The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-12-23
GOVERNOR COKE AND THE CONsrI-
TUITION.

Governor Coke takes the new Constitution
entire. 1t will be borne in mind that this
instrument proposes to wipe out every yes
tige of State Immigration Bureau, and
we simply. desire to give the Governor
credit for more liberal views than those he
now endorses SO heartily By giving few
extracts from his different public State
documents. In his message to the Four
teenth Legislature, dated January 20, 1874,
there occurs the following:
The one thing needful in Texas is popu-
latiOn. We want labor-thrifty, industri-
Gus men and women. who will reduce to
cultivation and render productive our nil
lions of acres of rich lands. The wealth
of Texas lies dormant in her soil and sleeps
in the vast beds of ore and mineral which
underlie her hills and vaileys. The energy
and effort of men alone is needed to awaken
1t To lie and action. 1t is u truism In po-
litcal economy that ''crowds of men make
land valuable" We have the land let us
adopt the policy which will bring popula-
tion TO it, aud develop its value. Tire eyes
of the world are now turned TO Texas; her
vast resources, the unqualified inducements
appreciated; our railroad communications
now zap the hive where the population
swarms, and Texas is easy of access; the
tide of immigration now pouring into her
borders is strong and swelling; now is the
propltIous time, by wise Legislation, to in
augurate policy which shall tn the fullest
extent utilize our splendid opportunities to
make Texas the home of the emigrant from
every quarter of the world. 1t is seldom,
in the life of people or State, that
the future is so magnificent as is
that of Texas now with wise coun-
ellis and intelligent, sagaci0us action.
her greatness i'll the near future is assured.
Let us populate her territory with hardy.
industrious, intelligent and enterprising
men and women from the old and the new
world-invite them to make home steads
and become citizens among US and en-
Joy civil and religious liberty among US
set before them our advantages, the rich
ness of our soil, the healthfulness of our
climate, the cheapness of our lands, the va
riety of our productions, and The wealth
which flows from intelligent, well-directed
labor in Texas. Let US do this with judi
cious economy, by, liberal advertisements
and publications, and the establishment of
agencies at appropriate points in the United
States and in Europe, and our people will
never regret the money expended iii doing
it. l earnestly invoke the attention. and
consideration of your honorable bodies to
this subject, and. recommend liberal and
comprehensive action on t.n6g yfj- i
Again, in bis, annual message, sent to the
same body in January, 1876, we-cull, from
very lengthy and earnest argument upon
tire maintenance of an immigration bureau
the following forcible passages:
In my first communication to your honor
able bodies, urged the expediency of hb-
eral spprUpri atiOn for the promotion of i'm
migration. L must be permitted, with great
defeience, to suggest that the appropria-
|tion for that OBJECT, for the present fiscal
year, consideringits great importance, falls
very far below the requirements of u proper
policy. In view of The benefits which will
flow from peopling the vacant and uRculti-
vated territory of Texas, it seems to me that
an appropriation of sixteen thousand dol
lars, the amount devoted by the last session
of your honorable bodies towards aiding
ia accomplishing that object, is, to state it
mildly, utterly Inadequate and insufficient
= The great want of Texas is popula-
ton. Llberality in providing means for
supplying that want is the truest economy
The giant strides made by the North
western States, in the last twenty five years,
in population, wealth, power and influence,
had ITS beginning in extensive, systematic
and liberal immigration schemes. =
These States are now reaping the harvest
their wisdom so abundantly provided for
An enlightened and liberal immgra-
ton policy, which, while supplying all
oGher wants, turned a generous flow of cap
ital into those States, has been the ground
work of their success Why shall not
Texas, with richer soil, more varied pro-
ductions, superior mineral resources, and
her Incompatible climate, with her ex-
tent of territory five times as great as that
of Illinois, seven times as great as that
of1ndiana, equaling that of Iowa, Wiscon-
sin, Missouri and Ohio, combined, with
New Hampshire, Vermont and, Msssachu-r,
sstts thrown in, like her Northwestern sis
ters, hasten by wise legislation and a lib
eral, comprehensive policy the day Of her
greatness and power. u = = The people
feel the necessity for putting forth our best
exertions in this direction. Shall we not, as
respond to this feeling
Shall we not make an effort somewhat CON-
mensurate with its importance, to secure
the object so much coveted by our constitu-
other than an affirmative answer, it seems
to me, will imply failure to grasp and ap.
preciats the Importance of the question, the
opportunity of Texas, and her highest and
most commanding interest. Texas, by an
expenditure of money which will not be
seriously felt by her people, can be made
certainly In ten, most probably in eight
years, to equal the great States of New
York and Pennsylvania in population. 8 u
g The Governor next strongly urges the
liberal publication of documents to be cir
culated throughout the United States and
Europe by the State agents, and then pre-
sents his ideas about agencies in this coun-
try; lla -m odN. net s'f 'i'
The plan which I would suggest as prom
lsing the most satisfactory results, is the
appointment of agents in the cities of New
York, Chicsgo, St. Louis, Norfolk, At
lanta and New Orleans, allowing each agent
means of keeping open an office in those
cities, with allowance to each for necessary
travelling expenses and postage.
,a In order to induce immigration
We must place before the world the advan-
tages of Texas as we know them to exist.
: = The cost Of doing this, in the mode
Suggest on noeTal scale, have no hesi-
tation In saying, will bring to Texas ltenA
fold more OF benefit than it would expended
in any other way. 1t is believed that nm
der the management of active, efficient
agents-tirst class men, provided literally
with means-immigration to Texas would
be so stimulated as to be doubled, il not
trebled, the first year, aud that the proper
ton of increase would augment each
year. invite the most earnest attention
OF your honorable bodies to this subject,
and ask liberal appropriation. ba
Aud it will be recollected that at the
second session o. the Fourteenth Legisla-
ture an appropriation of over sixty Thousand
dollars was asked for the Bureau of Immi-
grafton. .s,sraa sersT
John IRkLAND, GOV. COKE AND
-. THE NEW CONSTITUTION.