Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 36, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 4, 1854 Page: 2 of 4
four pages : illus. ; page 22 x 32 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
!Uj
isum
is.i
SST"
.
r
iivv?f
WWT' "
it 3
Br ":
ML jtJS
111-
MM
uu. i i Jj ure wgfojgggwwgB "w " w.g ' wwumma Hrar'wi'ug.w. rwiu. i-iwamu iw.j.; v -'-g 'JrgJ2g2f:
tht maturity of tho bonda on account of
tho pressing necessity of tho case to go
to other states to loan tho money is
thorc a man that would bo in favor of
that course? Not one who has truly tho
interests of his state in view. Wero it
to bo loaned in other Btatcs it could be
only to railroad companies for they arc
tho only ones that want to borrow money.
Those bonds arc the samo as a oan of
tho money on the part of Texas; now
wo propose to loan it to railroad compa-
nies and I challenge any senator to show
that it is not a safo investment of that
fund. If tho gentleman from William-
son or any other gentleman can show mc
that it is not a safo investment I shall
fool it my duty to vote against tho bill.
I think that tho argument of the Sena-
tor from Bexar (Mr. Paschal) plainly
demonstrates that it would.be a safo in
vestment and that tho argument has not
been nor do I believe that it will bo an-
swered. I am willing to admit that the
present loan (for such it amounts to) to
tho United States is a safo investment of
the money: but I am not willing to ad
mit that it is any safer to loan to the gov-
ernment than to railroads. It scorns to
mo that the wdiolo question in regard to
the loan policy must turn upon the Bafc-
ness of tho investment. If the security
that the principle and interest will bo re-
turned to the Stato is sufficient then why
do gcntlomon thus opposo the loan poli-
cy? Is it because they are opposed to
railroads being constructed in the Stato ?
I hope tho gentleman from Williamson
Mr. Armstrong) is not an old fogy. I
hope ho does not belong to the stand
still party. I hopo he is not opposed
to a system which if carried out will de-
volopo the resources of the State; a
system which will increase our -wealth to
on almost untold extent and make us
tho greatest and most prosperous Stato
in tho Union.
Wo advocate tho loan policy because
WO behovo that it will build up the school
system; because wo believo that it is the
only means of sustaining it after it is es-
tablished. I would ask the Senator
from Williamson if ho had a school sys
tem in full and successful oporation what
he would do to keep it from falling to the
ground when tho time rolls around which
is to mature the United States bonds
if the government sees fit to tako them
up ? I say what would ho then do ?
Ho could no longer uso tho interest as
that will have boon used up to kpep his
system agoing. Would ho use the prin-
ciple ? That is what he would havo to
do; and then I ask how long it would be
boforo wo would not havo a dollar in
the treasury ? Our money will very soon
bo gone tho school system broken up
and not one mile of railroad will havo
been constructed. Such will bo tho of-
footof tho gentleman's policy. I con-
aider tho loan policy necessary to estab-
lish and support a system of common
schools throughout the State upon a firm
basis; tho system depends upon a loan of
tho money set apart for its very exis-
tence. Now if that bo admitted and no
one will protend to deny it; why not loan
tho monoy in such a manner as to foster
another great interest provided tho se-
curity be oqual ? It has been gravely
assorted here that if we loan our monoy
to railroads that t will destroy tho
school system. I deny that it would
havo that effect. No Senator opposed
to' tho bill has shown it nor do I believe
that ho can.
Wo should seek to manage our present
means bo as to havo fund to keep up our
school syatqm when tho proper time ar-
rives for putting it in oporation. If tho
policy of that bill on tho table bo carrlod
out it will give us a fund for all time to
como for that purpose Who can tell
tho advantages it would bo to tho State?
Her children will bo educated; hor al-
most boundless resources developed:
wealth will flow in apace; our prosperi-
ty will bo unexampled; our march on-
ward and upward until wo shall havo at-
tained that high position for which the
God of nature has designed us.
