The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-03-12
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AUSTIN, TEXAS, March Q. 1,

2GF AUSTIN, TEXAS, March Q, 1874 81
Editors. De7aOcratic Statesmqn--The Deca-
tur.AdOGnce Guard has unjustly assailed me,
and impugned my motives for Offering an
amendment to the frontier protection bill,
reducing the pay Of soldiers to be raised
for frontier defense. would hesitate to-
notice the remarks of the editor, if they
were founded in good judgment and sound
motives. But when they are written with
out reflection, they are calculated to do
great injustice, and to mislead and deceive
the popular mind and hence ]. take
this method of stating my reasons
for offering the amendment to the
bilRo But II want it distinctly re-
imembered that / have no axes to grind,
or fayors to ask, as the editor Of the Guard
would have thepublic. believe, My home is,
In one of the extreme frontier counties, and
all possess is on the frontier Of Texas and
personal interest, as.well as "a desire to see
the section in which live prosper, would
prompt me to advocate frontier protection.
And there is nothing that desire so much
as efficient protection, and offered the
amendment in order that the measure might
not be defeated for the want of sufficient
appropriation The bill, before offered
the amendment, would have authorized the
teen hundred men in the field; and
when information was fled in his Office
that any frontier county was infested with
Indians or other maTauding parties, il was
made his duty to order out company of
not more than seventy five, nor less than
twenty f menGAand fifteen hundred men
ut $50 ipeEImonth would have cost the State
5000, 600 for pay alone, and it would have
cost at least $500, 900 more to have equipped
and supplied this force making in the
aggregate s., 400, 000-nearly twice as much
as thefwbOle revenue Of the State. And il
IS well knewn here that the Legislature
would not make an appropriation to cover
one-haH of this amount, and the bill would
have been defeated for the want Of an
appropriation to carry it into, effect IsiV--
ing on the extreme frontier, and know
ing as I did, that the bill would
assume such heavy proportions, and that it
would necessarily fail, IL was my duty as a
representative from thatisection to do what
/ conceived to. be to the interest of.the from.
tier, and this was the reason that prompted
me to reduce the expenses OF the bill which
believed would secure protection.
The State now owes an indebtedness Of
mere than $4,000, 900, and iniher present
financial condition she could not have en-
tertained the idea Of making an exhorbitant
appropriation for frontier projection. /
will now consider the bin In its
present shape Il authorizes T50 sol
diers TO be mustered into service. the
lowest pay. is $50 per month and the high
est $40, but say that the average cost is
$40 per month, the total sum necessary to
pay this force is $3.50, 900, and the cost Of
equipping and supplying said force, viii in
my opinion, cost 5000, 600 more, aggrega-
ting $500, 900 per annum.
The reveniIe Of the State Is about
$500, 900 and0nefOurtb Of this goes 60 the
available school fund which leaves 3675, 900
to defray the expenses Of the State govern
ment. And all Of this amount must DO ey
pended for State purposes and not one dol
izr Of the annual revenues can be applied fer
the protection Of Che frontier Then how
can this great sum Of $3.50, 900 be raised, to
defend the frontierf There are but two
ways, either BY direct taxation or By the
sale Of State bonds. Il cannot be done By
the former plan, for the people aEo demands
ing that the taxes be reduced. Then there Is
no other alternative but 70 pursue the latter
plan. And 10 force very large quantities Of
State bonds On the market. while cur State
credit Is 90 greatly deprcciafsd, Would Be
sacrificing the inteFest - the taxpayers, who
have thsse bonds 70 pay ultimately, and We
should control the expenses 81 the State gov
eFnIheht as much IS possible, and do with
theleast amount Necessary 70 meet our actnal
demands III much more judicions for
the State % par reasonable prices. and pay
promptly and redeem The State credit, than
- make greater promises and thereby cause
the credit Of the State 70 sink lover. And i
il not better for the soldier 10 work for q