The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-07
Governor Il. Ii. Hubbard 10 the People
or Texas,


Fell0U-citizens or Tcxas-Cailed upon to
assume the responsibilities of the Executive
Office under circumstances unusual il our
history, l find no legislative body represent
ing your interests or speaking your will il
Session at the Capitol.
IL is a custom as old aud as honored as
the history of our Federal and State gov
ernments which requires that the chief ex-
ecutIvc officer, upon his elevation, should
make some formal acknowledgment of
the great trust contided by his countrymen
and pledge of fidelity to the laws ald the
constitution which he is sworn to execute
and support.
In the present instance. that acknowledge
ment must necessarily be made TO you d.
rectly, and the pledge Of faithfulness be
offered without those traditional formali-
ties attendant upon Inauguration days as
celebrated in our civil government.
recognize, fellow-citiZsns, the high re-
sponsibiIy now imposed upon me, u trust
demanding the most devoted patriotism
and a broad and liberal statesmanship,
guided always by an iIt1exible justice which
knows neither friend nor foe.
l do not lay claim to all these high DUAL
tiles, SO rarely combined in mortal man
but, in earnest love and devotion to the
honor and interest of Texas, during citi-
zenship of more than quarter of a century,
do claim to be the peer OF any of her sons,
whether among living contemporaries or
sleeping with her honorcd dead.
Upon your counsels and your forbearance
which are now and henceforth earnestly
invoked, l confidently rely, in shaping
and determining an enlightened and
uHsectional public policy, and in upholding
the executive in the faithful execution OF
the laws.
have no high-sounding promises to
make for the future, as | have violated, |
trust, no pledges in the past. Yet, fellow
citizens, while claiming no exemption from
the frailtles of passion or the intirmit'es o;
human judgment, / nevertheless declare TO
you on the threshold of my administration
that / shall have no friends to rewarc', and
40 eHcmieS to punish in the official dis
charge of the great trust which devolyes
upon me.
In this spirit, which knows no sectional
lines, greet my fellowcitlzens.
Recognizing that my acts, as q public
servant, have been the legitimate subject
of discussion, ask you, for the future, to
uphold me only when in the path of duty.
l. is not the time, nor is this the occasion, to
discuss questions OF SITE policy. l take
the reins of government as they are handed
TO me by my predecessor, and am rcspon-
slble only for the faithful execution of the
laws as they are given to me 10y the legisla-
tive power which made them. Ii | shall
mold the former with steady hand, and dis
charge the latter obligation with justice
and impaIti TALLY to all sections of this great
State. L shall be satisfied to rest my labors
here in the public servi &c viii the Just
Judgment OF my countrymen.
The statutes enacted by the recent Legis
iature have, without the fault OF either the
Xe utive or Legislative department, not yet
been placed in the hands of all the civil
officers of the State, and as yet are sealed
Oloks 10 the great masses of the people.
Until they shall have passed judgment
On these laws-until their efficiency or In
efficiency shall have been weighed IN the
balance of intelligent popular discussion by
the enlightened press, in judicial forums.
md nv intelligent assemblies of the people,
the executive surely should not anticipate
Iar u .scussIon, or that judgment, by assum
lug that on all questions of finance, or re-
lttlng 70 the judiciary, or other measures
of the State policy, the recent Legislature
eae failure, or, IN advance of a trial, that
their statutes would fail to preserve the
public credit or furnish adequate protection
to person and properly, and certain punish
ment to the lawless.
The great curse of the last decade of
pur History has been too much legislation
State and National. Laws have thus
ceased to be stable and respected, as afore-
time, and constitutions themselves have
been too often remorselessly swept away,
TO suit each swift change of popular pas
sion and prejudice. Let us be patient of
Ill real or fancied present ills, till the rene
dy proposed by the legislative department
Of the government shall, at least, have been
actually and fairly tested. Whatever may
be the judgment of individual private
citizens, it is surely not to be taken for
y raifreri that the representatives of the
,,ieople, who so recently met In this Capitol,
-. ave already changed or would change
, .eir published record on grave questions
- state policy so shortly after the close of
Il long and arduous session, and almost at
he beginning of the fiscal year and before
the actual experiment has been made test
ing the capacity of these laws, to meet the
wants of the State government. Until
they shall have considered their official
action now a part of the States history,
and so announced to the country, char
table Judgment will concede that the Fcf :
resentative still stands hy hisfecord.
have said briefly thus much. fellow-cit
liens, because | Cannot ignore, if would,
the fact that the question of calling an ex-
ira session of the Legislature at al early day
is agitated among the people and creates a
spirit of unrest in the public mind. l Lere
announce to you, therefore, that / shall
hold myself free to act on this, as on other
grave issues, as my convictions of duty are
determine by the developments of the fu-
ture. Wltnever an emergency such as is
niemplated by the Constitution exists,
demanding, In nv humble judgment, that
his extraordinary power be exercised by
The ext cuuve, shall not hesitate to assume
he full measure of responsibility of assem-
ling the representatives of the people to-
sether to consider whether or not immedi-
,te c:ion m4, be required to save the hon
II or credit of the State at home or abroad.
Ny fellow -citzeus have right TO demand
hat in this d Erection 1 take no inconsIder
tie or hssty step, and their just expecta
tions ST all not be disappointed.
II Is easier TO destroy than to rebuild.
The pr MT feels the disease, but it requires
the skill OF science to prescribe the cure.
there Is such a thing in political, as in
medical, science which recognizes that
alter a certain period of disease nature
must work the cure aud bring back the
ufe- blood into healthful channels. 1t is a
grave euestion-which the executive is not
now called upon to answer-whether, ii
he Fifteenth Legislature has failed to pro-
vide for the present fiscal year against all
deficits, any financial remedy can now b.
applied in time to prevent the threatened
evil The record of that most important,
and IN many respects exciting, period OF
our legislative history is before the country.
Il praise or blame must result, the record
Of those who made that history will fix the
responsibility where it belongs, either for
failing 10 provide adequate means to
meet the current appropriations and past
indebtedness of the State, or failing to cut
down the appropriations to meet the revenue.
We d,piore, as citizens of State great in
power and unsullied in honor, that her do
nestle paper should not always be cashed
At the counters of the treasury, and while
her bonds abroad are eagerly sought aud