The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-03-05
speech o. iIsR.g VI. 3. SayeI~ on the Con-
ssitatlonal Commission, Delivered IN
the Houso % Representatives, Rebru-
AIRY, 1874.

speech Of aIsn.gNs D.. Sayel~ on the Con-
sGitatlonAl Commission, Delivered Ia
she Houso Of Representatives, Febru-
AIRY, 1874.
The House having nhier ccnsidcrsiiou the majority
report q the Commitice Constitutional Amend.
menls TecQnmcntinga counmisiun :" fraine Consul.
NJ Sselisss-it hss seemed to nc. Tor some time
past that the prinCipzl subjects that should nrt a.
s4ge the attention % The Foaricenth iesirlainle,
were frsi the Iassagc u bill Cor the reicf q the
financial condiou q tho State and then tht requisite
legislation 20 enable thc people % TEXAS q obtain
new Constitution charter 81 their liberties IN &C
cofdaoeo with their geiius and tastes and the onward
may b. the decision OF this nousc a. 20 The best
n.eisd 81 accomplishing this great end. 60 y stall
oheerfallS bow. But slF, opposed 70 the passagc
q iais hili which 4 IN effect thai lhe Governor and
the legis.turO shall appoint committee ~ flccn,
Who shall frame Constellation which shall be noni
nally submiIted 60 the pesl for as,lion Or rtjcciian
but which, Ia fact shall b imposed on them whether
tive wen negative voice in framing hclr organic
law and any measure that would deny the people the
assertion OF this high preroatiye. 3 gross nsurla
ton and TREASON 10 thellbcres Of frcemen do nol
think that L wii be assuming too much % say that
door, that the powers az Legislature specific ~
well as limited and that an powers which this iegsla-
tase can rgaiuly exercise are derived from the Con
Where, then. In the Constitution. can be found the
power which authorizes the passage OF this measure
Surely Il cannot be claimed 20 reside In thar article
OF the Constitution providing tor amendments, Tor
tSsx s sss require TIVE yeaF. delay g y ssS ~
ratified by thirds OF the succeeding Legislature
apder ne nresSt NJ ~ ,,st semIaahl
CONFUSION % evil ana oppressive cnactmcnts that ever
sio5 she =. % history 2, any sce
sttuton declares that, 20 guard against transgfe7
that eysryISns IL his I'M ~ Ss h Sxesp.s ont q
nc GENERAL powers Of government, and shall forever
The fooWine nrsSsos AZ shs Se voia Yet 6S This
measure. the startling doctrine & announced that the
/ determined VIII he mae
people should bean thai only be done BY the
people through their deiecaes chosen Tor this pur.
pose IN solemn convention esseunblei Never never
was there more dangerous and insidions attack on
sion rost S p,,p, ~ s' sih 49, h,,.n. ~
the people and should be controlled by them IN t,lr
be entrusted with unless specially seleesed By the
What is h. Mr.. spcascs thar r. 10 define ana limit
the authority OF the executive and legislative branches
Then do Insist that il Is not fair right or honcst that
this authority shoad De entrusted 10 the apponiecs OF
those whose authority Is 10 bo thus defined ana
Is It fair Mr. speaker, too, that tose whose powers
are 10 be abridged and determined, should arfogae 20
sp m 5es a a 2. s ssy Now
candidly submit 70 all right.minded men, that this
~ N be pesl ts e ma tbe governor
through the agency Of those whom they appoint 20 de
hne their own powers and 10 declare what the reserved
| rights OF the people shall be.
Its no fair answer 70 say that the people viii have
the right to vote on tho Constitution that tins high
commission may make, and caa reject Il Il they see
proper because they win feel mpclied 70 accept Il
less 1t Is worse one than the present and ought
not to force them to decide between choice Of evils
And again repeat that Is the Inherent and nalena
don; aye Mr.. Speaker not only 10 have negative
voice but an Affirmative win In saying what public ser
wants shall be delegated 10 perform this high aud most
solemn duty. It Is their right 70 have an the great
questions and issues that are likely 70 come before
~ o me VIEW ~ capdidsts an these suse
and 70 instruct them by their vote AZ the ballot box
|
country the extraordinasy spectacle % Legislature
the Executive OF this State with power to appoint
committee OF fifteen learned individuals % freme
constitutional Fifteen men not elected by the people,
and responsible TO nobody for their acts, and yet draw
ing eight dollars day Of the peoples money.
