The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-04-27

which are so well provided against IN future. The
instrument presents, in its fundamental and lead
ing features, basis on which government may
be reared. eminently conservative Of all the pur-
poses for which government is instituted, and
adapted to a sound and healthy growth and de-
velopment of the State. 1t may possibly be in
some respects too restrictive, but, when such Is
the case the error is the safe side, and, while
temporary inconvenience may ensue, no perma-
nent injury will result. On all questions Of
principle affecting the great leading interests OF
the State, the wisdom of its provisions is con-
spicuous In portions of it's administrative ma
ciliuery. however, are 70 be found defects which
il is believed will enfeeble the efficiency of the
government in its practical operation, which the
best interests of the State require shall at once
be remedied. Upon the threshold of the first
administration of the new government the time
and cir ,nmstances are propitious for the correc-
ton Of errors which have not yet fixed them
selves in our system and created relations which
later would require more violent disruption, and
as we value the great reforms so much needed
inaugurated in our new plan OF government, the
more ready We should be 70 correct mistakes,
whose consequences may mislead the public
mind as to their source, and bring undeserved
reproach upon wise and wholesome changes 1t
should be remembered that popular reactions are
usually sweeping, and that the public mind does
not discriminate nicely between causes when a
great evil or burden must be removed. History
Is filed with exampl of great changes and rev.
olutions in government set in motion by trivial
causes, but acquiring momentum in their pro-
gress and reaching in results far beyond the os-
tensible design which incepted them. Nor
should It be forgotten that reforms-th0se meas
ures of public policy whose object is the preyeu-
ton of sbuses-are usually silent in their opera
| ton attracting no attention from the general
public, who frequently. while enjoying the I'M
munites from evil and benefits they bring, lose
| sight of the source whence their prosperity
comes, while vices in government, especially
those which meet and assail the people, and are
before their eyes every day in practical life, in
the judicial and executive administrations, are
trumpet-tongued,- and proclaim themselves
| throughout the length and breadth of the land
Let us take care that defects like these are not
permitted to fill the popular mind and create pub
! lie opinion as to the merits of the Constitu-
| ton. Let US heed the voice of experience, and
while the mind Of the country is.in frame to
discriminate clearly, supplement the good work
| already done with still another effort, which
| shall make it more perfect.
| At no time in the history Of Texas have the
exigences Of tie state lAore urgently demanded
the highest efforts Of her public servants, and
| the coolest reflection and most deliberate Judg-
ment of the people, and he who can write his
name highest on the list of those through whnse
| efforts lie common veal has been secured, VIII
| indeed he a public benefactor, entitled to the
honors and gratitude of the country. While it
may not be reserved to any one to achieve sill-
| gar distinction in this regard an earnest and
assduous devotion and an honest effort will meet
its appropriate reward and TO this we can all rs
| pre. The country and lIeople, whose welfare
| depends upon our deliberations and action, need
| and expect government light in its burdens,
/ effective in administration, and certain in its
securities for person and property. Naught else
is necessary to insure prosperity aud continued
| progress and advancement. With such govern
ment the elements of greatness, so abundant in
the noble State we represent, in the hands Of our
intelligent, adventurous and enterprising people,
will combine, and evolve from the womb OF the
future destiny of grander proportions than the
most gorgeous dream of the enthusiast now pic
lures BY the natural increase of present popu-
lation and the influx of immigration in the ratio
it is now coming, within one decade more the
population of Texas will number not less than
four million. Twenty years from to-day not less
than eight, and possibly ten millions of people
more than the present population of the great
| States of New York and Pennsylvania CON-
| bined-will inhabt the two hundred and seven
tyfour thousand square miles of territory within
| the boundaries of Texas. With commanding
commercial position in her Gulf ports, with ca
| pacity to produce cotton enough to clothe the
world; her western plains unrivalled for wool
prolific Of all the cereals, and producing every
variety of fruit and vegetable her Southern al
luviums, unsurpassed for sugar and rice; her in
| eXhaustible resources of copper and iron, and
her wealth of the more precious metals; her rich
and extensive coal fields; her splendid Univer-
sity and common school endowment; her genial
climate balmier than that of Italy; with freedom
from debt, low taxes, and free homesteads, offer
| ing asylum to the overburdened people of
other States, and with history which, in a life
| of forty years, commentaries achievements, and
| line of heroes aud statesmen of whom cen
turtles might proudly boast; Texas, in the great
future which shall witness her development, if
her people be but true to themselves, will stand
among the States of the American Union very
| colossus the greatest and most powerful of them
ALL and her voice will be mighty in controlling
the policy and shaping the destines of the
| Union. .t.. .F"I -l--i q
The causes are now in active operation which
| will produce these results, and grown
men, now within the sound of my voice,
will live to see them realized But one
| danger menaces this grand consummaton,
and against THAT, the statesmanship of the coun-
try, and the patriotism Of the people must pro-
vide, 1t is the spirit of sectionalism; the selfish
and unhallowed ambition; the greed for power
which, ignoring the interests of the great mass
of the people for whose benefit the government
was instituted, would rend Into fragments insig-
nifcant and petty, our splendid empire State.
strand its fortunes and forever blast its hopes.
Let us stand unfinchingly by the glorious integ-
rity of Texas, by her past history, by her present
| buoyant with hope and promise, and by the
mighty future assured by her updiminished
unity. Let the government of Texas deal wisely
and Justly with the different sections of the State,
and the weaker feel the generous concession oil
| the stronger. Let our Constitution and laws Sc
| operate as that no portion of the State will be
sacrificed in its interests or wounded in its pride
and when conflicts arise let us remember that
the highest craftsmanship will be revealed III
! their satisfactory compromse-that power, MI
merical strength in Legislative bodies as else
where, may be unwisely and oppressively used.
Let each legislator be in truth, as in theory OF
our government he is, the executor of special
| trust for his immediate constituents, and OF d
general and equally obligatory trust for the
| whole State, and be possessed OF a comprehensive
| patriotism and sense of duty which shall en-
brace within its guardianship and protectiag care
every interest, every square mile Of territory
and every iuhabtant of the State e-atr i5t.l
While resolving unaterably that, the single
star which rose from the historic field of San
Jacinto the emblem Of new republic, born oil
| the valor of heroes and the brain of statesmen
shall forever in undiminished luster remain the
sign and type of undivided Texas, let us endeav
| or to emulate the wisdom of the sages who
transmitted us Jile heritage anu as Iiley uiuf Dy
| just and equal and beneiicent government, anG
sagacous far-seeing policy. bind by the ties Of
| interest, of common brotherhood and of patriotic
pride the whole people of all the sections of the
State to our glorious standard. ti} l7I4uin q
Secured against this dangerthe future greatness
| of Texas under wise administration of her gov
eminent is assured. Let us contribute all that
nest effort in our respective positions can accom-
| plish TO the achievement of the grand result NJ
higher goal ever beckoned on the just ambition
of men. than that which through the paths Of
peace, the rivalry OF intellect, the emulation o.
patriotic and exalted purpose, invites the states
men of Texas to put forth their best powers
/ their greatest and Roblest endeavors. in advan.
cling the progress of their State 70 the great des-
tiny which awaits her. Nor should we be un
mindful of other relations and obligations i'm,
posed upon us, no less by considerations Of in
terest and patriotism, than by those of coustit
tional duty. Texas is one of the various States
| .F