The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
This document Is an eloquent ami
elaborate review OF our late and pres
ent political condition, and very
comprehensive statement Of all the
affairs of the state. It's unusual length
prevents its reproduction In these col
umns, but q brief synopsis Of Its con-
tents will he Of interest.
The governor refers 10 the conspiracy
of the radicals to get possession of the
state at the beginning Of his term, to
the present prosperity Of Texas, and
the early prospect of reform In no.
tional affairs, and counsels obedience
to the constitution and laws of the
United States and Texas, and the edu-
cation of the people.
A constitutional convention to as
semble In April is recommended.
The prevalence Of crime and lawless-
ness is abating, owing to II more rigid
enforcement Of the law. According to
partial reports from about one-third of
the counties, out Of ! 1851 trials OH diff
ferent criminal charges, there were 9Sl
convictions.
The report OF the Inspector of the
! pepitentiary shows that on the first
day of September, 1878, there were in
that institution eight hundred and
eighty-three convicts, and that from
that date to the first of September.
1874, a period of one year, eight hum
dred and fifty three convicts were re-
ceived an average of fraction over
seventy-one per month, aud coming
within thirty of the entire number be-
fore that time in the penitentiary. This
| exhibit includes only felony cOnyic-
tiops, When to this is added the great
number of convictions for misdenean-
ors and minor offences, 1t IL believed,
taking population as the basis for COM
parison, that 10 state in the union can
show SO much vigor in the enforce
mept of criminal laws as these results
show in Texas.
The powers of sheriffs should be in
creased by permitting them to pursue
fugitives beyond the limits of their
county, and execute criminal process.
| uITeCteu w tlCuiy III ohy oChhSy ~ et>
state, As a proper predicate for the
rigid personal responsibility to which
they should be held for the safe keep
! ing of their prisoners, sheriffs should
be- relieved of their present depend
ence on county courts for means for
this purpose, when the county author.
tiles fail to provide secure jail. :
There should be contingent fund
| ! an nd ~ IN
to use as the public interest may re-
quire, in employing detectives, coun-
sci for the state, ETC., when necessary.
In view of the occasional necessity
as shown by recent experience OF a
special constabulary force to aid the
civil authorities in overcoming combi-
nations too powerful for them to deal
with, and of the difficulty of getting
together at any time, o company Com,
posed of citizens following their usual
ayocations, besides the loss devolyed
on many of them If compelled to leave
their homes and business, suggest as
worthy Of consideration, the expedi-
ency Of a law authorizing mot requir-
ing) the governor. when the county
court Of any county at a regular or spe'
cial term, or the Judge and district ut
| IOTnpy vi lHc ui5tllCg SifS
county, shall certify to the governor,
that disorder and lawlessness prevail
in the county to such an extent, that
the ordinary authorities are unable to
execute the process OF the courts, pre-
serve the peace and maintain the law,
to select from the body of the people OF
said county, force not to exceed thirty
men, who shall be subsisted and paid
by the county, aud armed by the state,
and to appoint from the men thus Sc
lected, the necessary officer to COM
mand them who shall serve and act
as the sheriff's posse and under his or
ders, and assist him In executing pro-
cess and preserving peace said force
to remain In service until the authority
on whose certificate it was called out,
shall certify to the governor that the
force Is no longer necessary, or until
the governor, without such certificate,
shall order 1t di banded. -
IMN1GRATIoN.
He urges most earnestly upon the
legislature wise and liberal policy in
this regard, and strengthening of the
hands of the states agents in their la
bors to direct the stream of immigra-
| ton toward our borders. He recOm-
mends the appointment of agents in
| the cities of New York, Chicago, st.
Louis, Norfolk, Atlanta and New Or
leans, and that they be literally sup
piled with all the appliances which
have proved so effective in inducing
population In other states, such as maps
and descriptions of the various parts of
the state, embracing character and
quality Of soil, water, timber, game,
fish, productions, mineral resources,
etc, homestead exemption laws, prices
of land, labor, etc. aus
FRONTIER DEFENSE.
The frontier has suffered less than
usual during the past year, owing to
the organization ofthe frontier battal-
ion, and the vigorous campaign against
the Indians inaugurated and prosecuted
by the United States.
ESTIMATE FOR 1875.
The estimates for support ofth state
government for the fiscal year coIn-
mencing September ], 1875, are 81 ,079,-
295, exclusive of the cost of maintain
ing the public schools, of the frontier
defense, and of a session of the legisla-
ture in 1876.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
The organization of system of pub
lie free schools, which shall be ade-
quate to the educational wants of Tex
as, aud at the same time within the
ability of the people to maintain, Is a
work of greater and more over-shad-
owing importance and of greater diff
Guilty than any other that the govern
ment is called on 10 perform. The par
tial failure of the effort, now being
made, in this direction Is attributable
to several very natural causes, not the
least OF which are, the shackles inn
posed by the constitution upon efforts
at amendment OF the system, and the
unwillingneSs. II not the Inability of
the people to hear the burden which a
thorough system oi plihlic education 1
necessarily imposes upon them.
IS thorough system OF public edu- |
cation is second In importance to no
measure of policy affecting the public
interest, IL at the same time involves a
larger expenditure of money, than any
other, In fact than all Others combined