The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-22
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

DEPARTMENT NOTES.
| EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
AS there has been considerable CON-
ment in the papers, based on the
statement published by some of them
at the time, that Gov. Ireland sent to
Gen. Augur for United States troops
to suppress the reported uprising of
the negroes at Cause, the writer took
occasion yesterday to interview the
governor as to the facts, which were
stated as follows:
received the telegram from Cause
about s o'clock Sunday night, being
handed to me at my house. The SER
wants had all gone home, and the state
offices were all closed. Adjutant-
General King, whom l especially
wanted to see, was absent, but got
word to the encouragement, who
consulted with me. In the absence of
the acknowledgement we were unad-
vised as to where state troops were
organized, and it was after midnight
that Capt. johnson, of his office. could
be found to give us information.
In the meantime / had consulted
with gentleman here, Judge Prem
dergast, who had lived in Milan
county, and represented Justice
CT the Peace Cox, who sent
the telegram as party, whose
statements could be regarded as re-
liable. Acting upon this assurance, 1
sent telegram to Gen. Augur, ask
Ing if United States troops could be
furnished if necessary; but did not, as
was stated in some of the papers, ask
him to send them, nor did l, as fur
ther stated, direct trains to be held in
readiness for United States troops at
San Antonio. Gen. Augur replied
that the posse comitatus law did not
permit the use of United States troops,
except upon application to and direc-
tion from the president. Ireplied that
did not ask for the troops to be sent.
but only wanted to know if they could
be in an emergency. / did not pause
to reflect upon the order in which
they might be obtained in an emer-
gency, which might involve the lives
Of hundreds Of innocent women and
children.
The posse comitatus law 1 find re-
stricted the use of United States
troops to orders of federal officials, but
the general law which the constitu-
ton embodies provides that such
troops may be applied for by state
legislature If in session, and when not
sitting, upon request of the governor
where it is not practicable for the leg
islature to be convened in extra ses-
sion in time to meet the emergency.
In such case it is idle to attempt any
reflection upon me whether l applied
to federal officer or to Republican
or Democratic president. In point of
fact the law which authorized my
calling for United States troops was
drafted by Democratic statesman.
The object of my telegram to Gen.
Augur was simply TO ascertain if the
troops were accessible, in case the
state forces could not be had prompt
ly enough for the dangerous emer-
gency. had no trains and requested
none, except at Palestine, to bring
| troops from Palestine to Cause, if
necessary, which the company wired
| me were at my service if necessary.
After l got the communication l did
not want, and would not have applied
for federal troops under any circum-
| stances.
The governor is in receipt of COM
| plant from the authorities of Taylor
| county as to a controversy existing as
| to the removal of the county records
from Buffalo Gap to Abilene, the lat
| ter having been elected as the new
county seat, and obtained an order for
| the transfer of the records to that
place, despite the protest by Buffalo
Gap against the result of the election.
The governor, acting upon the opinion
OF the attorney-general, awaits fuller
| information.
Prof. Mallet, of the State Universe
ty, was in consultation with Gov. Ire
land, yesterday, regarding a proper
representation of Texas at the Cotton
Centennial Exposition at New Or
J leans Both gentlemen seem to be
anxious that the state should be well
represented on so important an occa-
sion. Prof. Mallet's special interest
was to have the mineral resources
of Texas properly exhibited, and
| for that purpose he had
called upon the governor for some in
formation about geological collec-
ton belonging to the state, which he
had been informed by Col. Brewster
had been saved from the burning of
the state house, on account of having
Leen loaned to the International rail.
road company, and was now supposed
to be in New York. The governor
stated he would inquire into the facts
and see what could be done. Prof.
Mallet said he thought the
state should be represented, if at all,
| creditably in every respect. The
governor replied that he was particu-
| larly anxious about it. The only trou-
BILE was in the peculiar terms of the
constitution which required an eco
nomical administration of the affairs
of the state. He believed in adhering
strictly to the constitution, but
thought the legislature had control
over Office fees and some other funds
which were not directly raised by tax
alton of the people, some of which
might, he thought, be consistent
ly used for so important
a purpose in the interest of the state.
These fees, it was true, were indirect
ly the result of taxes for the support
of the government, but whatever con-
tributed to the welfare Of the state
such as proper representation of its
resources and industries, contributed
to the prosperity of the people, and
thus Indirectly to the increase of the
revenues of the state for the support
of the government. He would give
the matter all the consideration pos
, sible.
1t may be appropriately added, il
this connection, that in most state
the governor is provided with a con
tingent fund, to be expended as b,
may consider proper in such contin
gencies as may arise; the governor, o
course, being amenable to the legisla
ture for strict account and prope
exercise of the trust confided to him
Such fund, the amount of the ap
preparations being fixed each year b,
the legislature, should be provided TO
in Texas.
Andrew Davidson, a stonemason O
Mugdock, Milngavie, near Glasgow
Scotland, writes to Gov. Ireland ask
ing if he can tell him whether ther
is any truth in rumor that ha
reached him that his brother, Josepl
Davidson, a native of Scotland an,
about twenty-eight years old, has bee
killed in Texas.
Capt. Edwin Rust, of this city, ha
been appointed to the position in GOV
Ireland's Office made vacant by the re
cent death of Capt. Josselyn.
LAND DEPARTMENT.
Commissioner Walsh's attentio
having been called to communics
ton copied from the Tom Gree
Times into THE STATESMAN Of yes
terday, in which the action of tn
land board was critiSed, the commits