The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-07-24
GOVERNOR ROBERTS AND HIS
CONDUCT IN OFFICE.

The Marshall, Texas, correspondent
of the st. Louis Republican, in the paper
of the fourteenth, contains just, hon
est and thoughtful review of the con-
duct, policy, personal character and
work of Governor Roberts. 1t should
be remembered just here that Governor
Roberts does not concuB with the
STATESMAN. In any event it is not
known that he is opposed to
the theory and fact of free schools,
but his only purpose was to
effect the absolute security of
the States credit and change the sys-
tenn of creating Indebtedness. BE en-
tertained opinions very different from
those opposing him as to the extent of
the State resources and probable income
and amount of outstanding liabilities,
but beyond this there was no difference
of purpose or theory between him
and the minority of the Legislature
and there can be, until the Constitution
Is changed, no disruption of the Dem
ocratic party on the free scnool ques-
ton. The Governor, therefore,
has done nothing to justify the asser-
tion that his veto messages would dis
solve his party in Texas. The wish Is
father to the thought and sprang from
the acrid anxiety of few adventures
in politics, who have foresworn Democ-
rscy to win Office in an attempt to
overthrow his excellency. But the cor
respondent says:
Governor Roberts came here in the
early days of the Texas republic.
From this he derives the appellatlon
by which he If sometimes called-''The
Old Alcalde." l first met him at JEFF
ferson, sixteen miles from here, in 1S47,
when he was one of the district judges.
In 1859 or 1860 he WAS placed on the
Supreme bench, and was selected as
Supreme Judge. He has continued in
that position, with short intervals,
from that day until he was nominated
for Governor. He is Q man Of pleas
ant, amiable manners, possesses high
order of intellect, and his integrity of
character is unquestioned. As jur-
ist be ranks high. His decisions are
regarded amoag the beat of all our Su-
preme Jadges, conspicuous for their
research, breadth Of thought, clearness
Of analysis and perspicnlty. He is in
new element, never before having
been engaged in active politics, and 1t
is natural that he should make some
mistakes. In the end he will come out
all right, for he is not only honest, but
earnest and patriotic.
He has been greatly censured for
committing the sentences Of Coward,
charged with murder, and Fields, the
negro rapist; but when the facts are
properly viewed, it is difficult to per-
cei7e what real grounds there are for
these complaints. 1t will be remem-
bered that among the reasons given in
the Coward case, were: First, that
the principal witness first swore that it
was the brother of the accused but
after learning that he was in Jail, thea
swore that il was the prisoner. Sc
ond. that 4 large petition went mp
from Houston asking the communication
which Was signed by quite number
OF the leading citizens Of the place.
In the case Of Fields he had q ktser
from the woman alleged to have been
outraged. She stated that when she
We her evidence in court she was net
ere of the penalty, and thar she did
hinNhe had committed . crime
Apg >Rf death. THIS statement
NpmpAQied by an affidavit OF
ptablA who stated that
pn he'd told him that
% had not s1cceed-
purpose. He further
he Uss unavoidably absent
II eeems TO me these fur
y coed reasons for changing
k{h penalty 20 imprisonment for
The Galveston Esss and some
ta,e journals assume the ground
ne iacts presented reasonable
Of The guilt Of those men, the
or shuuld have pardoned than
TO uss the language en-
|hsrs vas 10 middle ground,
other guilty q net gulliJ.