Tho loan to railroads will effectually
Bocure a system of common schools and
I horo in my -place aver that oven if
not one dollar of tho loan proposed
ia ever paid to the common school
eystoui if tho loan gives us railroads
it is completely secured; this may ap-
pear strango but is Buscoptible of proof.
Tho history of all countries in which
railroad facilities aro abundant "proofs
that an extraordinary increase in tho
valuqpfrbal estates invariably follows;
theStatQ of Georgia North Carolina
Tirginia Now York Massachusetts and
as I htivo said all countries where rail-
roads have been built proves the fact.
No matter Sir whether the railroad
stock pays or not the property of the
State invariably advances. Now Sir
one tenth of tho annual taxation is by
the constitution set aside for schools
railroads increase tho value of our lands
and the Bchool fund increases in the
same ratio of value that our lands in-
crease. Wherever a railroad passes
through a country lands increase from
20 to 800 per cent the school fund in-
creases in same ratio railroads afford
facilities to commerce; as commerce in-
creases so do the licence taxes on sales
of goods lincreasc and in like ratio the
school fund. But Sir this does not stop
here tho Republic of Texas made large
donations to each county (4 leagues of
land) these lands are tor the most part
valueless; give us railroads and railroads
will give us population population will
make a demand for land and you imme-
diately give value to those lands. Fifty
leagues of land are set apart for Univer
sities i!)ust and West these lands arc at
present so valueless that scarcely any
body knows where they arc they will with a
woli devised system of railways running
through our State bo looked after and be
brought into market. These Sir are not
all the benefits; I hold that ho who makes
a "blade of grass grow where none grow
before benefits mankind." Railroads
Sir will do more than this they arc cre-
ative; they give facilities for transporta-
tion to market and those facilities beget
an industrial population the tillers of the
soil. Texas must in tho course of time
bo the greatest producing State in Amer-
ica all that our mother earth produces
all ovor this Union Texas can produce ;
and if you tell the people of the United
States aye of the old World that we
have cheap lands and sura transportation
to market our country "will fill up with a
rapidity unparalled; these are the effects
of the loan policy. The gentleman from
Williamson may tell us that common
schools and railroads are antagonistic;
but it will take more sophistry than even
that gentleman possesses to convince the
farmer the planter or the father whose
children need education that they do not
go hand in hand.
Lot us recur again to the United State's
bonds. When they shall havo matured
and been paid into the Treasury of Tex-
as; what will the Senator from William-
son or any other gentleman of tho oppo-
sition do with them? Why they say loan
them out again. The United States will
not renew them; then to whom will you
loan them? Will you go out of the
State of Texas to do it ? You must be
cause you havo disclaimed the idea of
loaning to railroad companies; though
that is about tho only way thatI believe
the monoy could be loaned here safely.
Suppose the State of Louisiana Geor
gia or Alabama should send its agents
over hero and they should say to you;
you have $2500000 in your treasury
lying idle. We wish to borrow it and
are willing to pay the interest to you
semi-annually. Would Senator Arm-
strong loan it to those States instead of
the Stato of Texas ? I do not believe
there is a Senator upon this floor that
would do it; if thore is he wtfuld do it
with tho intention of never returning
to his constituents again. If that mon-
oy is to bo loaned (and the State which
it is in now amounts to a loan) the State
of Texas is tho place to loan it if the
proper security can be found. It will bo
seen that wo must adopt somo such poli-
cy as that contemplated in the bill if we
expect to carry out tho proposed school
system. Wo proposo to adopt that poli-
cy now that wo may bo in a situation to
perpetuate tho school systom when once
established. Tho opposition sco that
some such policy will eventually have to
bo adopted. Wo seek to adopt it now.
When you como to sift out tho collateral
issues which the gentleman from William-
son (Mr. Armstrong) bus made and look
merely at tho naked facts you Avill find
tho only question that admits any doubt
to be is itttBafo investment of tho school
fund V Has the opposition proved that
it is not ? If they have not then the
question is answered. None of them
have satisfied my mind that it would bo a
dangorous investment of the monoy.
