The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-03-28

ond Organized into a county IN Juiy' A0oo,
os u now stands, and has been Represented
in the legislature of Texas ana tne Gun
oross If the United States continuously.
Public buildings have been erected anu
Greer county has been just as mueh
county of Texas as any other
Lot rs see whether the United States
has not recognized Greer county as d
mart and parcel of Texas and thereby
estopped the federal government lrom
setting I'D any claim to it after that ac'
acknowledgements On the 24th OF teb'
ruory. 1879, the congress of the United
States passed an act creating the Northern
iudicial district of Texas and by said act
constituted the counties of the State OF
Texas thereafter to compose the sald
Northern judicial district OF Texas, In
Guiding Greer county, as then claimed by
the state of Texas and that the United
States district court has ever since held
Greer county under its jurisdiction as
n part of the Northern judicial district OF
Texas. More than that, the United States
has accepted as members of congress men
elected to congress, Greer county partici-
Mating in that election. In point of fact
Greer county has been represented IN
congress by Texas representatives Tor
more than half a century. Greer county
is fixed and has been so since its organl-
cation in 1860, into a senatorial district
and a legislative district for the legisla'
ture of Texas and constantly represented
there. 1t has been and is now part OF
n United States judicial district by act Oh
congress, it has been and is in congress
sional district (Thrteenth) and is now rep
resented by Mr.. Cockrell of Texas, and it
has had its position all the time III
state judicial district, and not until seven
years ago did the postoflice cease to nix
postofIices in Greer county and as late
as April %, 1877, Mr.. Schurz, secretary
of the interior, denied the authority OF
the United States over that county.
Texas claims Greer county.
First-Because the boundary was liked
according to the Tooth meridian of longi-
tude as laid down by Melish, which gives
Greer county to Texas.
Second-Because no such matter OF
mistake of the contracting powers Is
either alleged or proven to entitle com
plainant to relief.
Third-That the Red river named in
the treaty is the north fork of Red river
to its sources as is shown in the testimony
and acknowledged to be so by all parties
That what complainant calls the north
fork of Red river corresponds approx
mately with natural objects and bounda-
rics as dilineated by the Melish map of
1918.
Fifth-That Texas has been in undis-
puted possession of Greer county or the
domain Of Greer county for more than a
half century.
SiXth-Because the United States has
acknowledged the sovereignty of Texas
over Greer county in organizing a United
States district court embracing that coun-
ty and receiving Texas congressman as
representing that county.
In a newspaper article we can only give
an idea of some of the positions taken by
counsel in their brief but it now seems
to us that the supreme court of the United
States will not hesitate to accord the title
of Greer county to the state of Texas,
where it rightfully belongs.