II the advocates OF this measure on the score OF
economy, think that the remarkable number of fifteen
are better able TO make Const tnton than thirty.
sixty. ninety members elected by the people, why
S sfss not the people elect convention Of nie'n men"
The preamble Of the platform Of the Democratic
party announces 20 the world that we The Democracy
Of Texas, In convention assembled, relying the viz
o 1q and o5y nocv and ss M, hem he e,
nlar approval Yet no sooner We elected repre-
sentafives Of the people with the e press understand.
ing that convention should be called than We say 10
thepeOple that you have not sufficient virtue and IN
tel1gence 70 exercise that Inherent aud inalienabe
and which cannot be committed TO any power Whatever
the right TO frame the Consultation for themselves, and
TO place inst such provisions therein them may
seem meet and proper BY delegates Of their own selec.
ton whom they are willing oentrnst with this matter
OF framing government under which they 10 live
The Fourteenth Legislature has no right to deprive
the people Of Texas Of tins great right. Il il an as
sumption OF power and tends 70 GENERALIZATION and ut
with the Fundamental principles Of republican gov
II does seem to me. Mr.. Speaker. when the Demo-
cratic convention assembled III Austin last September
composed Of eight hundred and ATTY delegafes and
i dissenting voice that we fayer the calling OF COZ
stitunona convention BY our next Leelsaiurep that
mission 70 frame new organic law, In terms that
could not be misunderstood. We WeEt beforetthe
thousand majority and upon II every Democratic
member on this no0F elected. BY every principle
| platform, and should make good The promises thal
| were solemnly made. The oDly argument have heard
on the State would be TOO great. No appreciates
more deeply than do the financial condition Of fhe
by the people, and the cxpediency or nexepdiency
conyeniionia not 10 be urged. Bat those who on
ventiop OF thirty, from each senatorial dstrri
would hardly cost than hfteen or twenty fhOu-
day for thirty days would cost bot $500
II mistake not the cost Of the convention OF 1864
bes and had 10 gFappe with issues arising ou Oh tho
war, less than $4,000. and may We not believe
patriotism with which tbs people are iI1bned The cost
would be much less. NY colleague from Caldwell
minds me that the Radical convention ~ 1863 cost
$SloO but they sat almost year, and went fn be-
yond the province Of constitutional convention into
that convention elected BY The real voters Of Texas
would do more than provide organle law with specific
Consultation Of 1915 under which the people on Texas
lived 90 happily for so long period, wi.h such amend
people within hfteen days, and such a convention
would not be fifteen men selected BY the Legislature
from the hearts and minds Of the people from The sa
blne 20 the RIO Grande from Red River 10 the Gill;
representing every section and every interest Of tbs
great and growing commonwealth.
Why, sir are Constitutions like Jobs % Be let OF 70
the lowest bdderi Never before have heard 90 m0-
sirous and startling doctrine advanced. II cost the
stitufon, but she had three hundred doicqnlcs and
they sat three OF four mopfhs. Bat. cir II Il had cost
her S4,0oo,0oo, she would net have complained, a.
redeemed her from the oppression 81 huge and rasu-
ing monopolies that have 70 long weighed her down
can foreBee the dangerous consequences 81 such pre-
cedentf legslature IN the future, n this commits
non idea prevails may a. any time manuiaclufe with
out order Constitution for the people Of Texas ana
force II upon them.
But We are spending more money sitting here discus
sing THE question d constitutional convention ard
impeaching and addressing ont judges, than COZ
yenflon would cost There are now foarteen JUDGES
and addresses have been drawn, believe Who can
innate the cost q twenty cents mile sWarms %
10000 win not cover the cost. was one 81 tn
managers in the case Of the state aesin.t John q.
cot reached 5000. Bedei re e ss eo.l =
these imDeachnentg and addresses the session " this
IN Nav On june and IS N Zen sed tlst Il colt ~
| people ~ Texns over e1oc0 per day lof each and
every day thai Ee st here 4of = ie ~
these Judges could BE- got Fld d, and judiciary Oh
tanned the district bench IN whose integrity AID
ave jndlea distrcfs that could Be Fedbced - twenty
which would save the State IN year e55oo and ~
ss s n court year iii soaId ssye them iessy
expenze and great ineonyenience.. They ~ Hqfelt.
49, n.- .t..c - - =, - ~ -, -
ana desre 20 return 70 ne Oh mefho4 ~ HoIisR q
roeos k Enln9 te 80. ~ ~. $3.50 ,, Q. re