The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-02-19

VIII state, first, TINT II h generally ad.
mltled by members OF thls body and
also by NE people at homie, TINT should
the Legislature see cause to chll q con-
yontlon that but little Legislation by
! this body would bc necessary, no more
Than Ia make appropriations TO meet
the necessary expenses of the govern
ment and pny the mileage and per diem
of the delegates TO snid convention,
and pass a few laws OF special import
aiice. Hence, the amount saved In the
per diem Of this Legislature would be
more Than sufficient 10 defray the ey-
ponses OF u constitutional convention.
presume h convention Would be the
cheapest way Of framing n constitution.
IN the first place II would save much
70 the state In the way Of the per diem
OF the present Legislature, II will be
the quickest and shortest way by which
10 get rid of many of the obnoxious
judges throughout the State, II would
save thousands of dollars 90 the state,
that will necessarily he expended IN
lmpoachmcnts and addresses. II will
save much by speedily reducing the
number Of tho judicial districts by
reducing the number Of the terms of
the district courts from three TO two
per annum. lt
Secondly, II reasonable to suppose
that not more than thirty days win be
consumed by n constitutional cOnvcn-
ton, composed of ninety members or
delegates, and that the cost 0fthis body,
composed of one hundred and twenty
mem bers for the same length Of time
will be more; and | assure you that
should we fnil 10 call n convention and
attempt TO proceed 10 address out the
Judges we have charges against, and
attempt TO legislate under the present
constitution, that we will be here more
than sixty days yet, aud at the end of
that time the demands Of the people
will not then be met. N.NN1
II IL argued that Il commission Is the
cheapest and best manner of framing a
constitution--that n few men, learned
In the law, can make II better const-
tuition than the delegates elected by
the people, | deny that II is the cheap
est for the reasons before stated, For
! the sake Of argument, however, we
admit the proposition that we can get
a better constitution; but let us anallze
this proposition: If il is the cheapest
and best manner to get the best consti-
tuition, then commission of men
learned In the criminal law will be the
cheapest mode Of making II criminal
code; and Il commission of men learned
In civil law VIII be the cheapest and
best way 10 ffame CIVIL laws. This ar
gument pnt into practical effect would
dlSband legislatures and build up an
intellectual arlstocmcy foreign to Re-
publican and Democratic government.
warn you, gentlemen Of the prece-
dent of commission. Admit that it
would be cheaper than II constitutional
convention. That is nothing. Are
the rights and liberties of the people to
be weighed against dollars and cents?
We claim to be democratic people,
Does not the formation of commits
sion SAVIOR Of Capitalization? Is il not |
n principle of democracy that all pow
en- is inherent in the people, and that
the people have right 10 change and
abolish their constitutions and make
new ones? But do the people frame
the constitution If II is made by q com
mission appointed by this Legislature?
No. II will not not be the people, nor
their agents; but the acts of an agent
created by an agent without the con-
sent of the principal.
fla commission can frame q oonsti-
tuition they can frame laws. Hence, l