Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-06-02
49, 80 rnt. nr ArnlnltII.

M Tiirrt II seems tlr ihis CHnvsu
1n passed four ordinance lsi 800 ul1i.
r.bss entitled Freedmen - litciaIihg
war debt void I'd Assuming u y ~
rasl Tar. iih. On tho subject Of seee,'' ,a
i.lch of these ordinances, by &C., OF ho
onIentlop, Is made Gnal, and VII ,u",,h
'ule In any event part, either OF 'ho o'p
1r new Constitution, =,
Tn, Convention LEFT II 10 the VOTERS OF
ne State, 10 decide by voting not Wy omit
Ting TO vote, which they will have IN the
Ci,1re for their Constitution, lfa MAORI
a. of those voting on the subject, not u na-
;ority Of all the votes cast, be against
,he Amendments then II seems We will
sinply have our old Constitution, az II eI-
is,ed anterior TO the war. Save the changes
Introduced by the addition Of the four
above named ordinances,
But, on the contrary, should a majority
o. such votes be "POr tho Amendments
We will then have for our Constitution, the
one drawn up BY the Convention, including
ga part Of II, all the ordinances land they
prc numerous, J proposed by tho Conyeh-
lion. Hence il Is apparent, that every yo'
Ter In the State, at the election, should be
certain and have his vote recorded one way
or the other. But the main question is,
how shall We vote? This question Is er-
eecdingly important just now. The changes
IN our organic law, will be many, great
and highly important in the event the new
constitution Is adopted. II II is rejected,
VT will as State move on for awhile at
least, in tho old beaten bath, with nothing
changing our Constitutional status, save
what is In force and operative now. few
Of he many changes sought to be engrafted
on our organic law by the new Constitu-
,ion, would doubtless be beneficial. But
Willie this is apparent It is believed to DO
equally clear, taking into consideration all
Tint the Convention did do, that the old
Constitution, with the four ordinances at
tached, is far preferable to the new with
tht long train Of ordinances that is attach
ed 10 It. In n communication like this,
discussion, of course, must be limited,
hence our enumeration Of the very many
changes contained in the new Constitution,
believed to BIO for the worse, will not now
bn undertaken.
there is, however, one marked feature
n he new Constitution and ordinances at
tschcd, which particularly characteriIes
and distinguished it from our present one.
A feature which presents itself in such
\ beautiful and edifying shape, that "be 1t
ghost or goblin damned" I'll write aboutit.
It's want of candor-where is its candor
Candor is n trait by the way particularly
+, no desired in Constitution; especially
,shen. es in this case, vitality has to be in
fused, by the lifc-giving voice ofa majority
vote.
Our present Constitution may be de-
nouuced as "Old Fogie," for being SO, but
for all that it is unquestionably candid
Con his be said of the new, in all of its
parts? Where is its candor on the subject
Of common or free schools? On this sub
iect the trainers Of the present Constitution
cendidly set themselves to work. They be-
lieyei it to be for the best, and the duty OF
the State, for the State to educate. Not
that the State should educate those only I'M
able to obtain an education otherwise, but
that :he State should educate all 1t is not
here insisted that this was over statesman
like, for if we calmly and philosorhically
take into consideration what is, or should
be The true object of free government, and
the slmost insurmountable obstacles, that
now and ever will exist in our State, to the
carrying out of such governmental theories
VIC will, it is thought, be less likely to COM
mand the great wisdom Of the free school
advocates generally.
But be this as it may, the trainers of our
present Constitution were in favor Of it.
its very language, and liberal provisions
on the subject demonstrates its candor. 1t
reads like a system of free schools was to
he established, and that there was certainly
20 be very considerable amount Of funds
provided, and set apart exclusively for that
object. The new Constitution also seems
to read like an exceedingly great system Of
free schools is to be established. Immense
Quantities of lands, and money &c., are by
no means omitted, or deemed unworthy Of
being set apart, and styled perpetual"
But let us examine this thing, and see
what small amount of scrutiny will re-
veal. Section 2. Art. 10. of the new Con:
slilltion, makes it obligatory on the Legis-
lature, at an early day, to put into opera
zion throughout the State, free schools
This section also "sets apart" and makes,
or says it makes perpetual" all the funds,
lands and other property, heretofore "set
apart" or that may be set apart and appro.
priated hereafter, as a school fund.
This section with seeming candor also
positively asserts, that "no law shall ever
be made appropriating said fund to any
other use or purpose whatever" The Sd
section, same article, "sets apart" and
pas es 10 the school fund aHre,erved alter
nat! sections Of land Of all grants hereto
for and hereafter to be made TO all Rail
Roads &c. And further provides that IL
The State ever sells 10 the U. s. any lands,
one half the proceeds is to 60 the same way.
This section comprchends more still, it
further says that the Legislature shall
henceforth appropriate one-haD of oil sales
of the public lands to the school fund. The
4th section makes ii obligatory on the Leg
islature from time to time, to sell lands be-
Ion ging to the school fund, to purchasers
on time and terms but most positively in
hibits mercy. No relief, or extension of
time, Is to be given to the poor devils who
may be the purchasers. Payments to be
forfeited TO the fund if punctuality is not
strictly observed.
Mark the 9th section, same article, 1t
provides that "the Legislature shallha no
power to appropriate, or loan, or invest,
cretpt az yJollotcs, any part of the principal
sum of the perpetual shoot fund, for any
purpose whatever"
1t further provides that the Legislature,
shall from time to time cause the principal
sum now on hand and arising from sales Of
land, or from any other source, TO be invest
ed in the bonds Of the U. 8. of America, or
of the State Of Texas, or such bonds as the
State may guarantee" This section also
contains provision graciously .subjecting
20 annual appropriations by the Legislature
7 for educational purposes incomes derived
from the school fund. The 9th section
hurls all lands heretofore thought to belong