The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-19

Says the B,mhm.s N,scs
The. people Of T.xzs asas. .llsa...l..l
constltusiunai conNentsiih--nia i,ini snln
mission Of fflfes or tween pes-,ns. nor 4
patching up Of The present PIC l,at,i tiocu-
ment which experience teaches a. 80, ~.
construed to mean ANYTHING. while I,
abouHds in as many vague aud conHictins
sections as there were co,orS in Josrnh,s
coat ~
Texas once had Stale C,nstisption az
which sue might well bc prOud-a Consti-
satlon pronounced BY Daniel Webster s.the
nest OF any State in the Union.1 Let US
return 20 nrst prlnciples-aive as Consti-
tuition republican in form one which -.
cognizes the sovereignty az the neonle
which says so on its face. ana ,,,,g,r ,-l,;..b
tine laws can and viii be adninislere,3 v;,b.
out regard 10 the interest Of any narfv I'M
for the whole people. 5 So
The clap-trap hue and CRY Of sseoonomr
sretrenchment, etc., sOuncisvefv nice c.,,3
II being used with advantageous results. I'M
when we calmly consider the Interests ~
stake and the objects TO be attained, wedo
not hesitate for a moment 'scheap John
Consultation in ours, If you please
The GeorgetoRn Record contains an able
article IN favor of constitutional conyen-
tion, from which We make the followingex-
BY The hin OF rights the Constitution is
to declare what rights Of the people arr re-
served, and shall not be toncllssl by any de-
partnIeHt Of the goveFnmea, Would Il not
be monsfrous that two OF those departments
should appolnt men ~ determine what
those rights shall beg Does not the Whole
- r. ~ 4. a..
aud the Govemor, through the instrument
tality OF their appointces, to prescribe and
define their own powers, and 20 determine
what the reserved nights Of The people
shall be. - ley.
Il is no eandid answer to shy that the pce-
pie may reject the Constitution when sub
mitted TO them; for IN justice 10 them
selves unless It be worse than the present
One-they will be forced 10 accept It; and
they ought not to be forced to choice Of
evils.
But whence will the Governor, or Lcgis-
latnre, or both, derive the power to frane,
or cause to be framed, a Constitution, 10 be
Submitted TO the people, Il IS certainly
not in the Constitution itself, unless il re-
sides in The article providing for amend
ments. And il this is claimed, then the
manner Of amendment is clearly prescribed,
and must 10 follOwed-and this involves at
least two years delay, during which time
the Constitution in spite of the declared
viii of the people, must remain unchanged.
Il is an inherent power OF government.
Then the right of self-government means,
that those who are in Office may rightfully
compel the people either to submit to what
ever Constitution such officials may choose
to give them, or continue to endure the
evils under which they suffer.
TnE Marshall BulletiH contains leading
editorial Of marked ability advocating
Constitutional Convention. The following
extract exhibits its animus:
We believe that q convention should be
called to frame new Constitution. Because
our present Constitution is not only radically
defective and bad, but having been framed
and adopted By Radical power, il is not
adopted TO our present condition and Is not
such as the free people Of q sovereign State
demand. Because we believe it will prove
the most satisfactory way to the people. i
is purely Democratic In its nature, and In
conformity with the twelfth article Ia Our
platform. a new constitution being neces-
airy, the sooner IL is adopted the better, and
the means or manner the most expeditions
consistent with the public interest, Is GER
tainlv the best This can be done by n
coEyention better than by any other plan
now proposed The plan Of appointing
commission Of given number Of Semi
tors and Representatives, is enc which we
cannot sanction, nor do we think that the
constitution authorizes any such course.
The legal and constitutional idea aud intent
OF an amendatory clause only confers the
authority, and prescribes the manner by
IL ~
tuition may be altered or amended, Ibut re-
quires that the body and spirit Of the Origi-
nal instrument shall be preserved. There
is no law or constitutional provision which
authorizes the appointment Of a s'commis-
sion" to frame new constitution. An in
strument which is proposed as q substitute
for another, cannot by any parliamentary
rule, be considered as an amendment 10 the
original.
THE Cleburne Chronicle speaks out upon
the subject Of constitutional convention.
We copy an extract from its able editorial:
The proposition before our Legislature to
commission a committee OF fifteen 70 draft
Constitution for the State shows not only
an inexcusable disregard for the win and
wishes Of their constituents, but it Is
breach Of faith on the part Of those mem
bers who favor Il. Not only 50, but Il Is an
insult to the people TO urge that fifteen men,
however wise, arc better qualified TO frame
Constitution that viii be acceptable to the
people than Is a popular convention. Con-
sidering the circumstances with which our
Legislators are surrounded, the proposition
Is pfesumptuoiIs, higl-handed, and smacks
too much Of "Iladicalisticn practices. They
are not only pledged 20 cali a convention.
bnt were elected for that purpose. They
were not elected 70 frame q Constitution.
This was nowhere mentioned IN the con-
tract, nor even thought Of.