The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-01-21

Address Of Hon. Guy N. Bryan, Speaker
OF the House Of Representatives.
Genrlemen Of The House Of Representatives.
greet you as associates Of the East and
present session, gladly and most cordially.
greet you as Legislators reassembled,
trust, TO deliberate as statesmen, and to
continue the work Of reform prudently and
wisely.
From the adjournment to the resumption
Of your legislative labors, an interval OF
more than eightmonths, a kind Providence
has spared the life of each one of our num-
Der Of ninety members. We bow in graft
tude to Him, the giyer Of all good, for his
mercy, and that the circumstances sur
rounding US to-day are so different from
those that environed us here one year ago.
Then, although the Fourteenth Legislature
was fully organized, and in session In this
Capitol, elected (by an overwhelming ma
Jority Of the people, in pursuance Of law
enacted by the previous Legislature, in con-
formity with the message recommendations
OF the Executive, and approved by him,
yet this same Executive refused to recognize
the Legislature, and endeavored 70 prevail
upon It to appeal with him to Washington
for decision whether or not It was a legis-
lature. The members mindful of the teach
ings of the founders of the government Of
our country, true to their duty, arid to their
obligations to the people, did not entertain
The pr0position-trut triumphed, and error
was vanquished
And IN consequence, the imposing fact
stands out in bold relief to-day chat the
officers of State arc the representatives of
the intelligent taxpnying people of, sali
classes and color - representatives who
acknowledge their responsibility, aadl feel
their accountability to their constituents,
an accountability that is the very essence Of
Republican government, and without
which, government is not republican.
whenever the opposites of intelligence,
integrity and property control in the affairs
Of State, and the Offices are filed by the
ayaricious, ignorant and vicious, every de-
partment of society feels the corrupting,
degrading, oppressive and destroying in
fluence.
1t would have been as craven aud servile
in tho people of the South to have
let politics alone as il would be short
sighted and consummate folly in them now
to forget that their States were conquered,
and the consequences that have followed.
Let politics alone ~ when government
stamps the socinl, moral and industrial
character Of community; when it elevates
or degrades, sustains or destroys peoplel
Let US then, Representatives ana legisla-
tors, cast from us all prejudices passion and
resentment, and rise 20 the full measure Of
our position. Let Us swear at the altar Of
our State that we will discharge our duty,
our whole duty, and nothing but our duty,
that We will act with that elaboration and
forecast that will contribute to making
Texas in government, what she is by ma
ture, the greatest State in this Union. Let
us emulate the love and patriotic pride that
New Englanders feel for their section, when
they look upon their Green Mountains, gaze
upon Boston Harbor or turn their eyes upon
tho monument ON Bunker Hill, by Guilt
waiting love and pride for our own hills and
plains, our green bottoms and beautiful
pTairiCs, our Alamo and our San Jacinto!
Aye, with all the ardor Of devoted sons, let
as exclaim Texas now, Texas forever, one
and inseperablel
On this platform all parties in this State
cen unite, for it is loyal to the State, and
loyal to he general government govern
ment 1at must delight in tho prosperity
anf nity Of each State, for Il Is the crea-
ture Of the States, and its power and author
ity Is derived from the States through the
Federal Constitution, which instrument Is
the law Of the land, aud rs such should be
obcyed by States, rs we'll as by the people
Of The States and OF the United States.
Our most earnest efforts should be piven
tomaking good government, in Its broadest
sense. in every county Of cur State. There
arc counties-the oldest, the most fertile.
aud once tho wealthiest in Texas, that gave
the men. the means and tho intellect that
separated Texas from 1Eexico-where the
intelligent taxpaying citizens are subjected
% the domination Of selfish or ignorant
officials IN local government. Effective
eorreciives should be here applied, II our
people fail to do this, itcannot be palliafed
for the reason assigned, Tor tho benefit OF
Tho people Of tho North, that their acouies.
cenco IN the misgOvernmcnt Of the South il
on account Of their remotenesS and mt 10.
ing correctly informed, for our people are
on the ground and ean know the facts, un-
less they willfully and selfshly close their
eyes and ears.
The illustricns Daniel Webster said,
That freedom fgom restraint is not FREEDOM
that hcentiousnoss, the discharge from
moral duties and that general scramble
which leads the idle and the extravspant 10
hope for q time when they may nut their
hands into their ncighbofs' pockets. call
i what You please, Is tyranny. Ii IS no
matter whether the Sultan OF Turkey robs
his subject Of his property. or whether un-
der tbe notion Of equal rights the property
eefned ~ one shall be taken b q majority.
would not choose the latter on the con
frary give nae Turkey, for I would prefer
on4 despot % tea thousand. Who would
lnhoF if there was not q security that what
be earns viii he his own, for his own en-.
ioyment, for the education Of his children,
tof the support Of his age. and the gratif
cetion 81 all his reasonable desires ~
We n,uet have then f.tff and rnr,r,fefs