The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-08
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
AITGTIN TEX Eph 7
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives:


AUSTIN, TEN, Feb. 7.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives
1t becomes my painful duty TO empha-
size TO you the necessity of taking some
steps to prevent mob violence in Texas.
The recent terrible holocaust at Paris is
but an illustration to what extent the
mob will go when the laws are Inadequate
to check it. While the victim of this af-
fair was guilty Of an atrocious, barbar-
Gus crime. appalling to contemplate for
which he was certain of full punishment
under the Constitution and laws Of our
State. civilization stands a helpless wit
ness to the most revolving execution Of
the age, in which large numbers Of citi-
zens openly. in broad day. publicly be-
came murderers by methods shameful
to humanity.
Brushing away all sentiment, which
should never accompany punishment for
| crime, the crime committed at Paris is a
| disgrace to this State; its atrocity, inhu-
inanity and sickening effect on the peO-
| pie at large cannot be obscured by refer
| ence to the previous act Of the culprit
| himself In brutaly taking the life Of an
innocent child. For his deed the death
| penalty awaited him under the laws.
The imputation that he could not have
been legally executed in any court i'm this
| State is slander upon the integrity Of
| every citizen. TO contend that his execu-
| TONERS, who purposey murdered him.
can neither be indicted nor tried in the
county where that crime was committed,
| Is pretense and a mockery.
So the condition exists i'm our State
that while one man can be convicted for
| murder, 100 men who publicly commit
murder cannot be. The laws, therefore.
without further legislation may be held
in defiance Of any community where the
/ forces are strong enough 10 overawe the
| local officers and set aside the legal ma
| chnery of justice.
VIII the Legislature stand by and let
| this condition remain undisturbed, un-
changed, any longer? I hope not.
So far as l am concerned / believe that
to the guiltiest culprit that may blacken
| his hand with crime the constitutional
guarantees should be jealousy and zeal
ously observed throughout In his trial and
| execution. When any conditions are made
! 10 justify or excuse precedent for mob
! law others arise at the convenience OF
| those who wish. The observation of
every experienced man teaches that when
a community is infested with a mob spirit
| legal executions become rare and impOs-
eible.
When a murderer on trial knows that
| more men who have escaped punishment
for an equal crime he feels sure OF either
an acquittal or hung jury. A mob exc
| cutiOn is no less than murderous eXe-
| cution. No man or set of men, with muir
der upon their hands. are capable of just
| ly enforcing the laws.
AS a rule the riffraff lounging, indo-
| lent. lawless element of a community in
| spire and lead the mobs while the law
| abiding, industrious citizen is terrorized
| by tlE spectacle. If people otherwise
| respectable are led into the crime by tbs
| eXctment of the occasion, in their cooler
| moments they must see that their asso-
ciates and leaders are an element Of har.
| dened criminals. Something should be
done to teach them in advance that fol
their crimes they must answer at the ban
Of justice.
The question is difficult to deal with
but if your honorable bodies will enact
suitable laws and place the means al
my command every person who takes
part in the mob shall be brought to tria
or the strength OF the machinery Of JUS
tice shall be thoroughly tested in tn,
effort.
There is no higher obligation resting
on the legislative department than tC
have the constitutional guarantees fo
protection. life, liberty and property re
spected and obeyed. II taxation become:
necessary to raise funds by which thi.
may be be done. / advise your honorabl,
bodies to lay II on and make the people
pay it to the full extent necessary.
Respectfully
j. S. HOGG, Governor OF Texas.