The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-02-15
7177-7a|77s@1'-777777777
Constitutional Convention.

Mckinney Enquirer.
1t Is part of the Democratic creed
that there shall be constitutional con-
ventlon. The Democratic party went
before the country in the late election
with this feature us Il part of their plat
form.
There was no issue more squarely or
directly made than this, and no posi-
ton of the party more fiercely assailed
by the Radical leaders than this one.
The people of Texas adopted the con-
stitutioN of 1869 because they well
knew that reconstruction would never
come except under Radical auspices.
They knew the defects of tho present
constitution, admitted them, but chose
to take that instrument bad rs IL Is In
preference to living under Reynolds
arbitrary rule. We believe il was cor
rect policy to do so. But now that its
workings have so clearly demonstrated
its many Inconsistencies, and the utter
impossibility of administering the
government economically under it
and the people having so emphatically
endorsed the action Of the Democratic
convention in declaring in favor of II
new one, we do not see how the Legis-
lature can hesitate moment to make
provision that the will of the people
should be carried out.
We regret to notice disposition on
the part Of some leading gentlemen
and influential papers to trust the work
of u new constitution to a commission.
This is anti-Democratic. This is II
direct attack upon the intelligence of
the people This Is as much as to say
to the people you are not competent to
the task of choosing men fit to make
tho organic law of Texas. 1t should be
borne in mind that the constitution of
the Republic, the one of 1915, and that
of 1866, emanated from those chosen
directly by the people. We ask, Is il
expected to say that any commission
can be selected, either by the governor
aud senate, or by the Legislature, to be
composed of men superior in patriot
ism, wisdom and integrity than the re.
representatives. of the people who framed
the instruments alluded to, and under
the protecting care of which the people
OF Texas received 80 many blessings?
The representatives of the people
should be careful how they disregard
the wishes of those whose servants they
are. On this one subject we have heard
an outspokcn expression of many of
our people, rs we'll as the utterances of
many persons from different portions
of the State, with whom we have come
in contact since the meeting of the
Legislature.
There Is n vague fear creeping into
the minds of some that the Legislature
hestates on this point because of the
fear that convention might cut its
term of office short. This we do not
believe, and feel quite confident no
such consideration enters into the
question. Indeed a constitutional con-
vention should not interfere in this
matter, but provision should be made
for a census of the people, after which
another session of the present Legisla-
ture should reapportion the represents
tive and senatorial districts. Each
county should have its immediate rep
resentatlves when the population
comes up to the required standard
and the surplus over this should be
represented by tloaters, and as vacan-
cies occurred in the newly elected sem
ators should come from the districts as
reappointed-but even this can be dis
pensed with for the present. But the
necessity for reduction of judicial dis
tricts, an equal distribution of judicial
labor, change in the money features
of the present constitution so as to
tighten the burdens of taxation, the
adoption ola liberal, but wise and pru-
dent system of common schools, i'm
peratively demand "a new organic law.
This cannot be attained by patching
up the old fabric by amendments, nor
can the wishes or will of the people be
expressed by any commission, however
able, that may be selected. We trust
that the Legislature will not disregard
the rights of the people on question
of such gravity. That no false notions
of economy will influence the action
of members on this question, but that
prompt action will be had and In the
expected when they were Sc
s..1 /. A. 4. ~.