Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-20
Nh. li.nlhlen's Idens.
Houston. TEX. sep, II. 1871

HOUSTON. TEX. sept Il. 1871.
Editor Gazette.
l have received YOU request that / eS-
press my views upon the subject of tho
alien land law passed by the Twentv-secoud
legislature. Preliminary TO what | mag
say, ii is proper for me 10 state that the
bill was first sent TO the committee on state
affairs, sent back to the house and referred
to judici ~ committee No. /. Of which I
was member. | opposed the pill in COM
mittee from which IL received 4 favorable
report TO the house, or rather substitute
was reported. 1t was taken up during the
week before the last one of the session and
passed by unanimous vote of the mem
bers preSent-Seventy-si in number. being
so votes more than two-thirds of the waCa
house. | was absent from Austin I. my
home in Houston az the time. consequently
did not vote on the bill.
My opinion is that the act IS a century os
retrogressiou IN enlightened and liberal
craftsmanship, ami was not inspired nor -
it maintained by sound policy or good Iea-
soning. but is rather the result of prejf,-
dice against and unfoUnded fear OF for
eignerS.
have seen no reason advanced, during
the discussion of the subject 10y the papers,
that iustihes q measure SO detrimental u
the material interest Of 4 state upon tho
very threshold Of rapid development.
The danger of foreign ownership OF lanj
and its appropriation in pcrpetuity is
purely immuginary from the far, that our
laws against prOmogculturS and ertdI-mcui,
and subiectins the real estate TO payment
of the GGutS OF Il party, IS I sure dlsSlpator
OF estates in land held by all parties. for
eign or domestic.
Foreign corporations can only acquire
land with legislative consent, AND this VIII
certainly be withheld.
Furthermore, the experience Of nations
is that while foreigners will form amt MAIN
tain commercial relations with the citizens
or subjects of other nations, and acquire
large interests III personally situate bcN onu
the jurisdiction of their own government,
il is i rare circumstance to tEd foreigner
acquiring real estate or holding the sane
subject 10 laws i'll which he has no part IN
making or administering. The power oi =
state over lands situate within its borders
IS & constant ailnonition 10 foreigners not
10 trust their fortunes in pOsS, ssiou
under the control of people where the eA-
igcncies of war may bring coniisCation or
internal strife may render them vdUeleSN-
There is no instance in history that | an
aware OF where foreign ownership OF land
has ever Iueuaccd the peace or prosperity
of state Irish lanilorttism bears un
analogy and cannot he justly cited in sup
port of our present alien land law because
ireland is q part of the British eupir: and
British subjects are the owners of The land
making laws to govern that part of the
British dominicus.
l think it is the true policy of state 10
induce the wealth of foreign people TO seek
our midst, whether it comes fl the shape of
money or other valuable commodity that
adds comfort to our people. Surely we
cannot be afraid of their wealth under our
own control, and utilize it for the benefit
of orr people. Therefore | answer your four
questions categorically As follows:
l. am not in favor of the law Il
stands.
, / would suggest an entire repeal of tha
law aud re-enactlnent Of the law as it was
prior TO the passage OF the law.
3 l do not believe that any member OF th,
legislature had the intent 10 exclude foreign
capital when he cast his vote for the pas
sage of the bill enactins the present law.
| rather think all votes were cast without
reflection as 10 the consequences and with
out ever having studied the subject, with
possibly a slight tiHge OF dislike for
foreigners pcrvading some minds. finding
expression by their vote.
f. | regard the effect of the law hurtful
to the interests of the state.
w. p HANBLEN.