elections viii prove. The s.wish is fashci
TO the thought There is nothing which
the Radicals 50 much dread As the continued
life Of thc old Democratic party. and thers
is nothing which they 50 much desire as tbs
getting upof anew party, composedIof th.
odds and ends of ail Others. without auy
distinctive rfinciples. Which ihc dcmoclacy
are nai lo3ls enough % attempt The,
tlIel one pertinent anl hsrr gown rise'
t