Year: 1873

| =
| ty, as our first choice for Governo


at the next election, we are no


merely giving expression to ou


own personal preferences, but t.
that of an overwhelming majority


(and we may say the almost unani


nous choice of the Democracy o


this part of the State. And we have


reason to know that this is not on


ly true of the feeling in northern


Texas, but is the same to a very


great extent, throughout tho State


To those who have been residents


of the State for any time, it is moi


necessary to speak of Gov. Throck'


morton. Since the days of Hous


ton and Rusk, no public man in the


ity elected him Governor, and he


entered upon the discharge of the


duties of that office under moro try.


ing difficulties than have fallen to


the lot of any of his predecessors


The country was just emerging


from n disastrous and desolating


war, and the people felt themselves


crushed to the earth by tho strong
arm of military despotism, and
they looked to him to protect their


rights, and to redress their griev-


iances. In this crisis he did not


waver, nor cringe to tho tyranny


of military despotism but, with
a manly firmness and dignity wor
thy Roman Senator, he stood by
his people, protesting against wrong
and oppression, and vindicating
their rights with an earnestness
and ability which not only eudear-
him to all, but which gave him a
notional reputation. Had he aban-
doned his people, had he pandered
to the authority thatwas paramount,
he would have been permitted to
retain his position and serve out
his term. But between duty and
official position he did not hesitate
Ho dared to vindicato the right land
preferred, if it must be SO, to go
down, and suffer with his people.
Had office been all he desired, moth
ing was easier than it's retention by
cringing to the military-then the
paramount authority. When citi-
zens were arbitrarily arrested, he
never ceased his appeals to Presi-
dent Johnson for their release, un.
til his object was accomplished.
His appeals were backed by argu-
ments unanswerable, except by the
and the only alternative
of the military was his removal, for
which their ingenuity was at fault
in finding even plausible pretext.
He was determined to serve ont
but one year of his term, but in
this time he gave evidences of an
unsurpassed executive ability. Un-
der his administration the expen-
1itures of the State government
were less than three hundred th GUS
and dollars year. What q con-
trast to the present. In consc-
quence of this, taxes were then
about one eighth to what they are
now, and yet all tho officers Of the
State, and the interest upon the
public debt were promptly paid.
In view of all of this, it is not
that there is such gencr-
al wish to restore him to the posi-
tion to which the voice of the peo-
pie bad called him. The tim es,
the crisis and the voice of the peo-
pie demand it.


1t is our pleasure to join in this
and to go with ito
give it expression, and to watch
over it, and to see that it
is not by any ,malignent
influence, diverted from its chan
mel, before it reaches its destined
point.


We might have very properly
closed this article, as it is not
our purpose,.nor is it yet required
to write a biography of Gov.
Throckmorton; but we are NOT ig-
norant of the fact, that in some
localities, persistent efforts have
been made, and perhaps will be
to prejudice the public
mind against him upon the ques-
tions of internal improvements,
and monied subsidies to railroads.
Buf upon all these questions,
Gov. Throckmorton is in full ac-
cord with the Democratic party.
To him, as a member of the Legis-
lature now twenty years ago, we
are indebted for the policy of aid
ing the construction of roads. by
the donation Of lands-a policy
the constitutional convention Of
1862 undertook to change by q
clause in the constitution prohib-
iting such an appropriation of the
public lands, but to which the peo-
pie have recently shown a purpose