The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-11-08
OUR NEXT LEGIsLATUHE - ITS
GREAT DUTY.

GREAT DUTY.
The 2d day of December next, A. ID.
1873, will become memorable in the
annals of Texas as the day of its Sec
ond deliverance from wrong and OPP
preston. On that day the people OF
Texas elect Governor and all State
officers, Legislature and a full set
of county officers of their own selec-
ton, untrammeled by bayonets, Spen-
Ger rifles or six shooters. 1t will he
glorious day in our history, to be
ushered in annually thereafter as a
day of deliverance by bonfircs, cam
non, shouts, professions, and those
sweet rejoicings appreciated only by u
redeemed and disenthralled people.
Yesl we shall be redeemed by the
election on the I'd day of December, for
which, in advance, we would offer
praises to the Majesty on-high.
On Tuesday, January ID, 1874, new
Legislature will assemble in the State
capital, with large Democratic major
ity in each house. A few days later
all the State officers, with one excep-
ton, will be sworn in, and each one
will be Democrat freshly chosen 10y
the people. DeGress, the Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, will
hold over year or more longer, for
reasons unnecessary to state now.
Were he possessed of Il sixteenth part of
true manhood, he would resign and
let the peoples choice be sworn in.
He may have that sense of decency,
and propriety. We will not prejudge
him.
Then we shall have arrived at a new
stage in our existence as free, sover-
eign and independent State.
The question at once looms up,
"What ought the new Legislature to
do ?" We have clear, distinct views on
this subject.
We say that our incoming Legisla-
ture should not attempt, as our last
one was compelled to do, by patch
work, to amend the incongruous stat
utes now on the books. BY no means.
The grand defect is in the miserable
abortion called our State constitution,
an instrument which, like a wounded
VIPER is stinging itself to death. We
can have no wise and harmonious sys-
tenn of statute laws until we have q
new State constitution, based on COM
mon sense and the experiences of our
American States in the principles of
self-governmept. We therefore lay
down, as the basis of all future action,
that the incoming Legislature should,
as its first and chief act, pass a series OF
joint resolutions, calling State Con-
vention, to assemble about the first
Monday in May next, to form a new
State constitution. That convention,
to assemble on the first Monday in
May next qS74), can form constitu-
ton, and submit it to be voted oil by
the people, say the first Monday in
August, 1874, and at the same time let
all officers made elective under the new
be voted for anew, towit:
Supreme and District Judges, Senators
and Representatives, and all other Off
GERS, SO that in future there may be no
more confusion about the tenure of of.
fees.
The new set of officers, thus elected,
at the time of ratifying the new consti-
tuition, can Ue sworn in, and the next
succeeding Legislature meet on the
first Monday in October, 1874, and
thenceforward our State government
will be in harmonious operations, and
the people, relieved of present compli-
cations and obscurities, will once more
have n clear and distinct view of their
State government, their rights, duties
and responsibilities. The people are
sick of complications, contradictions
and confusions and want plain, SIM
pie and cheap State government. All
these the next Legislature can secure or
provide for, if they prove to be as
patriotic as the last, by showing a
to vaoate their own ofiioes
in order to enable the people to be once
more free and self-governing.
These are our views, and if we
thought that Amzi Bradshaw, as Sena-
tor, or John H. Cochran, A. X. Mid
dleton or Joseph w. Kemble, as Rep
would pursue different
course, in order to serve two sessions
instead of one, then we would not vote
for either one of them. But, believing
them to be true men and patriots, we
shall vote for them and advise our
friends to do the same.