Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-12-12
A CALL FOR A
STATE CONVENTION,
TO, our Fellon- Citizens

10. our FGttOU- CUtSBHS
of tile ,Stuts of Tepas::.
The election of President of the United
States by the great sectional party of the
North, has been accomplished.
The insults, threats and Impressions that
have been directed at the honor, the cquali-
ty and the huppyy social existence OF the
people of Texas and the South tQr the last
forty years, have reached climax
The people of Texas are justly alarmed
at the impending destruction of all that is
valuable to freemen.
The distinguished Governor of our State
has been petitionel by large number OF
the citizens Of Texas to convene the Leg
islature, preliminary to convention OF the
people.
Our State Constitution has provided that
on extraordinary occasions" the Govern
or g shall have the power to convene the
Legislature"
The Legislatures of number of our sis
ter Southern States have already been called.
The evidences of alarm, indignation and
resentment, together with a most earnest
desire to counsel for their own safety have
come up from the peoplein every quarter of
our State.
CIR to convene our Legislature, but there is
reason to hope that he will yet do so.
A Legislature cannot express as Con-
! ventOn may, the sovereign Will OF the peo-
| pie of Texas.
The Constitution does not give either the
Governor or the Legislature the power to
call convention Their doing so, would
be mere consent that the people might act.
I TI,o bo tbo ptu t,t IN ut n n n
| ly provided in our State Constitution, with
out such consent. Article LIST of the Bill Of
Rights declares: "All political power is
inherent in the people, and all Free Govern
ments are founded on their authority and
instituted for their benefit; and they have
at all times the unalienable right to alter,
reform, or abolish their form of Government,
in such manner as they "may think cxpedi-
ent."
Should the Legislature now be called, it
could not probably assemble before some
time in January, and then it would be too
late to provide for Convention, which
could not meet until about or after the time
for the Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
as President of the United States
! If the people proceed now TO the election
of Delegates to a Convention, (which they
have the unquestioncd right to dol the Leg
j islature will doubtless ratify what the peo-
! pie have done.
Governor Houston very fully recognizes
the right of the people to act primarily in
this matter, in his letter TO the citizens Of
Huntsville, Of November 1860, wherein he
justly says:
" Has the time come? If it has, the peo-
pie who have to bear the burthens of revo-
luton, must themselves effect the work"
Il is then clear that he will abide the ex-
preston of the peoples will.
Therefore, partaking of the feeling of So
licitude common to our fellow citizens, and
believing that concert in action is univer-
! sally desired AMI i being necessary that
some common basis should be set forth to
ensure srsch concert, The undersigned citi-
zens Of Texas, residing in different portions
Of tho State. having had an opportunity Of
eonrri sing with large portion Il cur fel-
low citizens 81 the Stare. and pretending
ONLY q an authority eqnai 20 that Of n simi-