The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-24
Correspondents touching am old Matter.
HOUSTON, TEX, Feb. 3, 1877.
Ion. j. II. McLeary, San Antonio:

HOUSTON, TEX, Feb. 3. 1877.
Hon. j. III. McLeary, San Antonio:
Dear Si1'-As our relations during
the second session of the Fourteenth
Legislature were of the most init
mate character; and as you were one
of the most jealous supporters of the
international railroad bill. which
the Governor vetoed; and as nv DO
sltlon upon that question caused
much surprise to some of my friends,
ana elected comments from other
persons, because | had before been a
friend of the bill, but opposed it in
the House; and as the whole matter
has now been settled by the legisla-
ture; and as | have never taken the
trouble (nOr cared to do SOY to ex-
PLAIN my course upon the question,
except to a few when convenience
or occasion suited; and as | have
persisted i'll refusing to make any
explanation, so long as any clamor
was raised against my course by the
friends of the bill, l ask you to state
your recollection of the circum-
stances which decided me to oppose
that bill.
am, with much esteem and re-
spect, yours ETC., ID. U. BARzIzA.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. Oct. II, 1878.
Capt. ID. U. Barziza:
Dear Sir:-Your letter of 5th of
February. 1877, has remained long
time unanswered, but on being re-
minded of it should say, that dur
ing the second session of the Four
teenth Legislature l roomed with
you and was on the most intimate
terms of Friendship, etc. -s
You were friend to the comprO-
mise bill for the International rail-
road, until within a few days before
it came before the House.
You spoke to me about opposing
the bill, just Immediately after an in
terview you said you casually had
with Mr.. Galusha A. Grow, an Off
Ger of the company; you related to
me the interview IN ertealSO; you
took exceptions at some remarks
Mr.. Grow made to you, constituting
them to be intended to influence
your action more strongly in regard
to the matter; you construed them
as improper intimations from him
to you, and about which you were
both mortified and indignant.
The same evening, meeting Mr..
Grow in front of the Raymond
House, you called on me, and re-
peated in his presence what you had
detailed 10 me, He did not deny
the conversation had " it'll you. but
protested that he meant nothing
improper, that what he said he
meant only as matter Of "clever-
ness"
For several days you conversed
freely with me and some of the
friends of the bill about the matter.
We endeavored to persuade you
not to take up the course you con-
templated, all of us arguing, that
although Mr.. Crows conduct might
not have been precisely proper, yet,
we considered you too sensitive, and
tried to persuade you to forget il.
L know that your feelings were
deeply wounded, and so were mine,
upon that account.
When you rose in the House to
oppose the bill, | do not believe
many of those present knew that
you were going to do so. Mr.. Grow,
Mr.. Kessler, Mr.. Epperson and my
SELF all strong friends of the bill,
knew that you were going to OPP
pose it.
You told Mr.. Grow and myself
that you believed that improper
means would be used or attempted
to be used, if it were found necessary,
and if it could be done ; and, for be-
lieving this, you could not consci-
entiOusly support the measure; in
which, however, L did not, by any
means, agree with you. In all this
L think You were mistaken, as !
neither saw nor heard of anything
improper being done by the officers
of the railroad company in the mat
ter. But this fact L am certain OF,
that Mr.. Grow, unwittingly, Of
course, drove You from us to the
opposition.
My dear friend, have made this
statement at your request, and be-
cause we have always been the best
of friends. and, | hope, will ever be
so. Yours truly,
j. IT. MCLEARY.