The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-06-27
OUR CONGRESSMAN COUNCILS FoRBEARANoE
AT CEDAR CREEK.

OUR CONGRESSMAN COUNCILS FoRBEARANoE
AT CEDAR CREEK.
ems jor Sayers has been over to Cedar
creek, the scene of the recent bloody out
RACES on white cltzeus by colored toughs.
The ma jor takes q warm interest in pro-
t-oting some of the oOlored citizens of
that lawless and turbulent section, and is
especially solicitous to divert public cen
sure from the head and shoulders of
Wicks, the negro Justice of the peace.
Our congressman's touching interest il
behalf of this man is just what it should
be. Wicks helped to elect him ia the
late congrj ssional fight against the repub-
lican non inee, Col. A. Belknap, and in re-.
turn therefor Major Sayers made Wicks
justice of the peace at Cedar creek. If
Wicks has abused his authority as jus
tice, if his cor duct has in any way tended
to bring about the recent outrages; If his
official insolencs has insulted the white
ciuzsns of Precir ct No. 8, Bastrop county,
the blame should be placed whers it be-
llngs-not against the republicans Of
that locality, but against the democrats,
through whose votes, backed by Major
Sayers, he WAS ! laced in Office"
more infamous, malicious and complete
Islander has not been conceived aud pub
llshed siuce printing was first invented.
Il is absolutely and unqualltia dly false,
aud for the publication of which there Is
not the slightest excuse.
d. nos know Orange Wicks, nor have
/ ever seen him to know HIN.
have never had any comm unication
with him, direct or indirect, verbal or
| vulnu "a Au
l did not know that Orange Wicks was
or would be a candidate for an fiice
until my return home last November after
t'e election, when l heard that he had
b en elected Justice of tho peace for the
Cedar creek precinct.
The truth ia that l had nothing what
ever to- do with tire election in Bastrop
county. reached home from Washing
ton on Sunday night, October 81
1898. spoke at Bastrop on the follow
ing day, and left on the morning there
after for Lampasas, and did not return
until November 7.
AS to the facts connected with thu
election, invite the attention of youl
readers to the enclosed comm unicatioI
from Hor. Ii. M. Garwood, now county
judge of Bastrop county, and formerly lit
1 representative.
These facts speak for themselves, and
need not comment upon them. 1t 10 suf
ficie~ 1t to say that neither nor my friends
ever advised any one to vote for Orange
1 Wicks or for his constable. If their anC
my edviLe had been asked they and
would have urged the defeat of these mel
| by all legitimate means. For my course
| siuoe the murders upon Cedar creek wert
committed, have no apology to offer.
Ihsve done everything possible to allal
| the excitement and to otlm tho
just Indignation Of our people. If 1 hac
! failed to do so 1 would have been rightly
1 charseable with the grossest and mo-
1 culpRble neglect of public duty in tn,
very delicate and'dangerous circumstance
| by Which We were surrounded. l ooalC
/ not hsve done less without mourning 'tht
4 severest censurs.
| So soon as learned of the killing ant
of the facts attendinglt, l urged the i'm
medieGe arrest of Orange Wiclks, of hi
constable and of every one who, Direct!
or indirectly, participated in the killing o
Nolen and Schaef, and in the wounding o
IIitten, Strother and the Glasses, and a
the same time couDseled the people t,
strictly and faithfully observe the law
| What more could have donef What les
sbould4 have d0neP
Il cannot conollde this communicatiol
without bearing cheerful and VOlun
tary testimony to the forbearanoe who
has been exhibited by the people of Bias
trop county, and especially those livinI
on Oedac creek, throughout this ertir
unfortunate affair.
1t has fDeen and wiz continue TO
wor thy of all confederation.
Yours very truly,
JOSEPH ID. SAYEHs,