The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-10-12
WEEKLY STATESMAN
AUSTIN.
....... OCTOBER 10. 1876
Meeting at the Market HOuse--Three
Hundred Citizens Present--COngress-
ioual Discussion.


answering various charges that had been
made against him before be had overtaken
Col. Giddings on the frontier. He read
one, which was received with laughter.
The Colonel told a number OF anecdotes
apropos to the subject which called forth
much merTiment He called the attention
Of the sudienoe 20 Col. .Giddings's speech
Of acceptance, In which he said the issues
of the past are dead. and that the Repub
lican party had become SO corrupt that it
could never reform the government; said
Col. GiddiDgs denied this at Burnet and
Georgetown. He then defined the differ
epce between party and faction, claiming
that parties cannot exist without issues;
had been trying for q week to get GiddiDgs
TO spribg an issue in the canvass. He re-
sponded 40 Burnett by saying that a grave
issue existed in the fact that Davis would
be in the field before election day, and that
was the real issue. At Georgetown ne
said that rs the Davis party had made no
nomination at Brenham, he (JOnes) had
sought up the Republican party; reviewed
the contested election case between Gid
dings and Clark, in which Giddings OBJ
clAred himself q lifelong Democrat, but
unlike Giddings, who denounced those Re-
publicsns who gave him his seat in Con-
,Rress, ne recognized truth and honor ev-
erywhere. He then proceeded to a consid
GRAFTON Of the convention system; argued
from GiddIngs's theory of dead issues that
We want men in Congress who will repre-
sent both parties; that inasmuch as the
Democracy stood as three to two in the
district, he could only hope to be elected
by having concentrated on him the votes
OF both parties; he was willing to go TO
Congress in that capacity; showed the fall
lacy Of Col. Gidding9's idea that the con-
ventiOnal system is representative system !;
cited the late congressional invention at
Austin.
He then proceeded to review of the
character of speeches which he had been
called to answer; was unable now to tell
whether Shepard was for BrIstow or Til
den, and at times Giddings was so COM
plimentsry to Republicans that he
could not tell whether Giddings was
Q Radical or very conservative Democrat;
quoted Giddings, that two-thirds of both
parties were for reform; claimed that the
other third was also equally divided; said
this rendered it impossible for parties to re-
form the civil service OF the government;
that the people, without regard to party,
stone can reform the government, and it
was not to cliques, parties, or conventions,
but the people he made his appeal to, and
asked for suffrage; he then called at
tention to the conduct of Governor Coke,
who was elected on his declaration of OPP
position to the railroad mOnopolies; said
that for Governor Coke the Tom Scott rail
road would never have been able to rob the
~ nil ~ of hnot do
and deprive many honest and poor men of
their homes. He severely criticized Lieuten-
ant Governor Hubbard for his conduct in
the Whitmore case, in which he was
charged with taking $500 fee for engin-
eeriDg relief bill through the Legislature
while he was President of the Sente; he
thought that IL we are all ready for reform
let Us be charitable enough to commence
ct home.
Col. Giddings said he appeared as a NOM
inee; was opposed by Col. Jones, who
claitned 70 be an independent candidate :;
sald IL clio les or combinations had con-
trolled that convention, it was not done in
his interest he had attended no primary
meeting, aud had asked no man for his sup
port in that convention; he accepted the
nomination because he considered it a
high honor, and If elected he would join
President 1ilden in all measures of reform
20 which he stands pledged. Col. Gid
dinRs then proceeded to answer the points
made by Col Jones; said that she dead is
sues referred to by him in his speech of ac-
ceptance oply related to secession, slavery,
and such as were settled by the war, and
which arc not raised by either of the pres
emit political parties in their platform; re
minded the audience that Jones is now re-
vanping the speeches that were made
against him when he was a "collar"
Democrat, running as a Demo-
cratic nominee against Judge TOwnes
when Jones was the nominee of O Demo
cratic convention the convention system
was altogether lovely; but now it is alto
gether wrong. He charged Jones with
lending himself to the Republicans, who
are the enemies of the Democratic party,
and whom he regarded as the enemies OF
the country; said Jones had forced him.
self into this canvass unlimited by his
friends, and was nominated by G. Wash
ington Jones, and had the endorsement OF
the BRENNAN Radical convention; read
the proceedings of the Republican conven-
ton, claiming that Jones would be used as
q tool, sowing the seed of dissffecti2n in
the Democratic party until the eve of the
election, when, having done all the damage
be could, some Radical will be sprung into
the canvass, and would carry the entire
Radical and sorehead vote. Col. GIddings
defended further, in very able manner,
the convention system, contending that
without party organization, party conven'
tions and party discipline, the present
dominant and corrupt party could never be
overthrown. He then proceeded to defend
Governor Coke and Lieutenant Governor
Hubbard against the charges made against
them by Col. Jones. He would not defend
any official of his own party if he believed
him gAilty of crime; let them be tried il
they are charged with crime, and, il guilty,
let them be punished. Col. Giddings
charged Jones with making secession
speeches on the frontier and Union speeches
at Georgetown and Austin. He then en-
tered upon brief but able review Of the
issues which divide the two great political
parties Of the country, and which art
the living issues Of the canvass. Dem
ocrats favor State rights, no military
Intervention in State or national elections
he complimented the national House OF
Representatives for exposing the Radical
corruption and for arousiRg the whole
country TO the absolute necessity which ex-
ists for thorough reform; said Lincoln was
elected and the Democracy lost power by
divisions in their ranks; divisions such as
Col. Jones is now encouraging, and not on
account OF corruption in that party. He
again referred to the charges made by Col.
Jones against the State government regard
ing the Texas Pacific Railroad, saying it
was no issue Ia this canvass. After thank
Ing The audience, the Colonel closed, max
ing the announcement that they would both
speak again tonight in this city.
The audiences was then addressed for hall
IN hour BY Col. Jones. who denied that he
YES Democratic nominee when he ran
against Judge Townes, in 1855. He read
letters aud cited authorities in support OF
HE statements regarding Lieutenant Cover
nor Hubbard's conduct in the Whitmors
case: he said that Tom Scott, having
stolen al he can from Texas, will now ap-
psAi'to Congress, aud that il does entel
into this Congressional canvass, and is
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