Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-02

My duty was plain. performed It and
have no apologies whatever tomalSe
for It. Il Is a precedent, SGT upon ma
ture elaboration, which, so long as l
am governor, will be adhered to, We
had about as well understand this IN
advance.
Our organic law provides that in a
criminal case the accused ehall have o
public trial by an impart al jury; that
he shall have the right TO demand the
nature aud cause OF the accusation
against him and 10 have u copy there
Of; that he shall not be compelled to
give evidence against himself; that he
shall have the right Of being heard by
himself, or by counsel, or both, and
shall he confronted with the witnesses
against him; that he shall have COM
pulsory process to procure the witnesses
in his favor, that he shall not be com
PEELED to answer felony unless on in
dictment OF grand jury; that no cruel
or unusual punishment shall be inlict-
ed upon him. All these rights are full
ly fortified by code Of laws, and the
governor, under his constitutional oath
ana obligations, is required TO see the
laws faithfully executed.
ltoccarrod 70 me that II the negrowas
GUILTY or THAT ATRocops CRIME
1t would have required very slight ef
fort to have executed him through tho
courts Of the country under the estab-
lished forms OF judicial procedure With
out violating single right guaranteed
by the constitution to him. This was
not done, but he was executed IN u
manner Of almost unparalleled inhuman-
ity. placed upon the head OF each Of
those eXecutioneiS $1,000 reward, and
shall repeat the action In every similar
cases while am governor, whether the
victim is white or black, citizen or n
foreigner, guilty or Innocent
In the case OF murder and assassina-
tion where the criminal cannot be cap
tured by the local officers, / generally
offer reward never exceeding $500
aud rarely ever as high as $500. In all
cases Of murder by mobs, without in
quiring into the guilt, standing or oven
nationality OF the victim, | Offer a re-
ward for the offenders. II he is taken
from tho custody Of the officers OF the
law, place the highest reward on the
heads Of the criminals for the reason
that. in addition TO the crime OF muir
der. they have violently and deliber-
hNNAN bNAllAhhNAl AilN llAANllAAAiN VI VIC
law, the courts of the country and tram
Piled under foot the guaranty Of the con-
stitution. II the victim Is not in the
custody Of the law, then ! offer
such reward less than $1,000 as
may be proper under the
circumstances. This sentimental
howl going over the country against
the governor afor attempting 10 per-
form his duties under the constitution
In having the laws faithfully executed
is unbeooming even in pusilanimous
cranlis. Men and patriots should bo
imbubed with the spirit OF justice and
state pride and honor TO the extent
that would crimson tn air checks NTH
the blush of shame for joining in this
hue and cry. The people have had
the power to repeal the laws and re-
lieve the officers Of their execution.
Until they do change them or put me
out OF Office | shall he standing up by
my constitutional obi cations under all
circumstances and exigchcios perform
ing my duties as l understand thems
Mobs must give way to courts in
Texas