Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-04-05
Special Correspondence.
AUSTIN, March 25th, 1873.

am glad to see the Daily HER.
AID appearing to so much advan-
tage both in type and matter, and
as 1 think its numerous readers
will be glad also to know how the
present legislature is getting along,
I embrace an idle moment to give
them some intelligence in relation
to this important body, from which
the people expect so much. The
good Lord grant that they may not
be disappointed. At least l am
happy to say tho Constitutional
Amendment has been adopted. Af-
ter the emphatic declaration of the
people on that question. there
should have been no useless eX-
penditures of time nor money upon
it, but a few ambitious individuals
thought otherwise, and fought it as
long as they could. The final vote
against it in the House-only y 19-
showed the utter weakness of the op-
position. But certain gentlemen,
who it may bo are looking forward
for office of some kind, have from
the beginning Of the session been
manifesting decided hostility to
internal improvements, though
they are in the habit of commence
ing all their demagogical speeches
with the assertion that "they are
not opposed to railroads" o, no!
they are very friendly to railroads,
if capitalists will build them, but
opposed to any aid or encourage
ment-indeed, they ure for throw
ing such impediments in tie way
as will effectually prevent Them
For instance, since the adoption of
the Constitutional Amendment, the
latest hostile movement has been
made by Judge Smith, of Colorado
to ingraft upon any new railroad
charter, or supplement to an old
one, the right of the legislature to
repeal it at pleasure. Any man of
sense ought to know that capital
its would never think of investing
their money on the uncertainty of
legislature action. Besides, it
would, if carried out, produce a
system Of corruption far beyond
anything yet known in legislation.
At each session, the different rail
roads, trembling for their existence,
would have on hand any quantity
ofagents and money to buy up the
members. 1t would work wretched-
ly, and such men as Smith and Ire
land ought TO know it. 1t is
principle of common law that any
corporation may be looked into on
a writ of quo warrdnto by the courts,
and if a charter has been violated,
it may be annulled by them. The
friends of railroads are perfectly
willing tha. general law shall be
enacted by which proceedings
against corporations may be ihstitu-
ted in the courts; for charters,
while they are contracts under the
Constitution of the United States,
must be faithfully carried out by
both parties. | am happy to in
form you that the attempt of
Judge Smith to ingraft this right
of appeal by the legislature under
charter of the East Texas railroad
was a failure. A decided majority
of the lower House are right on al
most all matters, but they are re-
tarded in their action by the per-
sistent affairs of the impracticbles
and the old corduroys and "stick-
in.the-muds." The members from
your district are all right, and good
sound working men. 1t is said
that the new registry and election
laws will receive the Executive
sanction. They have been modi-
fed and shaped 80 as to avoid the
Governors veto, and l am told
that they will be a great improve
ment on the present system and
we can get along with them very
well. The house has already acted
on the contested election case from
the Harris and Montgomery dis
trict and the Democratic members
are now in the seats they were en-
titled by the evidence. What the
Senate may do with Tracy, on the
same evidence, l cannot with GER
tainty say, but presume be will be
unseated. The action Of that body
in the Tendick case Is not to be ta-
ken as indicative Of their concln-
sion in this matter. think there