The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-10
GOVERNMENTAL.
REPORTORIAL ROUNDS IN
THE DEPARTMENTS.
AN EPITOME OF WHAT WAS
LEARNED YESTERDAY AT
THE CAPITOL.
LAND BOARD.

Land Commissioners W aISn present.
After some preliminary remarks Colonel
Templeton sad.
Before the board proceeds with the
regular business desire to call attention
to the governors letter, replying to the
resolution of the board and which was
published in the public prints. The let
ter, l think, contains a reflection upon
the Encouragement, and is calculated
and has created the impression that the
Office has been neglecting its business,
and 1 have thought it proper to make this
communication, which [ will read If there
is no objection"
No objection being raised by any Of
the members the attorn y general pro-
ceeded to read, in calm bat distinct tone,
the following:
OFFICE OF STATE LAND BOARD.
RANDOLPH LAURENCE, SECRETARY,
AUSTIN, Tex, December 5, 1855. }
40 the State Land Board, Austin, Texas:
GENTLEMEN: Governor .Ireland's recent
communication, i'll reply to the resolu-
tions passed by a majority of the land
board, expressing their conclusions re-
sulting from three days thorough exami-
nation of the grass commissioners, on ac-
count of its specific mention of the at
torney general demands from me some
attention.
I regard the letter, so far as that refer
ence is concerned as indeed strange
production, coming from the chief execu
tive of the state of Texas, especially when
considered in the light of the constitution
and laws of the state, some past Oc-
currences and some utterances OF his
excellency. 1t would seem he disclaims hay
ing anything to do with the enforcement of
the land enclosure act-it is to that law
an abdication of official authority. and,
therefore, official responsibility, without
model or parallel in the history of any
previous gubernatorial administration in
the state of Texas; and this, too, not
withstanding the fact that the constitu-
ton makes it the duty of the executive to
''cause the law to be faithfully executed
This little provision has, in all our previ-
Gus constitutions, believe, seemed to be
of importance enough to occupy sec
ton of itself; and to cause the laws to be
faithfully executed. is. according to our
supreme court, about all the governor has
to do. In my judgment, the enforcement
of some law having the aim and object of
the land enclosure act Is about the only
really live and important duty; 'Of course,
saying nothing here of routine work" for
the government, or some part of it, to
perform.
But, aside from that. the governor, in
discussing this self same act, has said,
even before the revelations made by the
commissioners, in letter to Col. Styles,
vindicating himself. Speaking of legis-
lative obstinacy and other legislative sins,
as to enforcing the law against the cor
porants and free-grassers, as the law now
tands: .Qne had-as yell sing psalms to
such offenses to be made returnable in the
interior, which was refused Now, he did
ask that the crime of fence cutting be
made returnable in the interior counties
but when did he ask or suggest that the
crime of illegally enclosing land be made
punishable in such interior counties is not
in print Continuing to Col. Styles, he
said: Il then asked for courts whose ten
ares would not be dependent on the sec
ton where the great body Of the Offenses
were being perpetrated, which was also re-
fused; and, therefore. all attempts to pun
ish, even for violating the enclosure act
has proven. and will continue to prove, a
miserable failure" In addition to this
on the first day of the recent meeting of
the board, the governor said to the board
that the commissioners had informed him
of nothing new; that they disclosed moth
ing he did not know before they stated that
it would be utterly useless for the attorney
general, or any one else, to attempt to en-
force the land enclosure act. These things
he has said and written, but thirty ak
hours after his. utterances to the board
and, notwithstanding, after his psalm
singing letter to Col. Styles, he, in effect
says, the proper efforts, although, If ne
is to be believed" he knew they would
Foil nd
force the lava law which he
unqualifedly denounces as incapable OF
the possibility of enforcement, i'll the pub
lie prints of the country. There is ne
monopoly of intelligence in this state and
the members of the legislature will aver
age up pretty well with any one connect
ed with the government, and 1T Is hardly
to be presumed that those facts that have
been so absolutely convincing and conciu
sive to the executive mind, would b'
wholly misunderstood and unappreciatet
by them.
If the governor is right in his deliberate
" expressed conclusions that an attemp
to enforce the enclosure act would be
'miserable failure it is not to be presum
ed that the members Of the Legislature
would be ignorantiy and peryersely wrong
and that all those who have violated TIT
law lQuSO DC 1l-Sb etSN ullGcO iAA(t ttldV Ih
prosecuting officers of the state mus
come in from the hunt, decorated witt
verdicts of not guilty" in order to con
vince those mem oers that the conclusion;
reached by the governor are correct
Some of them might be convinced by tn,
fact that the law mas bsen in force 70
some months and the courts have me
and adjourned in the region where IN,
law is being most violated, and that there
has been the usual constitutional machi
merry on hand, and that with ali these tht
monotouy has not been broken by tn
finding OF single bill OF indictment
Should it be that known murderers e
unindicted and UNPUBLISHED IN other por
tions of the State, most men would con
clude therefrom that the people in tina
part of the state for some reason o
another, would not puni n for the crim
of murder ard should the executive justl,
arrive at that conclusion, it is not to b.
assumed that the average man would b
far behind him in reaching the same con
clusion.
When the governor is Sc entirely con
WINGED that the existing law could be en-
forced, it is a strange saying out of hi
mind that the members of the Legislature