A word in rogard to tho amend-
ment offered by the Senator from
Rusk'(Mr. Gnge.) I am satisfied that
no harm can ho done by adopting it. If
it is not adopted some eastern men who
aro friendly to this measure will think
that justico bus not been done as well as
those who opposo it anuthey will say
that the west will build her roads first
and get all of tho money leaving the
cast without roads or the means of build
ing any. I am willing that that amend-
ment should be adopted or one similar
to it that it cannot be thrown in the teeth
of any that the bill docs not do justico to
all portions of the State. I wish all to
be satisfied.
Now I was astonished to hear my
friend from Williamson (Mr. Armstrong
speak in such high terms of a system of
free common schools because if you turn
to the journals of this session and sec
how he voted upon tho passage of the
school bill you will find that he voted
against it. How would his speach on
Raturdav last and his vote unon the
school bill jingle together ? Should it be
necessary for him to explain to his con-
stituents. I cannot see how he can do
it. They will read his speech of Satur-
day lauding the school system to the
skies; they will look upon him;- as the
champion of education; that speech will
be sufficient evidence of it. But Sir by
looking upon the journals previous to
the date ot that speech they will Una
his vote recorded against the bill which is
to establish a system of common school;
recorded against tho only bill that has
ever passed this legislature providing
the means for the establishment of com-
mon schools. I would not attempt to
explain it in any other way; if I were
thus circumstanced then I would say to
my constituents that I had erred in vo-
ting upon the school bill and upon be-
coming convinced of it; I had determin-
ed to favor it and had made my speech
on Saturday accordingly.
We know that it is popular to advocate
the establishment of a system of com-
mon schools and it is justly so; there is
no subject of greater importance to the
State of Texas; and when I cast my
vote upon tho bill before us it will be to
perpetuate a school system; to establish
a fund that will enable us to perfect and
carry out our school system. I think I
shall show myself to be at least a consis-
tent as the Senator from Willi imson; he
is found voting against both bills but ad-
vocating the school system in the most
glowing terms; both receive my votes
and my support. My spotehes' (if they
deserve tho name) will accord with my
votes That much cannot be said of his.
I hope Sir that the motion made by
the Senator from Panola (Mr. Holland)
will not prevail. A spirit of liberality
would give the friends of this bill an op-
portunity to place it in the best position
possible for its passage; to amend it that
it might receive the support of the larg-
est majority of its friends. I shall ex-
pect upon the final passage of this bill to
answer somo remarks which have been
made and which I do not now propose to
touch upon as I consider this discussion
unfortunate at this particular t'.me. We
are using up the time of the Senate be-
fore the bill is in a proper position and
it has all been caused by the motion
of the Senator (Mr. Holland) ovor the
way to indefinitely postpone.
Kfai0ltnteiiiif0.
.roAU(FljpYijTOiuTmsiliili
JOHN S. FORK EDITOR.
AVsilN''SATURDAY7m"471i85T
BSSP The following gentlemen will please act as
Agents for the State Times :
Hon. It. D. Johnson Gulveston.
S. 11. Brigham Matagorda.
James Burke Houston.
John II. Duy Brculmm Washington county.
Mr. Johnson Bastrop.
Muj. Hen. White Tcxana Jackson co.
Col. S. G. Newton San Antonio.
Dr. L. S. Owings llellena Bexar co.
Col. GofF Goliad.
Hobt. W. Martin Snn Augustine.
Capt. II. Chrisman Caldwell Burleson co.
Budd Fry Brownsville Cameron co.
Warren Thomas Port Lavaca.
John Ross San Patricio.
Capt. John Dix Corpus Christi Nucea co.
S. B. Conley Gonzales.
Hall & Burke Burkeville Newton co.
J. Lewter Canton Smith co.
N. H. (Joss Chapel Hill Washington co.
J. T. Flint Helton Bell co.
Houston k Herring Shclhyville Shelby co.
Wesley Smith Wcbhervillc Travis co
James K. Morris Kaufman.
George White Melviuney Collin co.
A 1. l.oyd Alton Denton co
Judge Wilkinson Laredo Webb co.
