The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-04-12

men. Glrd our minds for profitable
labor this day, such as will honor
Thy name and strengthen the ele-
ments of mans moral nature and
bring prosperity to our country, fol
Jesus sake. Amen.
The following communication from
State Land Commissioner McGaughey
was read
AUSTIN, Tex, April 7, 1898.
7 o the Speaker and Honorable House of Repre-
sentatives of the 2Srd Legislature:
GENTLEMEN-To show that 1 am
respectful and not defiant to your
demands, L now have tn e
honor to announce that 1 have re.
moved my son j. d. McGaughey from
the position of chief clerk of the school
land department of the land office
Had your first committee report been
acted upon in the matter would have
obeyed. 1 do this with mistaken
confidence in the ability and integrity
of the young man, knowing
his experience and long training
in the place and realizing his success
as such clerk. yield with great re-
spectability to your demand.
would further ask that a copy of
all the testimony be furnished me at
as early period as possible, that 1
may be able to defend the honor of
myself, my family, my friends and
my state.
Please allow all facilities possible in
my defense. am in your hands. I
have the honor to be your obedient
servant. w. l.. MCGAUGHEY.
Mr.. Bayne called for the second
reading of the report, but the read
ing was dispensed with, as the report
was printed.
MIR. Rowell said, "This report in
wolves one of the most serious ques.
tions that could be presented for the
consideration of this body. am COM
paratively o stranger to Col. Nc
Gaughey, never met him before this
session of the legislature. If we adopt
the majority report we pass upon the
character and acts of an official whose
integrity has heretofore been unim-
peached. 1 would not by any act or
utterance of mine shield one living
wrong or done with view to defraud
the state or it's interests. The honor
and integrity of this servant of the
public and all his family are at stake
A man whose past services have been
unquestioned.
We have the report of the distin-
guished gentlemen of this house, and
they bring in report recommending
mpeachment. Until l can see more
than this committee presents for our
consideration l shall never vote to take
away any mans honor by any
such exparte statement. Talk about
not taking away honor by such pro-
ceedings, why his whole family, and
every principle OF honor are involved,
liable to be swept away by one fell
swoop, even if the impeachment
should fail. say am here to stamp
my foot in protest, and urge every
member to consider and look well at
his report before casting his vote.
Remember that this man was denied
the right of representation before the
committee, and they ask this legisla-
ture, whose duty it is to guard the
rights of every man, to wipe away the
standing and honor and responsibility
OF one of the most distinguished SER
wants of the state and the interests of
his family.
into the testimony and why was the
defendant not heard in the committee?
If this committee proposes to make
itself a star chamber in it's proceedings
1 shall demand that the committee
bring the evidence here, that the de-
fendant may know specifically what
the charges are and by whom they
are preferred, and explain and show,
as know he can, that he mad no in
tention to defraud the state or any
one, and that what he did was for the
interest of the state.
IL he to be impeached for miscon-
struction of law =? If so, then go back
to the foundation of such misconstruc-
tions by others, and let us arraign
every officer, though l do not believe
any of them have been guilty of will
full neutrality-suspicious. 1t may be there
are others in the office who
should be discharged. AS to young
McGaughey 1 predict that he will be
proved innocent. The trouble is that
the faults of parties who can not be
reached are too often charged to the
commissioner. The legislature should
be careful not to further injure those
whose happiness is concerned. AL
ready the wife of the defendant has
almost grown gray over these
troubles, and, as 1 believe, troubles
without foundation.
Atthis iuncture Colonel McGaughey
came up to Mr.. Rowell and made
some statement in his ear. and Mr..
Rowell continued:
1 have acted in appearing in this
matter as l do on my own RESPONSE
bility, but Col. McGaughey requests
met and say that he is not afraid of
the result of the investigation, and
that if the house approves of the me-
nessity of such proceedings he is will
ing to go into the investigation, and
ali the light be thrown upon the mat
ter.
don't believe under the law he can
be impeached. Then why traduce
him with this report.
Mr.. Henderson of Milan argued
that the gentleman from Marion was
under Misrepresentation as to the is
sues presented by the action of the
committee. The matter was not one
for the committees discretion or for
final determination here as to the
question of rights. There is no such
issue. The house acts as a body OF in
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