The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-12-13
rrrE yrxr GREAT WANT orTExAs

rffE NEXT GREAT WANT OFTExAs
Now that Texas Is about to be as
aforetimc free State IN the Union,
her next great want is Il constitution
suited to her condition and the genius
of u free people.
The essential principles OF free gov
crnment are universal and well under
stood, but the mode anu manner OF
preserving those principles and giving
them active vitality through organic
powers, are by no means so well UNI
derstool, and, indeed, changes with
the various conditions of peoples and
States. Fifty years ago no laws were
required in relation to railroads, telc-
graphs, express, steamships aud vast
number of inventions since that time
which now enter into the every day
life of each State in the Union.
The wisest men in this country stand
to-day alarmed at the wonderful strides
of great companies and monopolies In
the acquisition Of power dangerous to
the purity of government and the lib
critics of the people. One of the new
problems for craftsmanship to solve Is
how, by constitutional law, to encour-
age all improvements beneficial to the
country, and yet prevent these danger
Gus aggregations of power. Pennsyl-
vania, a ter long years of experience,
has just had convention to reform
her constitution 80 rs t0 meet those
modern issues. Other States, like Hi
nois, have heretofore acted and others
are now agitatlng these great ques-
tions.
Texas, free of the incubus which has
crippled her action for eight years,
young Texas, not yet IN the grasp of
those organized monopolies, like many
of the old States, Is now In condition
to profit by their experience and take
counsel of their dangers.
In reference to the ordinary princi-
pies and machinery of government,
Texas only wants, in the main, toreturn
to the leading features of the constitu-
ton of la44, that is, rs to the legislative
and judicial departments. She
requires II Supreme court Of at least
five Judges, who shall sit In at least
four places in the State. She re-
guires not exceeding eighteen or rtwen-
ty District Judges, with three or four
Criminal Courts for the larger cities
and counties. She desires to re-estab-
lish her old County court and probate
System, She demands that all judges
shall be 50 appointed or elected as to
furnish guarantee Of ability and in
corruptibility. She demands that the
responsibility of nll public officers shall
be direct and official direiction prompt
ly punished, and public corrup-
ton branded with nfamy. She
wants u constitution free of
of antiquities, each article plain and
susceptible of no doubtful con-
struction-the fruitful source of wrong
in all American experience. She de-
mands no change that will unhingc
settlements already made as results of
the war; on the the contrary, she de-
sires in good faith to fulfill those stipu-
lations, and however muchshe believes
the negro race to be unprepared for a
wise exercise of the elective franchise,
yet she is not responsible for it, and
having none but kind feelings and
good wishes for that race, who were
formerly mere .,lomesticsin their house
holds, and would scorn, by indirection
or subteriuge, to so manage the State
government as to injure them, retard
their prosperity, a. withhold those
privileges accorded to them by the
series of constitutional measures grow
ing out of the war. Texaswill do moth
Ing Of the kind to revive strife or re-
new the sectional antagonism which
deluged the land In blooda Guided by
the same wise councils which gave her
liberty, and peace at home, and high
character abroad, in 1880, and again in
ls45, she will frame u constitution
worthy of her former renown, founded
on-the principles of liberty and. justice
to all her citizens.
|
She will abundantly provide for the
steady growth and improvement OF
that muniHcent system of common
school education, the foundation OF
which was grandly laid by her early
statesmen, and the superstructure ot
which was being so successfully BULL
until checked by the war. She is re-
solved to have the best and mos
beneficent system In the United States
and has the means to do so, without
after short time, taxing the people.
Texas also desires to establish amor
, equitable system of representation, a
: of old, by county and floater represent
atives. The law maker shall hail a
directly from the people as possible. ]
Is necessary to provide more jus
division of magistrates IN the cnuntie
to have more precincts and two Ming
istrates in each. The assessment O
: taxes should be taken from them, an
3 its collection from the Sheriff and tn
: whole committed to District Officer
{ specially elected by the people an
bonded for that purpose.
. We only glance at these generaliza
! tions as the work for our contemplate
State Convention. We do 50 In par
4 to forestall the cry that may he raise
q by portion Of our opponents, tha
: Texas intends, by thismeans, to antal
! onize the negro and renew war issue'
T We speak the Democratic voice Of tn
!, State in repelling the charge a. Sian
e derous. All that is proposed is to 81
percede the existing hjdeous INSTR