The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31
SPEECH OF HON. A. W. TERRELL
DELIVERED IN THE STATE SENATE
JANUARY %, 1884.

more touched than | was ten minutes
ago, when the distinguished divine, |
who officiated in the place OF our chap |
lain, prayed that we might be inspired |
with that dignity and modeSty which |
become the laW-givers of great peo- |
Die. / say, sir, do not know when l
have been more touched, in view of
the scenes of the last few days, which
remind me of nothing so much in
mans history, as the fiddling of 4 Ro-
man emperor when Rome was burn
ing. l cannot respond in the spirit of
badinage which has inspired this dis
cussion. and which has characterized
the members of the opposition. With
a defective voice and an aching head,
l shall have enough to do to address
myself to the question, without at
tempting to tickle the ear of the
groundlings by anecdote, or crafty
myself by just retaliation on those
who should know their duty, but are
constrained by the madness of the
hour to evade 1t.
And first, sir, before discussing this
bill, let me, in all fairness, get those
who have been unable to understand
my position, although l labored two
long hours to make it understood,
with simple, plain language, 1 say, let
me get them out of the fog, that they
may understand who it is that is i'm
paled on the barbed wire fence.
First, / am for removing provoking
causes for laWlessneSs, and putting
those who are Wrong-doers in the pen
itentiary, If that he necessary to stop
provocations. The man who encloses
the land of his neighbor without his
consent, and will not turn it loose,
unless he conforms to the principles
of the bill for fencing it up, put him
in the penitentiary. Does this make
Inc the champion for pasture men?
If he will not give a road out of his
pasture, il another owner occupies the
interior land, put him in the peniten-
tiary. Is that acting in the special in
terest of the big pasture man?
If, haVinga pasture in which to keep
his stock, he does not conform to the
principles of the bill for the use Of out
side grass, when he turns them out,
put him in the penitentiary. Is that
acting in the special interest of the big
pasture men?
On the other hand, if the man from
innate meanness, or perverted judg-
ment, goaded it may be, by what he
conceives the grievances that have
been inflicted upon him, has, either in
the nighttime, or daytime, clipped the
wires, or destroyed the fence of an
other; whether all the land inside be-
longed to the owner Of the fence or
not, it is not for him to become the eX-
eclltioner of the law in Texas, and 1
would put him in the penitentiary.
Well, it would seem that l 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 wrong-doers; the party of
right and of constitutional govern
ment, on which l depend with faith
! firm as rock when the madness Of
this hour has past.
The broad range which the discus
sion of this bill has taken, requires me
TO invite you back to the bill itself,
after we first examine the evils that
demand its passage. Its doctrines can
not be destroyed by ridicule or anec-
dOte, for those are seldom reSOrted to
by a statesman, except when he lacks
argument. The situation is too grave
for merriment except to those who,
like Nero, would fiddle while the city
| 10 Jul IlIlSs 1HC w ltC-GpICdti llSoGIu
ton of property by organized bodies
of the people indicates the existence of
grievances which, though they can
never excuse lawlessness, demand the
care of the law maker. Communism,
rank and dangerous, is abroad among
the people. The pernicious teachings
of Mr.. George, that land and water,
like air, are free, and that no man has
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
| grievances, have made a law unto
themselves, and life and property are
rendered insecure, and being destroyed
by their frenzy. This spirit must be
curbed and means provided for pun
ishing men who thus act, or the gov
eminent has failed in it's mission. The
man who wilfully combines with 9TH
erS to destroy private property is an
assassin of liberty; for liberty with us
is only such when regulated by law,
and there is no despotism so fearful as
that of lawlesS majoritieS.
But, sir, there are grievances terri
BILE to contemplate now provoking the
people, and have sought in one bill
to remedy some of those evils and at
the same time provide a punishment
for fence destruction. 1 would in the
same bill punish the man who pro-
vokes to fence-cutting, and the fence
cutter himself, and send them 10 keep
each other company in the peniten-
tiary. 1 champion the cause of nei-
Their, but say to both, in destroying
property values you array yourselves
against civilization, and l would treat
you as its enemy.
FIRST CAUSES FOR FENCE-CUTTING.
Before considering the bill, will
again review the mischiefs of the
hour. There were at first deep seated
causes Tor this lawlessnesS which free
grass Senators will not discuss.
mention
1. The rapid increase of poor pop
ulatiOn, which has come to Texas
more rapidly than we have been able
to provide for and assimilate them.
2. The rapidiJy with which partial
laws have enabled favored class of
stock men to grow rich on the lands of
other people, and on school lands held
in trust for our children, and the jeal-
ousy which always follows riches
quickly obtained.
8. The construction of vast past
ures, which resulted in throwing the
reckless herdsmen out of employ
ment.
4. The avarice of pasture men, who
devour in summer the grass around
the humble homes of the small far
mer in order that they may have good
winter grass in their pastures.
B. The absence of proper road
laws.
9. The enclosing of vast properties
by landed corporations composed of
men outside of Texas, who swing the
anaconda coil of their wires around
school land and individual lands alike.
z. Large herds, owned by corpora
lions and individuals, who own no
land, and which are driven to peace
full neighborhoods to consume the
grass, or depredate alike on the school
land ard that of private citizens.
3. The fencing up of water holes
In prairie wastes, fraudulently leased
as being on dry sections of land.
8. InclosiDg the school lands and
private property in large pastures to
the exclusion of the owner and
| others.
These are among the prominent
evils of the hour; and the bill looks to
the correction of each and every one,
except the defective road law, which
must be corrected by another act.
| EXTENT OF SCHOOL LANDS.