The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-18

My course has been TO issue rewards
freely and promptly for the arrest and
return of criminals who have lied to
other states, regulating the amount given
according TO the magnitude oil the ofiense,
the distance and expense Of travel and
reasonable compensation for the service
sn1 risk. The payment OF the rewards
nave oeen conditioned upon the requisi-
a,On being strictly compliSS with, by
gettlng warrant of arrest LII the gov
ernor ofthe state TO whom IL is directed.
so as 70 prevent the p. actice of kidnap-
ping criminals In other states.
w men sureties on bail-bonds have ap
pneu lor acquisitions 10 arrest their
principals, small reward has been given
TO encourage them In their efforts. open
rewards, when the criminal IL within
| the state, or when his residence Is I'M
known, have been seldom granted, with
an occasional exception, in cases 81 secret
crimes, when the perpetrators are uD-
known.
By pursuing the policy here indicated.
the peace officers OF the state are thrown
upon their official responsibility In the
regular discharge Of their duties, the ex-
penditure OF money under my control
has been Kept within reasonable bounds,
and n large number OF criminals have
been arrested, most OF whom have been
brought back from other states nj rea-
sonable cost.
The power granted TO the chief execu-
tive on this subject, like the pardonIng
power, IL not capable OF being controlled
by any definite previously specified rules
| OF action. Being an extraordinary power,
IL was evidently intended TO prevent nc
| cidenLal Injustice. or undue hnrdships oil
u serious character, and not as one OF the
ordinary processes In the execution or
the criminal law, as IL has been almost
continually attempted to be made, fire.
| quently on very frivolous pretences OF
merit, supported by petitions numeiousiy
signed.
Where fines have been exoTbitant, pay
ment oil part, when practicable, or some
other punishment, has been usually re-
qulred as = condition upon which the bal
ance was remitted.
When the remission of n forfeiture OF
bail bohd has been sought. and IL has
been satisfactorily shown that the sure
ties have expended money III good falth,
and IN practical way, for the arrest OF
their principals, the amount thus exc
pended has been RENTED in their favor.
This has been standing rule, 10 encour-
age such efforts.
Generally, however, such remisslons,
Tor whatever cause made, have been 10
way to not deprive the officers OF their
full commissions, unless the Judgment
was clearly shown to be uDjustly or ille-
gally, or inadvertently rendered
PARDoHs AND COMPUTATIONS.
Notwithstanding that public notice was
given In my first utierances ~ governor
that did not intend to be made high
court of appeals In criminal cases, there
have been presented TO me In four years
eleven hundred and nifty original Applica-
tons for pardOns, communications anu re-
misslons In criminal cases, amounting TO
nearly six per week upon an average,
which have caIeluiiy'eXamined aud de-
cided, as Is shown 10y the books and pa
pers in the executive Office. This does
not include the hundreds OF second ap-
plicatiOns made In these cases aud In
cases that had been presented TO my pre-
decessors. A few of them presented
grounds for action worthy OF CONSIDERS
tiOn. Most OF them presented some iTiv-
Olous excuse, or the blame OF some other
person or persons, or that the punishment
already, however short, was thought sui
icient, or family respectabiliiy. or power
|, ~ OF family, or youthiulness, or old age,
or permanent or accidental drunkenness,
or general sympathy, or numerously
signed petition, or alleged innocence, as
: shown by afiidavits taken ex parte. or I'M
} just or illegal convictions.
{ kThe getting up and presenting or ior-
warding 10 u.e such APP licatlonsh his G.
l come a part of some lawyers practice for
, compensation, and others OF them, and
, other most respectable gentlemen, engage
In 1t occasionally from sympathy, or
friendship for relatives OF the uDiortu-
nate persons.
r These indiscriminate applications 10
the chief executive. 10 prevent or m idliy
. the execution OF the law, sanctioned by
the respectabillty and great numbers Uf
persons who enlist their efforts. or care
T lessly give their names rs signers 10 peti-
lions, favor OF convicted criminals be-
J ing relieved IRON punishment, has a pad
3 effect upon the criminals themsel, es, and
2 "A most demOTalizing effect upon commu-
: mites where the efforts are made, bylts
tendency TO alleviate ard detract from the
enormlty Of crime, and TO prevent its pub
lie condemnation. as liked by law and
} properly adJudged by the courts.
| L ough the governor Is not RESPONSE
BILE, except TO his conscience aud sense OF
) rghV, for the manner tn(.A @h-he has
c exercised this extraordinary power en-
trusted 10 bin, IL II deemed proper hat
D b should disclose to his constituents,
1 whom you also represent, the principles
which have controlled his action.
r The leading one has been TO place good
D conduct and reformation In the peniten-
. tinry Mt a premium, and TO do Il In such
j. n way that all Will be encouraged TO work
and act for IL, and thereby have their
/ times OF service diminished. They have
S been thus taught TO rely upon self effort
: rather than upon outside Influences to
{ obtain relief. This, have been assured,
5 has bad powerful eject in ard OF the
!, government OF the convicts. BY extra
r good conduct some cOnyicts have been
D pardoned, and the time OF service OF
r others shortened by communication. every
/. year ofmy service. Boys under SIXTEEN,
: convicted OF theft, or OF similar o0enses,
g have been pardoned after ak, eight, or
e twelve months servitude, on account OF
e their tender age. A list OF their names
: has been sent for and furnished 10 me lof
4 that purpose once each year.
! COnvicts that have become permanently
e diseased, or badIy crippled in the service
5 have been pardoned. 10 cases OF MUIR
der IL has usually been required that =
D statement OF the facts In the evidence
: should be furnished for exami Batton, be-
{ fore acting Oh the applications
E A lew have been pardOn' 70 because 1
4 have been satisfied u their infOernce.
D A few have had the death Peua.ty com
D muted 10 labor la the pcatis Dnary for
r life, because. after tuil eOnsit rsuon Of
the esideut 4, 4 did not Jeiteye thel vuyht
to suffer death, aid 10 ala such cases my
, reasons al length have been assigned.
i Thus continual edOrt hHs been made TO
, aid In the proper execution OF tie criml-
nal law, guided by some principle Of jug
tiee aud OF right, aud nos Ny mere extra
neous influences.
PENITENTIARTEs.
The report of the peniteniiArS BOARD
Will show " nat etOrts nave been made TO
complete the TWO peniteDtiaries, aud to
have placed wIthin their walls as many
coDylets ~ practicable.
EXTRADITIoN AGENTS.
On account OF The facility OF criminals
In crossing the Rio Grsnde from either
side. to avoid arrests and prosecutions, IL
became necessary TO appoint all OF the
county JUDGES and district judges whose
jurisdiction reached the river extradltlon
agents in behalf Of Texas, accompanying
their appointments with a circular letter
requesting their acceptance and action,
and copy Of the extradition treaty be-
tween the Unite d States and Mexico OF
1861 Upon communicating these facts 10
the governors OF the adjoining states 10
Mexico favorable answers were received,
giving assurances OF similar action on
their part.
Since that has been done very little
trouble has been experienced In that mat
ter.
FRONTIER BATTALION AND POLICE
FORCE.
Tue report o. the udJutaDt general win
cial police force have done good service
In arresting criminals and In preserving
peace and good order in the western ana
southwestern portions OF the state Since
the Indian depredatiOns have ceased that
has been their exclusive business, and
that they might feel and fully understand
their full responsibility as peace officers.
copies OF the uigest Of the laws have been
furnished to the companies. As the rail-
roads advanced through those unsettled