Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-08-05
From the Galveston Civilian,
The State Constitution.

Wo ,reg, that when TeSps is allowed =
convention, il viii cpudnc itself 10 the re-
storn,icu of ihu constitution as IL stood be-
!are the war. Incorporated companies de-
riylnE thcir character and m;Rns principal
Is from S,a,c patronage, have done more 10
unLinge the business ana mCra.s Of the
United S,s,.B within the last hity years,
than any other cause resulting FROM bad
lcyisla.!ou. Reckless and irresponsible
SPECULATION, thus stimulated by public au.
.horty, has been encouraged ana almost
universally disseminated. To such pitch
had j, been carried, fey years aimee, that
TIE general amnesty Of q bankrupt law be.
came necessary TO bring order again out OF
the chaos, into which the business Of the
country had been cast. So long as char
tered ompGnios--au,hori2ed to compete
with private individuals IN business Rfalis
and yet Ivy law cXemp; from the responsi-
bilities which attach 10 indiyiduals--a'e the
favoritcs Of the Law, l, ia impossible TO sat
isfy the public that strict system Of NOR
ais, in business matters, is expected by the
State. So long % chartered companies are
specially exempted by tho State from respon-
sibility for debts incurred by prodignlity,
fayoritism, sni desperate speculation while
the citizen is brought Into competition with
such compan les in tho prosecution OF his
ordinary business ho cannot diTest himself
OF tho influence which in some shape, this
policy is bound to exercise upon him. so
long as On incorporated company may
com pound with its creditors by paying fifty
cents on the dollar, while the individual
members of the company have mGdetortunes
indirectly, oRt Of their connection WITH II,
it may be expected that the benefits OF the
same system Of morals will be claimed by
men in private business, where their part
nerships only lack charter to put them
upon precisely the same footing as cor
poration. The distinction is purely legal
Morally there is none.
To guard against evils Of this kind, was
one ofthe objects of our present constitution.
Il declares that no appropriation for pri.
Yatc or individual purposes, or purposes OF
internal Improvement, shail be made with
out the concurrence OF both houses of the
Legislature; that the Legislature shall not
have power TO issue any description CT
paper TO circulate as money; that lotteries
shall be prohibited; that laws shall embrace
but one object; that no law shall be amended
by reference to the title or any section there
Of, but re-euacted: that taxation shall be
equal and uniform throughout the Ststei
that no new corporate body shall be created
with banking privileges; that the legisla.
ture may repeal nets of private iucorpora-
ticn; tha. the State shall not be part owner
Of the property or stock belonging to any
private corporation; that individuals shal
rot issue paper 70 circulate az money; that
the State shall net incur dcb's exceeding
one hundred thousand dol ars, except in
case of invasion or iusurrection, and that
it shall no. borrow money without the con.
sent of two-thirds of both Houses of the
Legislature. The constitution also makes
il the duty of the Legislature to provide for
the education of oil the free white children
Of the State; sets apart at least one tenth
&C the revenue from taxation for that pur-
pose; and provides agRinst the loss Of The
lands snt apart for purposcs Of education.
The experience of other States has shown
clearly the wisdom of these provisions, and
the necessity Of guarding them by consti-
tutionai cnactments, from tho capricious
changes and undu, influences to which leg
islatiYe bodies are not uuircquentiy ex-
posed 4 Legislature with unlimitod pow
crs is the worst species Of tyranny. The
power is greater, the responsibility less,
than with & single ruler. Nor has expert
ence proved that sudden changes in their
BY the people Themselves, are
desirable or safe. Popular inpulseis is often
as erroneous aud extrayagsnt as the action
of single individuals. The history Of the
world has amply proven that even the pco.
pie of Republic require time to discuss
and mature changes Of the organic law.