Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-13
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
To Capt. s. A. McMurray, wichita Falls,
Tex

~ Anphs os n MlCnllh tHllS,
Sir: The absence of the governor caused a
sh' ri delay In the response TO your te g.
gram OF the 9tn inst, but am now directed
to say that the Information convey ed in
said telegram Is not sufficiently full nor OF
nature to warral instant aud active inter-
ference by the military power OF the state in
the matter indicated The statement by a
Mr. Collins that some nameIeBs and un.
known person claiming to re resent the
Panhandle stock ASSOCIATION had notified
him, Collins, not to attempt 10 dive stock
rom Harold TO the county of Dsllsm, as u
would not be allowed, 10 a very slim fou tda-
tiCn, M teraliy true, upon which to rest or
call upon lhe state for instant military inter
ference. II Mr. Collins is In the discharge OF
his duty in n legitimate bualn IS and by law
ful methods he has the right, II Illegally in
terfered with, 10 call upon the lcRl civil
authorities for aid or redress, and in the
EVEN of their inability to furnish this help
they, the C vii authorities, can readily and
lawfully summon 10 their assistance the
military power OF the stare. The governor
cannot and viii not run the risk of a possible
wrong-doing and II gerous violation OF the
cont utution and the law by ordering or per
hitting tue military power Of the htate TO be
used at The oall OF any and very
private individual and all sorts OF
anticipated contingencies oven though said
contingeIci 's may appear somewhat alarm
ms at first view. Where courts are held and
Juries ale to % had snd In usual peace OIL
eers OF counties are to be found, It's assumed
That the civil Authorities cav be and ghould
be first In oked, and Il this should prove in
Ddtquate for the moment, then the military
power of the state eau be safely and lawfully
brought Into action.
I IL Is beyond the physical power of the
state, aud would be "a dangerous stretch of
legal authority, to undertake 10 furnish A
military force TO escort every drove OF cattle
that may ask an outlet from Southern
Texas into or be nd the Pan.
handle, and, while the government is fully
alive to the important iss ue involved in the
alleged unlawful assumption OF authority by
the Northwest Texas atOckmen TO prevent
Southern Texas cattle from coming into or
passing through the Panhandle, he cannot
undertake impossible and unlawful meas
urss in the abseLce OF proper action on the
part OF those who are concerned in driving
The cattle into laid region. Ifthe No thwest
cattlemen IRE acting within the pale Of tho
law, Tn SO from southern Texas must abide
us results, and II they are not proceeding
lawfully he intere' ~ involved OF the VI, ok.
men nom southern Texas are turely suffi-
clentl1 IMPORTANT and large u Indicate The
prnpriety snd necessity for comblded, npen
ana lawful proceedings rather than wild and
reckless Individual action. This course viii
put lhe question upo proper basis and
then II anyb dy or any corporation as.
sumes TO violate the law or to bend the law
10 suit itself the governor will have foun-
dalton upon which to rest whatever execu.
tlon action that may be necessary or may be
warranted by the facts. II the autnorit es in
your section -hould call for the serV COS az
your company In these statements OF this
question you will respond promptly but
must act strictly within the law Very re.
spectiully, II, KING,
A0lut8nt-lSSnE rAl