The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1874-04-15
PROTECTION.

ING peOple VI OuT iIoutioA ho'S S"AiS~
long and loudly for protection against
the Indians as we'll as the robbers and
thieves who have so long deprecated upon
their defenselcss and exposed homes.
Out far beyond the centsrs Of cur latter
day security, and, sit seems, beyond the
Christian sympathy and care Of our mod
srn philanthropy, these people have
lifted up in vain their cries to the powers
that sway both State and national desti-
nies In vain. They have asked nothing
but what they we're justly and richly en>
titled to, neither have they asked impos-
sibilities-they have simply claimed their
own; but because other, richer and more |
populous counties, unexposed, look with
indifference upon their sufferings, they
are permitted to linger and languish, at
the mercy of the savages, whose chief
delight is in the shricks of his helpless
and unprotected victims, whose agonies,
lighted up by the flames of their burning
homestcads, forms scene bst little short
of cxtatie to the demons of blood. ali
this has been calmly looked at in the light
Of a few paltry dollars, it has been
weighed in the scale against bill of
costs" and has lost.
Senator Friends bill, offered some time
since, providing for an increase in num-
Der and power Of the usual constabu-
lar for,e, has been suffered to
languish until the recent out
rage between Austin and San Anto-
nio. Tie papers at the Capital-those
best acquainted with the sentiments OF
the aggregated representation of the
S,utc-werc as silent as death, upon its
range, scope, pims purposes. Now,
however, the Gazette wakes up suddenly
TO its vast importance, and argues
strongly and con.lusivoly in favor of its
passage. The following embodies the
principal features Of the substitute for
the original bill:
ltpIoyides that whenever the Govern
ment shall be informed by the po.
lice court of any county, that state Of
lawlessncss exists and the peace officers
, are un bic to make arrests, that the Gov
, ernor may, If he think proper, make
proclamation Of the facts and authorize
the use of the powers given by the act.
After the issuance of such proclamation
any sheriff ,r constable having personal
knowledge or acquiring the same from
afiadavits OF credible witness, that a
felony has been or is about 70 be Com
mitted and the offender about to escape,
it shall be the duty of the officer to call
. to his aid not exceeding twenty men
= armed and mounted, and with the aid oil
such force the officer is authorized tC
e pursue in any part of the State and cap
4 ture such offender and return HIM 10 the
county where the offence was committed
for prosecution and trial.
, Provision is made for obtaining proper
\ testimony, and for the payment of the
constabulary force. The Police Court OF
the county is required to audit and allow
for such services five dollars per day, sc
7 long as they serve in counties beyond the
. limits OF the one in which the offence il
committed. The Governor is authorized
. by proclamation to vacate the power thus
e given to sheriffs and constables, when'
r ever he thinks proper to do SO.
! It will be seen that the above epitomt
Of the bill offered by Senator Friend ha
none OF the Objectionable features of th'
old and heartily hated police bill. 1t il
nox x.political, and the force only act
when emergencies require. Let our citi
zens, whether domiciled on the Sabine
on the Rio Grande, on the Gulf or on tn
:, frontier, learn to rely for protection alon
q upon the strong arm of the State, AM
p our werd fer it, the crimes and lawless
>, ness everywhere complained of, will n
p longer be heard