The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.


to writS OF seizure.
By Mr.. Traylor A bill amenda-
tory of the exist ng law relating to
the manner of proving estrays.
BY. Mr.. Matlock: \ bill amending |
existing law relating to breaking
By Mr.. Gooch: \ bill amending the |
law relating to public free schools, 50 |
as to authorize children living outside |
of incorporated cities or towns which |
may be indepenpent school districts, |
to enter III such city schools, and re-
ceive the benefit of their proportion of
the state school fund. Referred.
By Mr.. Shannon: a bill to prevent
the obstruction of public roads or
streets by railroads. Referred.
Morning call concluded.
a message was received from the
governor requesting the appointment
of Mr.. ii. z. Brewster as commission
er of statistics and history.
On motion of Mr.. Houston the SEN
ate voted to go into executive session
on the appointment Monday after
morning call.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Senate bill No. 8, relating to the
Sunday law.
Mr.. Martins amendment prohibit
ing sales after 8 o'clock d. IN. pending.
Mr.. Pfeuffer said: OF all the amend
mentS and propositions that have
come before the senate, l am more
inclined to favor the substitute pro-
posed by the senator from Dallas; be-
cause it contains within it provisions
allowing cities to regulate this matter
for themselves. / will not hesitate in
saying that l believe every
man who is the head of a
family should have authority
| to regulate that matter as he wants
to. am sorry the senator is not here,
and think the question ought to be
postponed to give him an opportunity
to speak in support of the substitute.
But as it is the wish of the senate to
proceed with the consideration of the
resolution in his absence, feel it a
duty to my constituents, in view of
the peculiar element that l represent
Ia cosmopolitan people that the gen.
tleman from Falls referred to in his
speech yesterday-to oppose this pro-
posed Sunday law; and all sumptuary
laws that dictate to a man or citizen
of this country what he shall or not
do on Sunday. While l believe it
right to protect every citizen
In the mode of worshiping God that
his conscience preScfibeS, both singly
and collectively; while l believe it
highly proper to punish every man
who would interfere with Christian
worship in any form, Ibelieve it to be
wrong to permit those who enjoy Sun
day as they see fit to prescribe Others
from enjoying the Sabbath as they
may see tit. doubt no less the right
of the government to say what any
citizen shall eat or drink than to pre-
scribe the manner of his worship
during the Sabbath day, so long as he
does not violate the duties of a citizen
OF those represent large number
work all during the week from morn.
ing until night. They are industrious
law abiding citizens, who, the records
of the county will show, commit less
crime than any other class of people
in the state. Their ideas about Sun.
day proprietieS and rights differ from
the very orthodox and religiously
strong inclined people; not but they
attend the churches and have the
deepest generation for our religion
After working all the week, they come
into town on Sunday, and attend
church, and buy the little necessaries
for the week to come and in the after.
noon they take their families to the gar.
dens outside the city limits, where they
drink their beer or their wine, anC
lunch. where they enjoy the open all
and pass pleasantly a few hours OF
recreation. Shall this conduct of this
people be made a crime? That they
shall no. seek this recreation between
the hours of and o'clock. But il
they have the right to thus employ
the Sabbath afternoon, why is il
wrong to sell between nine and four
If it is wrong to sell between nine and
four, why is it not wrong during the
entire Sunday? If the reverence OF
Sabbath of those who propose this
change is so great as to justify
such monstrOus inconsistency
why not institute the Sunday law OF
old which made it an offense punisha
BILE with death to pick up stock on the
Sabbath; or the fanaticiSm of a later
day which made it a sin for man tC
kiss his wife on Sunday? If it is
wrong to sell anything between 9:O(
in the morning and 400 in the after.
noon, it is wrong to sell during the
entire day. L think the measure pro-
posed by the senator from Dallas
comes nearer conforming to the pro-
gressive ideas which, as people, we
are approaching-in preference to
sumptuary laws-than any propo-
sition presented to our consideration
to permit incorporate cities and towns
to regulate these matters according to
their own notions of right or conven-
fence. think men should be allowed
to exercise their own moral discretion
In the observance of the Sabbath, and
not have dictated to them a course
different from that of their own
choosing, so long as they are not vio-
lative of the duties of citizens.
Amendment lost-22 nays, 8 yeas;
the question recurring to the amend
ment of Mr.. Gibbs.
Mr.. Martin offered an amendment
to the amendment, adding to "incor-
porated cities or towns" "of 1000 in
habitants."
Mr.. Davis-ironically: Amendment
by adding after words towns, villages
and crossroads. Lost.
| Mr.. Stratton: Amendment that the
county commissioners court may
have the same power as incorporated
| cities or towns in counties in which
there is no incorporated city or town.
| Lost.
Mr.. Martins amendment was also
lest, by a vote of 26 nays to 3 yeas.
Question upon substitute offered by
Mr.. Gibbs.
Mr.. Davis said: am opposed to the
substitute of the senator from Dallas.
1t engenders a conflict and i'll feeling
between our rural districts and cities
that is highly detrimental to the best
interests of the state. / see no good
reason why men should be compelled
to observe Sunday in the country but
not in towns. am opposed to enact
ing upon our statute books such in
| vidious distinctions as this substitute
proposes. The citizens of our state
should possess the same rights and
subject to the same duties, regardless
of the locality in which they may hap
pen to live
| Mr.. Patton said: The amendment of
the senator from Cooke is not only
correct as far as it goes, but presents
| itself to me in another respect in con-
nection with this measure. Through
out southwestern Texas there
are a number of densely populated
neighborhoOds or communities where
there are no cities or towns. They
are composed of agriculturists, who
are among the best citizens of the
state. To pass the substitute would
4 4 L l..