The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-05

+. The eastern slope Of the uountpins q the
United siates Is heavily tirnbt tfel e the
timc 81 its hfst settlement by the white
race from the old world. On this account
the clearing up Of the land and the open
ing Of farms was work ofsmuCh time and
labor. The primitive custom was 10 cut
down the trees and let them lay until the
whole mass became dry and then fire was
applied, which consumed all the branches,
leaves and small undergrowth, leaving only
the Earge trunks. These were. then cut up
into conTsnioht lengths and rolled mp to-
gether into large piles, and they were, also,
burned up and the land was ready for cul-
tivation. But as this last proceeding was
very heavy work, on account Of the great
slze Of the logs, and as one or two men could
not easily do it without extra labor in cutting
up the logs still smaller, it was customary
to have what was very appropriately called
log-rolIing neighbors being invited
to help, and being treated with the best
food and drink that could be provided for
the occasion. So the people aided one an
other, and each, in his turn, had his logs
rolled and his little farm prepared for culti-
Tation and the making Of an humble living
by honest labor. za azs
There was something pleasant in this, and
certainly nothing that was wrong. It wasa
good practice and worthy of all commenda-
tion. But these new settlers, in process Of
time, formed colonies and States, and had
TO have laws and legislatures, and practice
soon grew up in these legislatures, which
was called log-rolling, too, from a certain
resemblance it had to the good old custom
we have described. Laws had to be made
and measures carried through by a majority
of the votes, and if an honorable or other
wise: member had a measure of particular
Importance to his constituents or him
self, a little too heavy for his own.
strength and even his particular friends,
he called upon others, having no inter-
est7 ,inrit7 Hhateysr,s tozlelP him and
thus get the thing accomplished. This
very naturally was termed '1og-rolling," or
helping one another, as was so innocehtly
done by the hardy settlers in clearing upthe
new lands. But as time went on and great
progress and Dinipro3ement were made,
though not entirely in the line of honest
and fair dealing,th 1log-rolling" in legisla-
tive bodies and in elections for public Off
cials, lost much of its innocent character
and Became nieanssO bringing about great
evils, in the judgment Of pure, conseien,
cious men. For instance, A might have at
heart the accomplishment of really good
thing, which B and G did not approve,
having no special linterest in II, while they,
on the other hand, desired to effect certain
objects of their own, which A believed to
be radically wrong; yet SO anxious would
A be to secure his measure, which he
knew to be good and Of great Importance to
his constituents and HIMSELF that
he would be tempted to join B and
9 TO carry out their bad schemes in order to
get them to help him in putting through his
good one. Thusfor-one right two or more
Wrongs would be the result. Is this sort Of
'log-rollingn tobe commended by honest
folks, perhaps calling themselves Christians2
Ought not a legislator, acting under oath or
otherwise, vote for or against measures and
men according to his unprejudiced judg-
ment, knowledge and conscience2 Should
he be willing, as a representative of the
people, to bargain and trade to bring about
results Of donbtful utility, to killoff an op-
ponent, who may be deemed in the way Of
his own advancement, or to effect any selfish
purpose at the expense of the great public
interestsl As one, who remembers some
thing Of the earlier and better days of the
Republic, VIC think not, and we are not
afraid to say so. We never liked log1rol-
ling in legislation 81. elections, and we be-
lieve it conduces to much evil and mischief
thatitis all wrong IN principle, exceedingly
corrupt in its operations, and deserves the.
severest condemnation. Let all men and all
their representatives vote in accordance to
their enlightened Judgments, and not become
subjects Of trade and bsrter to crafty the
passions or subserve the special interests Of
a few ambitious ssehemers who may hold
the public good as light in the balance
when weighed against their own personal
ambition and political advancement. This
has ever been our feeling and our opinion.
who shall be bold enough TO say that this
is wrong and condgnn us for these utter
ances We express what is in US, and We
do It honestly. We have no interest indie
pendent Of the mass of the people with
whom we live, and we have little to gain or
lose by any action Of the present or any
future Legislature of Texas, or any other.
Our remarks areintended for all people and
all representatives OF the people, and no
special application has been designed or
need be attributed. I
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