The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-20
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Austin or Western Texas, ard hau no txpscta-
ton CT tllins another oifho, salisnvd 10 i've
on his farm and practice law, as NJ naa been
uoing successfully But ln changed his pur-
pore under an invitation 40 naUeting AID
unexpected a special election was ordered
10 he held on the LIST day oil February, 1885,.
His opponents were Judge Peter ", ulay II
Houston, Judge Benz G. Franklin of Calves
ton Colonel Thomas Il. Jennings OF Cherokee
county and John Taylor. Judge Roberts WAS
elected, gc.iug lew hlndt,d votes ojtr
Judge Gray, and took his seat in the supreme
court at Tyler in April, R5s, being thea 1.
years cid. and having had such experience
at the bar distiict atorney aud iii trc,
judge qualified him to nke at once a re,
spectacle position In that high oftce Ia two
years afterwards Chief justice licmphili let
the bench, having been elected senator IN
congress. and Royal T. Wheeler became chief
justice aud James ii. Bell, associate jusaee
by election.
His opinions run through eighteen volumes
Of Texas supreme court reports, having been
placed on the court four times, three OF them
as chief Justice commencing in 1851 and end
ing In 1878, though be was not on the hen'h
continually during that time.
While holding court a; ACstin he acted
with a number OF gentl 'men, who devised
tue plaza for cali OF the convention and
nlun MS suggestion. II was provided that
double the numbsr of the representation L.,
the legislature should be selected by the coun-
tics. which would enable others besides pcl-
tieians to come to the convention, and thereby
make large body OF 1870 delegates, that would
have greater weight and Influence than 1t
smaller body OF men already engaged In pub
lie affairs.
The delegates met In convention IN thu city
Of Austin On the eSth OF January, 1851 Judso
Roberts was nominated fov president OF IN
convention and was elected without opposi-
ton.
In the latter part of 1861, the war having
fairly progl cssed and seeing the necessity 81
raising infantry troops. he determined to re
sign the office of associate justice OF INT
supreme court and enter the army, witch ,
ala 10y raising regiment carly IN lS6Z; 1t
being organized at Houston as the bicN-
enth Texas Infantry
At the August election. in 1864. Judge Rob
erts was elected chief justice of the supreme
court, while he was still In the camp Win his
regiment near Alexandria. La.
Upon the close Of the war IN 1869, he. with
other officers OF the state. ceased TO hold Of
fee.
OF reconstruction called by \. j. liamiton.
provisional governor of Texas, ON November
is, 1865.
on the Fist day of August, 1866, without
having previously solicited the place. he was
elected by the legislature as senator from
Texas in the congress of the United States,
Upon the organization OF the government;
in January, 1874, under Governor Richard
Coke, he appointed chief justice OF the
supreme court again.
In July. 1873, he was nominated as gov
ernor of Texas by the democratic convention
at Austin, there having been n deadlock be.
tween Throckmorton, Hubbard, nerihe ana
Lang He was at once notih ID and telegraph
cd his aCccptdnCH. AltFT ItlnS titN'NN az
turned his attention to the laws peridiulhS
to his duties and was well equipped when
he VAS nnuguratod in the old cnfitol tburhel
in isS1). on January n, 1879.
During his first term many important lnw'
were passed: amorg other things the he
yised Statutes wore adopted which 1t was hf
terwnrd ascertnned that The irelsht TO b'
charged by railroad companies was reduce'
, from so to % cents for 100 pounds Tor ~
miles strong protest was made aga'ns
this by the railroad companies ana nm amend
: mtnt was adopted by the legislature restoriai
the 50-cent rate.
He was instrumental in the reorganization
q, the Agricultural and Mechanical colleges
the establishment of two free normal scno
! and tho grading Of teachers In the nupu
schools aud aftorward in the organization ~
The State unIverRity wherein he was after
ward the professor Of law -,
! He was very often published az the w,
Alralde rs an honorary title. meaning J.
Snnnish .'The Judge" the highest iudioin
officer known IN the old Texans under N
, Mexican government II was very convent
, emit however, because IL could he p'i1teI u
ehort M tho O. A., and when some wrne
wished to show his contempt he coulh pu
the o. n IN small letters.
On the 18th day Of December 1857 he wa
married TO mn accomplished lady of Tyler, ~
old acquaintance. Mrs. Catherine + borher
:, Tho widow Of ono OF his earliest friends u
, Teyas. Colonel John r. Border. a veteran o
i san Jacinto and colonel In the Confederat
r army.