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

changing our organic law, subject only /,
the Constitution OF the United States as tn
supreme law Of the land The Peopl,
at all times may exercise this right, a RICH
whose birth dates from the Declaration o
Independence OF the another country" bl
the rebel colonies, and consecrated 10y tn
blood of the revolution.
Had the Legislature deemed proper {,
call a convention IriflOEt reference 10 vot,
OF the people, should have regarded the
act authorized by great convocAtions Of on
people heretofore, as uttered in the State
and district conventions OF the Democrat,
party. But now, having been referred Il
the people themselves, the source OF al
power IN republican government, tei
voice spoken at tho ballot will be decislv,
of their wish, and will, we hope, end, il
either event, in giving US q new constitu
ton, freed from the blurs and blots Of tn,
bad times which gave it birth. You hav,
extended aid, in accordance with the tradi
tional hberality and chivalry of Texas, t,
a thousand miles of exposed frontiers. The
bold and hardy settlers on the border, leav
ing the civilization and comforts of the in
terror, become a ''shield and bucklerH t
the older sections of the State; q very wal
of defense, and will continue to thank 8
State who furnishes that protection whicl
the general government, with its millions
has failed to extend to our people.
You have, under wise legislation, faith
fully executed by the Executive, brough
the tottering credit of Texas to Its feet
Your bonds are, to-day, worth over ninet,
cents to the dollar, and will get reach, be
fore another year has expired, that par o
premium value which our vast resource
and our unstained honor demand
You have, at this session, so revised thu
laws regulating the assessment and collec
ton of the taxes that hereafter our tax
gatherers will bring into the Treasury tn
dues from nearly hundred millions NOR
of property, which will be forced to be rem
dered for taxation. When this law is exc
cuted, q uniform system of assessments ap
proximating the true value of real and PEI
sonal property will be reached, and, wit
honest collectors, the State and count,
finances will commence new era of healtl
and prosperity; cur taxes themselves re
duced fifty per cent, and the debt of on
people-State, county and munlcipal-rap
idly redeemed and paid.
You have, out of our eighty millions o
acres of public domain, continued to foste
just and liberal system of internal i'm
proYements; encouraging, as you lave, tn
irrigation of our Western deserts, to b
made thereby the homes of profitable in
dustry; the building of railways; construc
ton of canals, and the improvement of GU
navigable rivers.
The fruits of these generous labors vii
be reaped in rich fruition, if not at an earl
day, at least by our posterity, when thes
places will know US no more and We ar
gathered to our fathers.
You have encouraged education and com
mon schools by all the means in your power
and made provisions for the early paymen
of the faithful teachers throughout tn
State, so long deferred and so justly dc
manded.
We have settled, it is hoped forever,
some vexed questions of State, to who's
discussions in these halls have been brough
the learning, eloquence and patriotism O
the best men of the State on either side
1t was but natural, though never right
that hot blood should be engendered, ant
in the press, at the hastings, and in thes
legislative councils, now and then, tbs bit
ter spirit of unfriendly criticism (but rarel
degraded into personal invective) SHOULD
mark the history of these discussions.
Whatever differences of opinion ma
have existed, Senators, on this or the othe
exciting subject of discussion, let us re
member as we go hence that an honorabl
solution has been reached, and, we hope
the great end attained of building railroad
to the West by different means than thos
honestly desired by majority of this legis
lative body.
Let us, In the generous spirit of tru
craftsmanship, ''forgive and forget" all tn
differences of the past while we stand i
the presence of that great love and loyalt
we bear to Texas--undivided in terrItor
and united f0recer in the common affection
of her children. eiA .a c
Let US concede to each other equal honest
of purpose in all the heated discussions c
this chamber, knowing that if we woul
achieve final triumph for free governmen
in this Republic, and equal Justice to a
the States, Teas must herself be united
She must be prepared for the great nations
contests of 1876, one hundred years froT
the birth of our country. tolock her shiel
with e0ery other State of this Union who dc
sires the land Of Washington, in spirit an
in truth, restored to the faith and practic
of our fathers.
In parting with the Senate, every mem
Der takes with him to his home the bless
ings of the presiding officer. You hav
singularly sustained me in the administra
ton of my difficult duties, and the memoir
of it shall go with me to my grave, and b
transmitted a precious legacy to my pos
terity.