The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-24

him to draft Such law. He said thai
( sitter practIciDC law IN this State fol
I tverty-si5 years snd becoming in ;ha,
( time familiar with the workings of on,
! courts, lie saw plainly the causes that
! sprang from the great vortex of brib,
ery and corruption that then existed
among the sheriffs and juries, the
certain effect of which was the dis
charge of every criminal from custody.
| aud the defeating of the ends OF Justice.
To remedy these wrongs and protect
the life and property of the people
against robbers and murderers he had
worked to make the present Jury sy:-
TEN. Mr.. Bentley, in his tactics 10
win votes from Mr.. Terrell. is attack.
ing this law, saying it is not in accord.
sncs with true republican principles
to exclude men from the privilege of
sitting on the iuries of the country, be-
cause they cannot reSd and write,
which of course affects his coIored
vlte;s. II this was any argument at
all II would be more than offset by
the new free sch, oil Law, which MI.
Terrell was Instrumental! in getting
through the Senate, providing for the
education Of the blacks out OF the pub
lie motley, upon sn equal footing with
the white population, SO that they
might thereby qualify themselves to
become jurors. But this jury law
needs DO outside vindication. Its
practical working is proof Of it's own
usefulness. Under Inc diIec. operation
of this law there are to-day thirteen
criminals in the State under sentence
of death, while il forced Bill Longley
10 daugle in the air at the end of q
rope last Friday in expiation OF the
manifold murders he had committed
10 our State. Mr.. Terrell briefly re-
viewed every law of the last Leg
islature that had received his
vote and sanction. BE referred PAL
ticulsrly 10 Whist Is called the
''smokc honsen tax law, showing It 5
relation to the Constitution, and reading
the opinions of both lawyers and farm
ers as to its con-tit .tons ity. He was
in favor of exempting the necessary
farming implements and provisions
from taxation. he referred to the law
requiring guardians of the estates of
minors to invest their money in gov
ernmental securities as being a good
law, IN watching the interests of or
phan children with a jealous eye. He
answered the objection of his disaual-
Ification for the ufhce on account of be-
ing the State reporter, made by Mr..
Bentley, by read ng decision of the
Attorney General that the position of
reporter was not an Office, and there
fore he Is not disqualified. Besides,
Judge Duvsl was State reporter and
Senator ct the same time. He opposed
chsrtering Corporations and granting
them special privileges either by S ate
or national governments. Mr.. Ter
rell then discussed national affairs
at length, giving an exhaustive history
of the evils THAI have befallen our gov
ernment through the effects of the
present tariff and elisa legislation in
favor of the New England States.
Was in favor of administering Green
back stimulants, not iiat, to the pros
traced government to keep it alive
until the great cause of its trouble
should be removed and health and
prosperity restored to it. The whole
speech was mastery effort, and sur
passed anything We have heard rpon
the great question of the day. Our
space is TOO limited 10 give the synop-
sis of the points of it. His argument
showed him to be man of learning
and deep res, arch, having q perfect
familiarity with the history of nations,
which, togeth, with his devotion to
his studies, the love of his State and
country, and the deep-ia,d princi-
pies in mis- heart Of duty and integ-
rity, problems which he has mas
tered in the past, has given
him light 10 guide him by in the
future. Mr. Terrell could, and will
no doubt. Jet do his people honor in
the councils of the nation. but he is
needed more at home in our Legislature
for the next two years at least, in per-
fecting cur State laws and harmonic
ing them with the new Constitution;
with wisdom and justice, putting on
the finishing touch as it were, than he
is at the nations capital at present.
Texas Is q grand State, with vast
amount of territory and great many
interests to subserve; her commercial,
agricultural and stockrsising interests
will be, If not already in some re-
spects, ahead of any State in the
Union, and she will require great men
and statesmen at the helm. To meet
that requirement, the people of this
district, irrespective of political affili-
atoms, should and will send Hon. A.
W. Terrell to fill that requirement as
their Senator at the coming election.