The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-03-19


bestowed on the subject would be
reaped IN the action of the con-
ycntlon. Constitution making h u |
work greatly different now from what
II formerly was, In Texas, our social,
and our labor systems, and, In some
degree, our political system, have |
changed fundamentally. We hardly |
yet appreciate the extent nnd import
of the change ourselves. These changes |
are going on aud viii continue, New |
population, with new ideas, are iilllng
The country, new industries nre spring |
Ing up; enterprise and rapid improve
mcnt IL the order Of the day, Assocla-
ted capital, IN the hands Of corpora
lions, 80 imperltlvcly necessary to our
development on the one hand, ANA 30
dangerous on the other finds m cNteh-
slve field for operation In Texas, We
have forty thousand unenllghtenod
black voters natural followers, In their
simplicity and ignorance, Of the un-
scrlIpuloiIs trlckstcr and demag0gue IN
some portions of Texas largely out
numbering the whites, and having
equal privileges with them NJ the bal
lot box and In the jury box, From
these aud other facts which might he
stated that exist among us now, with
which our people are scarcely yet iamil-
lar, questions must present themselves
to be dealt with by the Trainers OF our
organic law, which should be grnvely
and most maturcly considered,
The new constitution should be
adapted to our changed social, political
| t.,l al "A
growing and changed condition Of our
society, and the different elements
and interests which constitute IT, TO
make such u constitution, we should
have clear perception ana npprccia-
tion of Texas, rs she Is and az she viii
be. If the people of Texas Will take
time and give mature deliberati0n to
the problems Of government, now, for
the first time, confronting them,
which must be solved in the formation
: of u constitution, have no fear of the
wisdom of their conclusion. But ! do
confess to fears of the result of haSty
and precipitute action. A constitution
should be made W. IL for all time, and
with view to the evils and dangers of
too frequent change or amendment. III
il the most important step ever taken
Ia the government Of II state, ANA III
proportion TO the difficulty of the qucs-
lions to be dealt with, should be APP
preached with caution and the gravest
care The grave financial embarrass-
mcnt surrounding W. ut this time pre-
SCENTS another cogcnt argument IN
defense of the wisdom of your course
in declining to call convention. The
expense attending the holding of II
convention, although considerable, is
not the only item TO be considered IN
this conncstion. Your honorable
bodies have found it necessary, in or
der to meet obligations now due and
pressing the state, to provide for the
sale of state bonds TO the amount of
81 5000
These bonds must be sold, because
the creditors Of the state are clalnor-
Gus for payment, and there Is not II
dollar in the treasury, and the honor
and credit Of the state is ut stake and
must be preserved.
1t is well known that the stahiiits (
a government enters largely into the
estimate in fixing the value of its Sc
curities. If con lOl, had been
called, the canvass eding the cleo
ton for delegates Woe d have been IN
progress with high party excitement
ut the very time when our bonds viii
be in market; the newspapers OF the
state would have tecmcd with discus
sions, showing every shade and variety
of opinion on the various questions
which have to be acted on in framing
II constitution, and it is believed that
under these circumstances, when the
organic foundations of the government
We're about being taken up for readjust-
ment and change, that capital, which
is proverbially timid, would have
shrunk from an Investment in our
bonds, except at discounts we would be
unwilling to submit to.
Texas is not yet known abroad ms
our people at home know her. But n
short time since bloodshed in the walls
of the capitol was narrowly escaped, in
asserting the right of her people to free
governments. Under the administra-
ton of her government preceding this,
the vaults Of her treasury were left
empty, her paper deprecated and her
credit dshonored. These things being
of recent date, and well Remembered as
facts, it is believed that the causes of
them are not much inquired INTO, or
well understood outside of Texas. Only
the facts, rs they transpired are taken
| into the estimate. Tranquility and re-
pose, rather than renewed political agi-
tation following the accession of the
present administration to power, at
least for season, seems to me neces-
sary to Il restoration of confidence in
Texas, herpeople and government, and
u Scestablishment of her credit abroad,
and believe, in no inconsiderable de-
gree mt home. When conservatism,
which measures we'll the ground that
it treads, and estimates well the con-
sequences before it acts, rules the hour,
while the people of Texas may wish
that speedier progress could be made,
| have no fear but that they will
have an abiding confidence in the wis
dom and benetcence of ultimate re-
suits through measures which, tlough
slow, arc surely conducive to the pub
lie veal. Many hold that the admin
istration is pledged, by the platform on
which it came into power, to call n
convention. This is true literally; but
why call u convention? Certainly, the
assembly of the delegates in the capt.
toll in convention is not the result
sought to be attained. The formation
of constitution for Texas, acceptable
to her people, and in mode recog-
nized rs Legitimate and constitutional,
is the result, for the accomplishment
Of which 1t is said in the platform:
ave favor the call of convention"
etc., etc. Now, if that same result is
accomplished, il the sovereignty of the
people of 'rexas is invoked, and acts in
another mode, sanctioned by usage,
and by itself, in producing an instrp-
ment of organic law, the result de-
manded in the platform is accom-
plished, and the pledge redeemed In
substance and spirit. | would say to
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