The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-08-03

adopted by the Horse of Representatives,
this first day of August, 1876.
is gned W. C. WALSH,
Chief Clerk House Rep.
Come TO hand August l, 1876, snd exc
cuIed the same day by arrest,ng all the
within named members of the House of
Representatives except the Hon ID. L.
Buziza and the Hon. T. NJ Denris), whom
now have before the bar nf the House.
ISIgnedl j. L HALL,
serg't alarms H. of II.
August /, 1876 at II: 10 \. NJ, received
from Sergeant at-Arms.
w. C. WALSH,
Chief Clerk of IL. of r.
The sergeant alarms brought in under
arrest Mr.. kppperi, who, being InteIrogsted
by the Speaker as To the cause of his alb
sence without leave, protested agsinst being
forced 10 take any part in the deliberations
OF proceedings of the body, as he did not
consider the Legislature legally ia session.
Declining to take his seat. the sergeant at
arms was instructed to keep him in Gus ody.
The sergeantat-arms then announced that
in obedience 70 the warrant delivered to
him he presented before the bar of the
House the following gentlemen:
MessIs. Adams, Andrews, Blackman,
man, Denman. Dennis, II .ynes, Jones of
| Gonzales, Kinnison, Kessler, Nc Ginnis,
MIddlebruok, Moses, Northiugton, Perre-
not, Quin, Roberts of Bee, Rogers,
Rust, Swisher, Won BibersIein, Watson,
| Watts and WurZbach.
The Speaker inlerr"gated these gentle
men collectively as to the cause of their
absence without leave from the sittings of
the House of Representatives. Messrs.
| Andrews and Quiu sent up the following
answer:
We, the undersigned members of the
| House of Representatives, beiievi ing that the
Fifteenth Legislature did legally adjourn
sine die at IL o'clock NJ, on July 81, have
declined TO participate In the action of that
body since that hour; we have held Our
selves ready at any time since that hour Ia
attend an extra session as long may be
necessary for the welfare of the State and
at two dollars per day. We therefore pro-
test against our arrest. ANDREWS,
QUIN.
Mr.. Coleman said: Speaking tor myself
and Messrs Kinnison, Biackman, Moses,
KoppeIl, Rogers, Cards, Roberts of Bee,
Won Blberstein, McGinnis and Middle
brook, have to say that We abSented our
selves from the sIttings in this hall last
evening and this morning because we be.
leve the Legislature of Texas was of right
and by law adjourned sine die yesterday al
noon, and because we do not recognize this
assembly to be the House of Representa-
tives. We remained at the capital that we
might be at hand in the event of an Execu.
tive proclamation converting the Legisla.
ture in special session, in which alone we
believe the Needed legislation Can now bt
done.
II is we'll known that some two weeks
since the Senate and House passed con
current resolution to adj Durn sine die OH
the thirty fist of July, at ~ O'Clock NJ,
and it is equally as we'll known that the
House wholly failed to rescind or repeal
this resolution.
When this resolution passed both houses
it was upon each house an absolute law un
til repealed, not by one house but by both,
This was not done, nor is there any pre-
tence that it was, and we therefore claim
that by virtue of law, and in accordance
with all precedent, the H 'use stood ad
journed sine die at noon on yesterday.
We acted upon our own profound con
victiens of law, right and duty. Thi
morning, while sitting together in the Su
preme Court room, Mr.. Hail. the sergeant
at rms of the House of Representatives a
its late session, called, and reading a war
ran. signed by Col. Bonner as Speaker, as
sumed to arrest US. We yielded at once t.
avoid anything unseemly, and not because
we believed then or now that there wa
any authority of law for the issuance OF TO
the execution of the warrant, and we nov
protest as citizens of Texas against an
further detention.
Applause proceeding from the galleries
the Speaker ordered the galleries cleared
which was done.
My reasons for absenting myself from tn
so-called L g stature are as follows: Tn,
Senate and the House concurring did pas
resolution adjnurning this House ON tn
thirty first day of July at - o'clock NJ
and that resolution was never rescinded il
due form-has never been rescInded in
legal way, as known to parliamentary usag
as 1 understand it. Although an uI
parliamentary move, the House adjourue
to $3.50 O'Clock on The thlrty-frst. Sue
action of the House l protest against
D To jerrymander and use unprecedented &C
tions to accomplish indirectly what the
could not do in strict accordance with pal
D lIamentary law, is in my opinion contrar
to all well known rules, and in the name 4
the people of the State of Texas l revolt a
the idea of being Imprisoned or beng IN
: der arrest for an honest attemnt Re tfH ;JIUtrc
| y
any kid d :. natever, and for my actions
throw myself upon the country at large t
consider my course. l have no malice {
any one for their actions in this matter, an
will never think it just to Trxas to proloni
. this body for Tom Scott or any other raj
road king. Htving agreed 20 work fC
{ two dollars per day under call of the Gov
t ernor, until the necessary Legislation coul
be enacted, feel proud of my actions an
: step in this matter, but will take my seat an
: help stave off all bad legislation.
DENMAN.
: I came here to represent a free peopl
+, honestly and according to my best judl
ment and | believe that there is standin
, on our journals a law not rescinded az
o journing this body, notwithstanding tn
ruling of the Speaker. l accord to hiI
the same honesty in his opinion hat | claiI
= for myself, but l cannot believe that he hs
i the power to repeal law simply by b
ruling, that when this body failed to repet
=. directly this joint resolution that it by vi
q tue Of said agreement stood ad 'urne
: sine die c. L. WATSON.
l enter my protest against my illegal a
rest by the so called sergeant-at-aIms {
:. what is professedly the Fifteenth Legisl
\ ture in session, from the fact in the di
a charge of conscientious duty, fully b
- lieve that in accordance with a concurrer
resolution passed BY both branches of ii
Fifteenth Legislature to adjourn July 8
at IL NJ, sine die, which resolution hi
\. never been resclnded, the first session
r the Fifteenth Legislature ceased to ext
D, yesterday at II NJ, and for that reason, b
j. lieving conscienticusly this sitting to
b, illegal, premeditatedly absented mysel
n, and as a confirmation of my Judgment
r, this matter and as representative of u
IS FIfIy-eighth District, proclaim the affirm
d alton of large number of my constituent
!, in the telegram hold in my hand approx
= ing my course to the letter.
PERRENoT.
Mr.. Speaker resume my seat under
solemn protest. Appealing to the God
Nations for the honesty of my motives, an
= to the country for the correctness OF n
judgment, submit to an arbitrary powe