The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-05

Is this not plainl

VI tcJ SCS4ts
Is this not plaini
Now let us briefly glance at the facts.
The next Representative election takes
place in November, 1875, and the Legisla-
ture which is invested with final action in
the premises meets in January following
(1s76) two years from the present time.
We are told by tho Gazette of yesterday
that delay amounts to nothing, as the Dem
ocratie party is in power, and we have pa
raded before us the enormous expense of a
constitutional convention, which that paper,
m its usual crude way, estimates at quarter
of million of dollars. Why Wilt cost that
large sunni By what course of arithmetlcal
reasoning has our wise contemporary come to
snch aconclusionl II we mistake not, the
highest mark ever reached by any constitu-
tional convention held under Democratic
Auspices has not reached 500, 900, and
nnder the pressure Of the times and that
spirit Of patriotism with which the people
arc imbued is there not every reason to be-
lieve the cost would be much less1
Now, the next question arises is, what
would be savedi
There are thirty-fye Judicial districts in
this State, created simply to put Radicals
in Office, when far less number are neees-
sarv Thax. co,rl-a- be very we'll reduced To
twenty, and perhaps to fifteen. A CORE
spondent of the Jefferson Magnet, estima-
ting the reduction to twenty, shows that
there would be clear saving to the State,
in one year, of $4,000; in tworycars
$3.50, 0O0., But this is only one item, as viii
beshown by members of both Houses when
the question comes up for discussion, and
that the saving to the State within tho two
gears will approximate, If it does not OK
coed, $3.50, 600.
The Constitution points out no mode OF
its amendment or revision, except in Fthe
section we have qnoted, and hence we must
abide the two years or strike boldly Tor a
convention. Which is the wiser course2
Docs not wisdom point to US to get rid OF
the entire eumbrous Radical machinery,
with its coruptionsi Ofthe judges now IN
Office, how many of them are worthy Six
Of them are now under Indictment for high
crimes and mis5emeanors, in which bribery
figures copspicuously.
The proposition to reduce the number Of
districts, and thus legislate corrupt and IN
competent judges out Of Office docs not
strike US as practicable, The Constitution
requires courts to be held in each county
three times each year. II this provision is
complied With. but little reduction can be
made in the number Of districts. Kindred
to this, is a suggestion to remove these Off
GERS who. are incompetent and corrupt, by
address or impeachment. This would en-
tail very heavy expense, and prolong the
session indefinitely. Is it unreasonable to
believe that the cost attached to this move
mcnt would not be even greater than That
likely 10 DO incurred by holding constitu-
tional eonventionl
Aud in addition to ali these considera-
tions which we consider unanswerable,
Che Democratic State Convention, at which
there were eight hundred and fifty dele
gates fresh from the people and Represent
ING the entire State, unanimously passed the
subiolned resolution: 1--WE favor the eall-
ing Of constitutional convention By our
next Leeislature.n
Il It can be shown thst there are reasops
which outweigh those We have given, or
thst the Legislature has any election in the
promises, vc would ike FOR them to Be
giten. So far as expression has been given
u public opinion, It has been almost unani-
nous IN favor OF 3 constitutional convens