Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-10-26
A CONVENTION,


The responsibilities Of the hour re-
quirc this question 70 be maturely
considered.
As regards this subject, the Radi-
cal party is unit II is only thro
this means that they expect to sue
ceed in comforting unrestricted sur
irago on their black allies. Unless
this is accomplished, that party has
no existence or standing in Texas
The future destiny, for power and
place, or contemplate insignifcanco
of the leaders of this party, depends
upon the call of convention. The
retention of that ill-gottcn power
which they now partially enjoy rests
with the people to determine. II
the conservative voters Of the State
desire to endorse the measures OF
coercion passed by the Radical Con-
grcss, for the purpose of placing
the Southern States under the dom
ination of the negroes and their
white dependents, then they will
vote for n convention. Such a pol
lev will be God send to these lead
crs and their followers. All the
bitterness and malice of their hearts,
felt towards the people Of Texas,
will have full sway, Although Con
gress seeks to disfranchise large
| numbers of the most intelligent and
useful class of our fellow citizens,
and to elevate in their stead thou
sands of ignorant negroes, yet If
we have convention, the work OF
disfranchisement and disabilities
will not stop with confirmation and
adoption into the organic law OF the
State of the acts Of Congress, but
will 90 further. Not only those
prohibited from voting and holding
Office by these acts will continue
under the ban, but large additions
will be made to the prescribed class
What assurance have we that the
rule adopted in Tennessee will not
be applied here? Men who obtain
Office by such INSCRIPTIONS and un-
constitutional means as those resort
ed to bv the Radical leaders OF Tex
as, and will so degrade themselves
as to rule ever a people who loathe
and dcspise them, will resort to any
means, however despicable, to re-
tain power. When the constitution
and laws which they swear to sup
port will not restrain thcm-when
IA decent regard for the opinions OF
mankind" nor an ordinary sense OF
self-respect, will not hold them in
check-what can the people promise
themselves from a constitution made
by their hands? There is not an
intelligent man in the whole coun-
trv. North or South, who does not
know that Congress has no power
to interfere with the question OF
suffrage in the States. Yet that
body attempts to coerce the people
of the Southern States into the dis
franchisement of thousands Of theil
most intelligent and experienced
citizens, and into the enfranchise-
ment of thousands of ignorant ne.
grocs, who are totally unfit for it
thus attempting to do by indirect
means that which the constitution
confers no power 10 do directly.
gjIf a convention meets in Texas
Under present auspices, this dicta'
tion will be complied with. When
| tits done by our own act we canno,
i csf!lifIf ufiar- r-vv--.,ss~-Siid i. and that
assit was done under threats ant
| coercion, it was unconstitutional
and not biding. 1t will be binding
Our own organic law declaring wht
arc and who are not voters, it WI
be long. before a change will be Ell
!. focted, even though large majority
of the people may desire it.
The holding of conventions in Tho
Southern States, under the plan now
being enforced, insurcs the electora
vote of these States to the Congrcs
sional candidate for the Presidency
IL is a dernier resort of Congress t
force the white and black Radicals
of the South into power, in order i
possible, to save their party from
defeat in the approaching Presiden
tial contest. Does any sane maj
) doubt the result in Texas, if a con-
vention is held and manipulated by
tho Radical leaders? Therefore, i
will be readily seen that a convcn
ton is an absolute necessity TO
Radicalism-its strength and pres
! ervation.
Should constitution be france
that will bear equally upon ever.
class of the people alike, granting
suffrage, unrestricted or otherwise
; or that will require certain qualiii
cations of intelligence Or property
or both, then the vocation of thi
Radical party is gone, and they wi
i not long rule over people whor
. they have so grievously misrepre
. sented, nor will the electoral vote
]. ETeNas be secured to the Radici
/ candidate for the Presidency-an
if made, would not be accepted b
the present Congress.
= Suppose a majority of the peopl
vote against a covention, what harl
is TO result from such action2 1t
? said that we will remain Under on
present Radical rulers and militar
government; that we will be kel
out of the Union, and have no rel
resentation in Congress that MOI
onerous terms will be imposed an
that our property will be ,confseat'
Let us examine carefully each oI
X of these propositions. A refusal
vote for a convention viii certain
entail Radical rulers and miiitai
governments for the next two yeai
or nearly &C, with the chances grea
Nv in our favor thatthe President
contest and next elections for co
gre-s will show that our Northe
brethren still regard US as countr
- men. and entitled TO some consid'
alton and respect. Bot just here