The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-09-25

A NEW CONSTITUTIONS.


The late Democratic State Convention,
the largest ever held in this State and a
true representation Of its real people, de-
termined that. Constitutional Convention
was necessary, and favored the calling Of one
by our next Legislature. rliis, then, is one
Of the main issues involved in the present
canvass, and IT Is eSpee.ea FL Demo
cratic candidates vii rise position,
standing square up on The
necessity Of q new Coz i',is pus 60
all, who have any @ii ihe
present one, which Is y aefiec' 5ot .e3m
beginning to end. 10 g coa s7dieiog, r
tain, and diilicu'i TO und taHl, eiss
It contains provisions g war ltA iae 5eni
ments OF large poriioa 81 BE- best ana
most intelligent pe1p q. Texas. IS pre-
anlble is nothing but pieces ieissAood and,
OF itself, is enoaeh 70 condemn II % eesti-
nation Of all honess, i'ign minded nlen. i
reads as follows;
we, the psop1e p iesas eesn -
7,,s s.s' s. -
OF goveramenf ID Iersf, or,laii ami ~.
tablish this Constitution
Nor Il isq aotrua spf, int az re,l pen
glo Of Teras rero 80 }srYaiitea. lat6 5g ne
grace IF Goa or tie Radieql Coagfes, mike
choice 81 our .fosm Of goregppeat or esta1-
lisi the pgesast Constitution. Il largo
portion Of the best citizens OF Texas were
prescribed and excluded from voting or
being members Of the Constitutional Con-
vcntion; and tho present Constitution was
framed by ignorant and lawless negroes like
Gaines, now penitcntiary convict: such
carpet-baggers as Hunt and Others. and such
scalawags as Governor Davis, Jack Evans,
Lippard and Whitmore Made as offensive
as 1t could be by such men, it was forced
upon us by Federal bayonets, and it was
that, or remaining out Of the Union subject
TO military rule. The people of Texas nc
quicsced for the sake Of reconstruction in
some form, which would place us under the
civil law. however bad it might be. but they
neither made nor approved the present Con.
stitution. Now. by the ograce of God' and
their own inherent rights. they propose to
ordain fundamental law for the guidance
and restriction of their civil rulers, elected
in accordance with their will. That is the
plain matter, and that is what they intend
to do, in spite Of all Governor Dayis's blood
and thunder about revolution and a new re-
bellion The act will be peaceful and in
strict accordance with the practice of every
other State in tho Union aud the undoubtcd
right OF the people of Texas. But We may
be told, perhaps that the people of Texas
have lost the right which other States have
to form new Constitution without the
permission Of the general government;
that the first section Of the bin Of
rights Of the present Constitution de-
clarcs that ''thc fundamental principles
embodied therein can only be changed
subject to the national authority What of
thats We have shown who were the au-
thors Of this absurd provision, which, if
there was nothing else objectionable, would
fully justify the ahrogatioa Of the present
Constitution and the substitution Of a new
one Win it be oontended that, under this
loose declaration, tho people Of Texas must
first ask the consent Of Congress before
they can proceed to remodel their organic
lawl Does New York 10 this, or Massa-
chusetts OF Pennsylvania. on 0hiol The
States are al equal under the Constitution
Of the United States, and the right, which
one State has, applies % ali. 4 one can