Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-07

Dear Doctor, you blush ana you sIdrI'
There's only one thing that can cure me
Take me-and my heart!
For the SPECTATOR.
Letter from Texas.
ATHENS, HENDERSON Co., TEXAS,
May Goth, 1881.
Editors Spectator Some time has e.
lapsed since my last letter. but time and
wait for no man, and
since my last letter was published by
you, one of the supposed great men of
the "Old Dominion" has proved by
words and actions to be a traitor to his
country and dishonor to the name of
the dear old State. We meet good
many Virginians here in Texas, and all.
with not single exception, denouuce
him as blackgaurd and scoundrel,
and I can safely say, Mr.. editor, that
not only the many Virginians in the
Lone Star State, but all in Texas who
understand the facts of Mahone's case,
say he has degraded the name of Vir
ginia. He has cast SANDER upon her
fair name, that an honorable man would
not have done as he has done. That a
just and noble people ought to crush to
earth such an ulcerous ant-hill ! that he
has demoralized the State and injured
her reputation that he has shown the
blacklist ipgratitude, the meanest, low
eft thing that an honorable man could
be guilty of, and turned his back, and
injured those who showered upon him
gifts and honors, and then after recefv-
ing these honors with unthankful
hands, he turns and treads their rights
under foot. and then laughs at their
too ~f k1,a
"Old Domiuionu will forever remember
this. and hope that in the future, If the
assertions against Malone are true, to
put the iron heel of Justice and truth
upon the worst of traitors. The truth is
too we'll known-it cannot be kept
down-qnn0nn est veritds ct rrev0Lebit.
The reason of reasonable creatures, and
the laws of the universe forbid it. Ma
hone has violated the laws of truth and
iustice the former prevails and the lat
Ter carries the sword.
Crime in Texas is decreasing on &C
count of the rigid discipline and en-
forcement of our laws. No less than 9
prisoners were sent from Smith county,
adjoining Henderson county, to the
penitentiary last district (circuit) court,
from this county. 10 from Anderson
county. and 7 from Vanzant county,
Roth of the last named counties Join
Henderson. all large counties, and many
of the men sent were transient men and
for petit offences. though Henderson
county had four murders committed in
aide her limits in two weeks. this wear.
ali of the uerpetrators captured and
punished. An of the above named pris
oners were men. The Texans do not
send women to the penitentiarv: thew
fine them. but never send them off; too
scarce down here-75. 900 more males
in Texas than females vet. at the same
time. our last legislature passed q bill
allowing. or rather. enforcing the en- :
cumbants of the State offices to employ
female clerks Instead of male clerks,
There il now in contemplation of
building capitol building and a State
university. Austin. of course. will get
the capitol buiiding' and is now work
ing for the University building, which
we mink is tue place for 1t. as q lovely
site was dedicated in Austin fortv.two
wears ago for university purposes. Texas
ought to have had a university ever
since then. but only till now have
thew tmeaniug the legislature) seen fit
to act in that direction.
Henderson county is out of debt. and
has been for wears. and has some eight
or ten thousand in her treasury. The
nd volore,,a tax is only u mills on the S,
State and county tax. and by having
good collectors. almost every dollar is
collected: poll tax. So and MANY. of our
citizens are in favor of only taxing the
naked land, setting aside the tax on per.
sonal property and improvements and
the polls. Our State and county occu-
patton taxes are the highest. Retail IL
uuor dealers are compelled to pay $780,
90 in advance: lawyers and doctors paw
SIS 90 in advance, and Othel occupations
accordingly.
Our land system is different from that
of Virginia, and is controlled by the
rules that governed the Mexicans. In
stead of having sections, &C., we have
leagues and labors. A league contains
.4428 acres u labor III acres, and a
league and labor. or 26 labors, is gener-
orally surveyed in square. The meas
urement is made by varas. A vara is
333 inches, and 19O08 10 varas make a
mile. Each married man in Texas is
entitled to 100 acres, and aGeingle man
80 acres, to be patented to him by proof
of his living upon the same years. All
the cost attached to obtaining home.
veying, 81 90 for fling fieldnotes, and
patent as Texas can give-as good a
SUM of Is or 20 dollars.
Henderson county has no manufac-
tories, in fact, Texas few, if any, and
our citizens are dependent upon the old
sr States for most of the articles of cloth
ing worn, farming implements, &C.
We raise cotton. but send it of and then
have it sent back to US to use. Every
ty OF the adults, use tobacco, and the
most OF it comes from Virginia, but the
time is coming when Texas will be full!
OF manufactures, and men or capital
will increase the same ten fold, or at
least to such per cent. as to wei! pay
them to come into our state. what
we want Is men OF capital, ana we can,
not close Without saying one good woro