The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-20

about eighty thousand head, of the value
of eight hundred thousand dollars that
there are in said counties and in the
region where said stock ranges bands of
criminal and lawlass men, too strong to
he suppressed by the civil authorities I'M
aided, who are depredating upon the
sock Of your petitioners, and that, be-
I " powerless to remedy the evil, any I'M
successful attempt on their part to do so
within themselves, would only have the
effect to aggravate the same and increase
their losses, therefore, we respectfully
ask that you will at once detail from the
military police forces of the state at least
one non-commissioned officer and five
privates thereof for service In said coun-
ties in the discovery and suppression of
such depredators and criminals and their
punishment as the law contemplates !;
aud as an inducement to the procurance
of such aid, we pledge ourselves jointly
and severally to maintain, supply and
support said force during the term of
such service, except their monthly pay.
We have the honor to be very re-
spectfully yours,
[SignedJ l.. J. Hebert, ]. NJ. Hebert,
G.. L. Cade, w. p. II. McFaddin, G.. b.
Conchttt, A. Fowler, Il. c. Hebert, b. F.
Barrow, j. j. Burnett, 5. Davis, s. 5.
Schener, Geo Burnett, r. NJ. White, B. j..
johnson, Lovan Hamshire, I. o. Brous-
sard, Louis o. Berry, E. II. Andrus, A.
ArceneauX, Desire Broussard, David
French, VIM. Mayes, A. Blonchett, JEFF
ChOison, Noise Broussord, James T..
White.
To this application the attorney gen
eral replied as follows:
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE, !
AUSTIN, April l2, 1882. !
To His Exeelleney o. NJ Roberts, Governor OF
Texas
SIR:-Your E xcellency having refer
red to me for my consideration the pc
| tition of various citizens in the counties
| of Jefferson, Galveston, Chambers and
Liberty, asking that a detachment of
rangers be sent into that portion of the
the state for temporary, or possibly per.
manent, service. have the honor to
say, in reply, that it is not in my power
at this time to meet this demand, even il
| twas perfectly clear that could law.
fully do so. have examioed the sew
eral acts under which the frontier force
was organized, ard has since been
maintained, and also the language of the
constitution on the subject of frontier
defense, and am of the opinion that
this military force cannot be transferred
to the eastern and more peopled portions
of the state without doing violence TO the
letter and spirit of the constitution and
laws under which it was raised and is
kept up. There is not line anywhere
in the various acts of the legislature
touching this question of defense
and police service, nor in the Language
of the constitution itself, thai
looks to the expenditure of public
money in keeping this force anywhere
in the field, except on, or near the from
tier, unless in special cases, like the ser
vices of a company in southwest Texas
and this was expressly provided for by
law, In addition to this, it seems to mt
as unwise and improper TO encourage {
belief among the people in old and wei
settled communities that every little
local disturbance, or series of theft:
authorizes an appeal to, and an expecta
ton of aid from the authorities of The
state. The tendency of this sort of de
pendence is to sap the very foundation
of true manhood, and to destroy tina
frank, open, bold public spirit, which il
the surest support to law and order, anC
to leave in its place a cringing, coward
ly, selfish spirit which timidly submit!
to wrong, rather than make an effort tC
preserve the right.
Outside of the general and somewhat
vague statement, that there are bands o.
lawless men in those counties stealing
stock, and these bands are too strong
to be suppressed by the civil au
thorlties, there is nothing definitely giver
in this petition 10 indicate any pressing
necessity for such an extraordinary
effort as the state would be compelled L
make in order to meet this demand
The agreement to find the mel
while on this duty, amounts t
very little, so far as any saving
to the state is concerned, as the expense
of getting them to part of the country
so far from the recognized field of theiI
operations would be great, and thei
monthly wages would have TO be paid b,
the state at last. Great caution will by
necessary in the management of tn,
frontier forces this year, in order L
avoid deficiency on the one hand, or |
great reduction of its numbers on tn,
other, as the appropriation for the cur
rent year is only So, 600, and unless you
exceiency should deem it absolutel,
necessary, lawful and proper to attemp
to respond TO this application, woulC
respectfully decline doing so, for the
reasons stated and many others tina
might be suggested. Very respectfully
your obedient servant.
w. ii. KING, Adit. Gen.