Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-26

Hucn large benefits upon a gfeat Iii /
road company provisions thai ,void |
protect IN all time to come Tho int"res,s
OF the people. Notwiihstandino M, |
paid employment did not consider tha,
was at liberty 10 advocate measnrs |
that would be detrimental 10 ina ~
pie of Texas. do not ask Won yo,,
fellow citizens, to take m, word 10y
what have said Us in this nleasn,e
but l refer you to the Hon. A. \, Watts
OF Dallas, who, since the time To which
allude has occupied a scat on one ri
the highest Judicial tribunals OF tho
state, for the truthfulness OF tho state.
ments which make.
have attended to this subieot mar.
ticularly for the purpose of calling YOUR
attention to the subsequent history If
the settlement by the legislature OF thu
bonds which had been granted to the
international railroad company. A like
grant Of bonds had been made 10 that
company that had been made 10 the
Texas and Pacific company. When a
demand FOR the issuance oil ihe bonds
was made upon the COMPTROLLER tho
Hon. A. Bledsoe, he refused 10 conply.
Suit was instituted by the company Ia
the district court to enforce The de-
mand. My recollection now is that
Judgment was given in favor
Of the company, aud when George
Clark was Encouragement under Gov.
Coke, on an appeal to the supreme
court, heraised the point that the lower
court had no jurisdiction and was sus
tanned in that position by the supreme
court Afterwurd, when a gentleman
whonow charges Clark with being the
Inverted lackey Of the railroads
was governor Of Texas bill was
passed by the legislature upon
the recommendation Of the exec
utive OF the state, giving to the Interna-
tiunal railroad company twenty-five
sections Of land to the milo IN lieu Of
the bonds whice the state had previously
granted and gave the company permits
sion to locate these sections singly or
In blocks, as II might see proper, and re-
lieved the company from the require
ment imposed upon all the other rail
roads Of the state OF locating alternate
sections for the school fund. Not only
was this company permitted TO locate
its land in separate sections anywhere
ON the public domain. without the
usual requirement Of locating a like
amount for the school fund, but their
lands we're exempted from taxation for
a period of twenty-five years. Other
railroad companies were required to
pay taxes upon their lands or certificates
from the date of the issuance
Of certificates, Not only this
unusual exemption from taxa.
ton 50 far as the land was concerned,
but there was like exemption amount
ing to millions Of dollars, Of all the
property of the company in the state
for the same period. This bill was
signed and approved by Governor Coke.
/ say now in this presence and in the
presence Of the whole people OF Texas
no such measure of injury was ever
before or since perpetrated upon the
people of Texas. Now, compare my
record as the paid attorney Of the
Texas and Pacific railroad and as a
private citizen with that of Governor
Coke In respect to my connection with
the one railroad measure and his con-
nection with the other while governor
OF the state and determine for your
selves which one of us was traitor to
Democratic prime Piles and to our
country, and which one Of us deserves
not to live.
As it has been charged that am
traitor to the Democratic party and TO
my country and should not be allowed
TO live | trust you will not deem It i'm
proper in me TO refer you to the fact
that when but II years OF age / was
with Texas in the days OF her oppres-
sion, and offered my humble services In
behalf of the cause Of freedom in which
she was then engaged, and not only Of
iered my services, but participated in
the struggle TO make her what she Is,
This fact can be attested by many yet
living in this and surrounding counties.
Not only So but when the war with
Mexico came on, went with others TO
the scene OF conflict, and while these
things were transporting my acouser was
pursuing the peaceful walks OF u quiet
life on the classic banks OF the Po-
tomac.
My friends, in the days Of bitterness,
OF party strife and rancor, when the
banner of secession was unfurled, and
when twas known that my humble Of
forts were in opposition TO that meas
ure, no man even thon dared TO say
that ThrOckmortOn was traitor to his
party or his country.
After the civil war and the people OF
Texas elected me 10 control their dos
tinies during the dreadful days Of re-
construction, IL IS well known 70 you
that had ] proved u traitor TO Demo
cratic principles and to the interest OF
the state might have retained power
and obtained preierment from those
who sought to Cypress and destroy u.s.
No tongue in Texas then exp essed the
sentiment alluded TO- but it has been
left for these piping times OF peace for
one whom / have delighted TO honor
and one who has been honored by
Texas to charge that sam Bill Maxey,
Sui Ross, d. c. Giddings, Seth shepard,
Dick Hubbard and others well known
to the country for their service and
patriotism are traitors 10 their party
ana country aud not flt 70 live.
The intelligent and patriotic hearts
OF tho sons Of ToXas will view this
utterance with loathing and disgust
which have no language to describe.
There is no sting in this declaration
unless II be in the venom of the heart
lost to manliness, truth and chivalry,
that could aim such a shaft at those
who for long years have upheld and
sustained him who uttered 1t,
Let us turn from this disgusting
theme 10 ono little less
distasteful to intelligent minds,
and will again refer you
10 the fourteenth section Of the car
80. q. .-bfah 10 10 oafd.