The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-01-27

Her time hOnOred principles aud RESOLUTIONS
OF &c" are but names for nOthings.
Thou may'st yet possess her
II thou wilt but deftly coy. and
| Fill with ambition the hear OF
Her God and principle rival sister
Thou must Indifferent appear
TIL thou gain'st thy end.
! lA1DE.I
Taat love hath entire possession
| OF him taken; his face and conduit
Doth both show.
| -RotroGds .. tie Psople, Act II, Scene l.
II any additional evidence were needed
to sustain us in our opposition TO the adop-
tion Of the proposed Constitution, it was
amply supplied by the course and iesults of
the Republican convention at Hou4on and
ITS antecedants. We have held hat the
proposed Constitution was in behalf of the
existing railroads of Texas and severely
against other and new railroads; thatin ef-
feet 1t made monopolies of the existing and
prevented the construction of other all
roads; that in consequence the raIlroadsare
in favor of the adoption of this proposed
Constitution and are bending every energy
and power they are possessed of for Its
adoption
Article ten of the proposed Constitution
absolutely inhibits railroad construction, but
applys only to future railroads, the present
being governed by the terms of their sub
sistIng liberal charters. Article twdve,
section seven, proposed Constitution, reads:
Nothing in this article shall be construed
to divest or affect rights guaranteed by any
existing grant or statute of this State OF of
the Republic of Texas" showing con-
clusive'y that existing charters are not tobe
interfered with; and, having no option left
us, we must conclude that the intent of ari-
Gle ten was to prevent the encouragement cf
future new roads to make great monopolie,
of existing ones. The case of Gray ",
Keuchler, decided in the Supreme Court of
the United States, however, has already set
tied the question as to rights under existing
charters. An ordinance of the late con-
ventlon extends the time of all railroads
under their charters until the ad-
| journment of the Fifteenth Legislature
The purpose of this ordinance was To
keep alive the otherwise expiring enormous
land grant to the Texas and Pacific Rail
way, which it was well known would not
be renewed by any future legislature. 1t
was a concession to Tom Scott to assist him
in securing the money he is now asking for
from the Federal government to relieve the
Atlantic and Pacific Railway and to enrich
the Pennsylvania Central. Pending these
maneuvers his forces and those of all the
railroads in Texas are placed in operation
to secure the adoption of the proposed
Constitution. While article ten practi-
cally prohibits new companies from build
ing roads, for to its provisions capital will
not subscribe, it does not reach to the ex
tension of present roads under their char
ters; as in such authorized extensions they
will be governed by the terms of their
charters alone, which we have hereinbe-
fore stated as very liberal both as to land
grants and maximum rates of charges.
After traversIng the evidence we have fur
nished, every intelligent person must
agree with us that the existing railroads
of Texas must desire the adoption of the
proposed Constitution, and we assert they
intend to have it adopted if they possibly
can. M ......s... ....... ..- ...-.
There exists to-day in Texas, in the
minds of the majority of her people, senti-
ments antagonistic to the Radical party and
to railroad corporations, and the late man
ipulators at Houston conceived the plan of
using these antagonisms towards securing
the adoption of the proposed constitution.
It's sufficient to arouse the opposition of
this majority to anything for the Radicals
and railroads to favor it, and conversely
sufficient to secure the support of this ma
jority for the Radicals and railroads to op-
pose anything. ....
In ordinary affairs this opposition of the
majority we cannot object to, for it is justi
fable, but in the matter of this proposed
constitution if exerted in favor of its adop
ton, upon the grounds solely that the
Radicals and railroads oppose, 1t will
result in permanent injury to Texa:
which must be averted if possible.
At the Radical convention held IN Hemp
stead last summer, in public speech, ex
Governor Davis denounced both Judg,
Bell and Mr.. Flanagan in terms whicl
should forever secure for him from thus,
gentlemen contempt and opposition. 1t il
matter of history that Judge Bell is tn,
confidential adviser of the railroads O.
Texas, and that Mr.. Flanagan is larg,
owner in, the Texas Pacific Railroad as con
solidated, and that both are Republicans
Then, to secure the adoption of the Consti
tuition what course would be more natuFa
than for few of the principal railroad OH
cials in Texas to make show of opposition
and secure a coalition with the Radicals
Unnoticed and unexposed, such cours,
would certainly direct the majority to it
support and secure its adoption. In or
der to make the action of the Radi
Gals effective it was necessary to haE,
them nominate a ticket, so as to car
.ry their convention opposition to thu
polls and exercise the majority to convers,
action to the last moment. To accomplish
the desired action the cooperation of ex
Governor Davis had to be secured. Adroitly
if Mr.. Flanagan would make show
of trying to get the nomination for Cover
nor at the Houston convention, Davis
known opposition to him would force Davf
into making every effort to have some on
else nominated, and that was just what th'
willy Webb desired, and just what wa
done. To secure Davis's support of yiolen
party resolutions denuneiatory Of the pro
posed Constitution to accompany the ticke
TO the polls il was deemed sufficient to caus'
Davis 70 believe that active opposition b.
the Radicals Of Texas would furnish raj
lying point around whi>h all the disaffectes
in Texas could gather. and Is they, will
sAe Radicals, would constitute q msiority