Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-18
TERREhL'S SPEECH.
Delivered In the Senate on the sist mt.
An Abe Presentation of the Austin Sen.
ator's Views.

Senator Terrell said: Mr.. Chairma
Il do not know when have fel
more touched than l was ten minute
ago, when the distinguished divine
no ofiiciated in the place of our chap
lain, prayed that we might be inspire,
with thu dignity and modesty whicl
become the law-givers of great PEG
| pie. / say, sir, | do not know when
have been more touched, in view o
the scenes of the last few days, which
| remind me of nothing so much il
mans history, rs the iiddling of n Ro
man emperor when Rome was bum
| ing.
can not respond in the spirit o
badinage which has inspired this dis
cussion and which has CHARACTERIZED
the members of the opposition.
With defective voice and an ach
Ing head, i shall have enough TO do /,
address myself to the question, with
out attempting to tickle the ear of the
groundlings by anecdote, or CRAFTY
myself by just retaliation on those who
should know their duty, but are con
strained by the madness of the hour &c
evade IL.
And first, sir, before discussing this
bill, let me, in all iirmness, get those
who have been unable to understand
my position, although / labored two
long hours to makeit understood, with
simple, plain language, / say let me
get them out of the fog, that they may
understand who it is that is impaled
on the barbtd wire fence.
First, j am for removing provoking
causes for lawlessness, and putting
those who are wrong-doers in the pen
iten tiary, IL that be necessary TO stop
provocaIions. The man who incloses
the land of his neighbor without his
consent, and will net turn it loose, UNI
less he conforms TO the principles of
the dill for fencing it up, put him in
the penitentiary. Does this make me
the champion of the pasture men?
lf he will not give road out of his
pasture, If another owner occupies the
interior land, put him in the peniten-
tiary. Is that acting in the interest of
the big pasture man?
If, having pasture in which he can
keep his stock, he does not conform to
the principles of the bill for the use OF
outside grass, when he turns them out,
put him in the penitenIary. Is this
acting in the special interest of the big
pasture man?
On the other hand, if the man from
innate meanness, or from perverted
Judgment, goaded ii may be, by what
he considers the grievances that have
been inflicted upon him, has, either in
the night-time or daytime, clipped
the wires or destroyed the fence OF an
other; whether all the land inside be-
long to the the owner of the fence or
not, IL is not for him to become the ex.
ecutioner of the law in Texas, and |
would put him in the penitentiary.
Well, ii would seem that have left
myself without a party. Not so, sir;
it is the party OF the future, the party
of law and order in this country,
which will maintain the majesty OF
the law against all wrong-doers; the
party of right and of constitutional
government, on which ! depend with
faith rs firm ms rock when the mad
ness of this hour has passed.
The broad range which the discus
sion of this bill has taken requires me
to invite you back TO the bill itself AZ
ter we first examine the evils that de.
mand its passage. It's doctrine can
not be destroyed 10y ridicule or ahec-
dote, for those are seldom resorted to
by a statesmalR except when he lacks
argument. This situation is too grave
for merriment except to those who,
like Nero, would fiddle whl5the city is
burning. The widespread destruction
of property by organized bodies of
people indicates the existence of grew
ances which, though they can never
excuse lawlessness, demand the care
of the law-maker. Communism, rank
and dangerous, is abroad among the
peoples The pernicious teachings of
Mr.. George, that land and water, like
air, are free, and that no man has n
right to more of either than his per-
sonal needs require, have taken root
and must be eradicated, or civilization
is at an end. On the other hand, de-
luded people, instead of waiting for
the peaceful methods of law TO redress
have made law unto
and life and property is
insecure and being destroyed by their
frenzy. This spirit must be curbed
and means provided for Furnishing
men who thus act, or government has
failed IN its mission. The niul who
combines with others to de-
str0y private property Is an assassin of
liberty, for liberty with MS is only
such when regulated by law. and
there Is no.xespotism so fearful rs that
Of lawless majori,ies.
But, sir, there are grievances terrible
to contemplate now provoking the
people, and /. have sought in one bill
TO remedy some of those evils and at
the sane time provide u punishment
for fence destruction. i would In ehe
81. ,.nn I'm nnpiah ft,a ripn xyhn nrn.