The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-08-19
HON.. W. rHRockMoRroN.

ton with the United States senator
ship. His name is household word
in Texas, and has been honorably
connected with every public meas
ure looking TO the honor, welfare or
prosperity Of the state. for more
than quarter of century. He is
specially a man of the people, plain,
open, energetic, honest and hospita-
BILE. and known and recognized to
be so. 1t is not our design TO in
dulge in praise of this man, but
rather TO lay before our readers
a few facts, for the truth of which
We may confidently appeal to the
history of the times and the recol-
lection of hundreds of men who are
well and favorably known in all
parts of Texas. For ten years Throck-
morton was member of the legisla-
ture, and during this time he stead
lily adhered to and advocated the
policy of public education. and TO
him a much as to any man in the
state are we indebted for our mag
nificent school domain, which. if
wisely managed, will provide vast
fund for the permanent benefit of
our state and people, and from
which every child in the state can
obtain fair English education with
out any further tax ON the citizen.
Always the friend of internal i'm
provements and development of the
internal resources of the state, the
impress of his ideas and his work
is stamped on every railroad that
now penetrates and is penetrating
our almost limitless territory.
His advocacy of the presumption
right of settlers on our public do
main has been notable and success
full. His great desire has been, and
is now, that every citizen shall have
a home, and much of his public life
has had this beneficial result as an
object. The protection of the peO-
pie on the frontier, the beating back
of the border, the settlement and
cultivation of lands roamed over by
Indians, and from which they made
incursions resulting in much disas-
faY- onI ru;r 20 tho intar;Or hoe ,at
at his hands. and from his mind and
energies an advocate, vigilant, per-
sistent and unwearying. His, efforts
in behalf of settlers in Peters, Mer-
GERS and theGerman colonies in set
thing the titles to their lands met
with full success, and through them
thousands of families were saved
from exhausting litigation and the
possible, if not probable loss Of their
homes. This was done by legisla-
ton originated and pressed into
laws by him, aided and assist
ed by noble compeers, many
of whom have passed away.
When war came Throckmorton
shouldered his musket and went 10
the field, and from the commence
ment to the ending, in one useful
position or another, as soldier, he
advocated the enlistment of all our
energies and resources, and this by
example, in the common defense.
The war ended and found him.
though i'll easy circumstances be-
fore, without means to support his
family. Much of his means had gone
to the support of the wives and
children of his fellow soldiers. To
this day Throckmorton is known as
charitable TO the poor and suffering,
even to being unjust 10 himself,
After the war he was made presi-
dent of the constitutional cOnven-
ton, and thereafter elected govern
or, and during his administration as
governor, his firm stand, taken and
upheld for the rights of the people,
is well known. The events of his
| administration are landmarks in the
history of our dark days. His de-
Tense of the constitution of the
state, the rights of the people, the
supremacy of the civil over military
law, his fearless expression of opin-
ion on these subjects, caused his re-
moval from office by the strong arm
of arbitrary military power. He
was ordered by the military author
ity to deface judicial records which
evidenced indictments against men
| for lawlessness and crime. He re-
l fused. He was ordered to
open the jails and turn Ger
tain classes of prisoners loose.
He refused. He proposed TO
obey the constitution and the law
and in consequence was removed,
to make way for cormorants, high
taxes, state police, arbitrary arrest
of citizens and declaration of mar
tial law. While Throckmorton was
president of the convention he ap-
piled to Governor Hamilton and to
Gen. Stufgis to release large num-
Der of citizens unlswfully held in
''bull pens" for imaginary crimes. His
plea was so strong, his reasons so I'M
answerable, that he induced Gen.
Sturgis to go in person to his supe-
rior at Galveston and urge the relief
sought. The effort was successful
and these citizens were turned loose
to be tried, if need be, by civil law
While Governor Throckmorton or.
dered Attorney General Walton to
Washington to institute the proper
measures to save to Texas the in
ldemnity bonds belonging to the
state, but held by fraud, while
claimants were beseiging the
Federal treasury for their payment
With the lamented Epperson this of
ficer took prompt and efficient &C
ton resulting in saving to the state
a half million dollars, part OF
| which was collected during his ad
ministratiOR, and all would hav,
been collected had his removal from
office been delayed few months. In