Mr. Rudolph Kio Grande City Sturr co.
M. Seeligson it Son New Orleans La.
Groi.-n h Berry liyn'-hluirg Tenn.
Postmasters aro also authorised to act as ngentn
of
fiST Tho Richmond Jiecorchr says:
Amomorial has been gotten up by somo
our citi.ons. praying Oonrress to trans
fer tho mail route from Galveston via Ilar-
risburg instead of the more circuitous one
of Houston.
Legislative.
Monday Jan. 30y 1854.
House. R. S. Howard wti3 elected an
Assistant Sergeant at Arms to fill tho
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
Mr. J. Lewter.
An act providing for tho settlement of
Decedent's estates taken up ; several
amendments made and bill ordered to be
engrossed.
A bill to incorporate the Brazos Branch
Railroad Company; read 3d time and
passed by vote of 51 yeas to .10 nays.
An act for the relief of the inhabi-
tants of the town of Ysleto in the coun
ty of El Paso read second time and
passed to a third reading ; rule suspend-
ed bill read third time and pnscd.
A bill for the relief of the Alabama
Indians taken up ; read first time rule
suspended bill read second time amend-
ed rule further suspended bill read third
time and passed.
A bill to incorporate the Galveston
Wharf and Cotton Press Company : read
second time amended rule suspended
bill read third time and passed by vote
of 58 yeas to 8 nays.
A bill to confirm the patents issued by
the Commissioner General of the Land
Office to Edward Hall and Levi Jones
etc. taken up ; read first time rule sus-
pended read second time and passed to
third residing. This bill brought forth
quite a spirited discussion in which
Messrs. Franklin Turner of 11. Hunt
and Thorpe participated.
Tuesday Jan. 31st. By leave of tho
House a bill supplementary to An act to
establish the New Orleans Texas and
Pacific Railroad Company for the ex-
tension of the New Orleans Algiers and
Opelousas Railroad Company through
Texas approved Feb. 16 1852 was in-
troduced ; bill read first time rule sus-
pended bill read second time and ordered
to be engrossed ; rule further suspended
bill read third time and passed by a vota
of 66 to 3.
A bill for the relief of certair persons
therein named (more familiarly known
as the omnibus bill) having been made
the special order for this day was taken
up; read second time and after consid-
ering many amendments proposed (somo
of which were adopted) the previous
question was called and the bill ordered
to be engrossed by a vote of 42 to 31.
A bill for tho relief of Wesley Askins
taken up ; bill read first time rule sus-
pended Hll read second time and passed
to a third reading ; rule further suspend
ed bill read third time and passed by a
vole of 50 to 18.
A bill making appropriation to pay for
publishing the Governor's proclamations
for tho years 1854 and 1855 taken up ;
bill read first time rule suspended bill
read second time and passed to a third
reading ; rule further suspended bill read
a third time and passed.
A bill to incorporate tho Gilmer and
Sherman Railroad Company taken up ;
bill read second time and ordered to be
engrossed; rule further suspended bill
read third time and passed by vote of
57 to 12.
A substitute reported by tho commit-
tee for a bill making an appropriation to
purchase certain books for tho uBe of tho
Supremo Court taken up ; read second
time and ordered to bo engrossed ; rule
suspended bill road third time and
passed.
A bill to incorporate the Tyler and
Dallas Railroad Company taken up;
bill read first time rule suspended bill
read a second time and passed to a third
reading ; rule further suspended bill read
third time and passed by vote of 00 to 3.
A bill making further appropriation for
tho completion of the Treasury buildings
taken up ; bill read first time rule sus-
pended bill read second time and passed
to third reading ; rulo further suspended
bill read third timo and passed.
A bill to confirm tho Patents issued by
the Commissioner of the Gen'l Land Of-
fico to Edwward Hall Leiv Jouob and
a.
is
i
:.).
& ;
.
tv. nJ.qiHiJrtv.4i-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 36, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 4, 1854, newspaper, February 4, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78427/m1/2/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.