The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-18

anteed me under the Constitution, here
with file this, to be placed upon the jour
nails of the House Of Representatives, as
my protest and explanation of my reasons
for voting for the bill which has passed for
the relief of the international Railroad
Company, etc. ~
voted for it, not because my Judgment
approved it as just TO the company or ex-
pedient for the State, but because the
Governor had vetoed a bill which had
just passed the Legislature after the full
est discussion and the maturest consid-
GRAFTON, which, it is known, would have
been accepted by the company, and would
have secured the rapid construction of the
road, and would have saved the honor of
the State from the charge of Reputation.
That bill fully provided for the reimburse
ment of the State OF the principal and in
terest of the three million of dollars of
bonds, and relieved the company of its
temporary embarrassment. But the Gov
ernor would not let it become law, and
leaves us no other alternative but the
present bill and this l accept as the best
settlement that can be made whilst he
adheres to his present opinion, and think
We had better accept this than run the risk
of division of the State, or the prolonged
agitation of the question.
By this bill the State releases rights, and
makes concessions, whilst not so available
to the company for its immediate purposes,
is worth three times as much az three mil
iiOns of dollars. The grant of land is for
twelve Thousand sections or 2, $50, 900 acres,
enough to make fifteen large counties, or a
whole State as large rs any of the New Eng
land States. And all of this is to be ex-
empt from every character of taxation for
quarter of century. Long before the
expiration of this time this grant of land
will be worth moro than forty millions of
dollars; and the extraordinary exemption
of taxes which belong to the certificates
issued for this land will make them worth
81, $50, 600, more than twice the value of
the bonds it was proposed to be given by
the bill the Governor vetoed. In prin-
ciple there can be no difference in
giving the company the bonds of
the State which would have to be
paid by general taxation, and of
releasing to the company the right of levy
ing taxes. But overlooking this fact, the
present bill gives more than twice what the
vetoed bill proposed, rating certificates at
their present fair market value. This bill
enables the company to select ont of the
eighty millions of unappropriated public
domain every acre of the good and valua-
BILE land, and to hold the half of it for fif-
teen years from settlement and the remainder
for twenty-five years, and all free from every
kind of taxation. Is there any precedent
for such a magnificent grant, and who can
estimate its value in money? Who can say
that in twenty years it will not be worth
one hundred millions of dollars, to say
nothing of the road, rolling stock, fran
chise and other property exempt from taxa
ton. This exemption imposes upon the
balance of the State heavier burdens to sup
port the government. And yet regard it
as our imperative duty to settle this mat
ter, and, as the Governor will not permit it
to be settled upon any other terms than this
bin, / voted for it. However great
this grant is, however valuable it
is, vet it is note what was prom
ised the company. It is not the con-
tract it is not what they asked; it is
not what they expected, or what they had
right to expect; but it Is forced upon
them, because the State cannot, will not
in the face of the opposition Of the Cover
nor, do anything else. The act is one
which, when fully understood, will bring
Odium upon all who were instrumental in
bringing il about, and hence the necessity
which compel me-the necessity, the over
whelming necessity, under the existing cir
cumstances of tine Governors Interchangeable
opposition to any other plan Of settlement
-of giving my vote for the bill as q choice
of two evils. regard the bill as a cOnces-
sion TO passion and prejudice, and q want
Of that true craftsmanship which rises
above these, and appeals alone to truth, 10
intellirence and To Justice preiudica and
passion are transitory, while truth and JUS
tice are attributes Of Deity and are immor-
tai; and the really true statesman will al
ways prefer to stand upon them. Let the
future, when passion has subsidized, when
prejudice has been dissipated, decide who
was right-the Legislature or the Cover
nor.
The main ground Of opposition to the
bill vetoed by the Governor was the al
legged unconstitulOnality Of the original
act Incorporating the International Com
pany. This bill fully recognizes the validity
OF that act, unless greater powers are to be
showered upon companies organized under
unconstitutional than constitutional acts.
The vetoed bin only proposed TO reduce
one-ha1 Of the promised subsidy. This
one more than makes good all that was
promised, and yet in a wsy which does
NOT save the honor Of the State, because
it forces the company to take that which
they did not agree to take, nor ask, and
which was not promised. The vetoed bin
required the repayment Of all that was
given in long installments with interest
added, and made such q change in the
original charter as placed this reimburse
ment beyond doubt.
Al. KRssLER.