The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-21

meh m the subjects embfacod IN NJ
lltnl H. provisions should le general, |
~ ilni Legislation under u may have
Scope vide enough IA meet all tie eSi.
pcielps aud changes likely ~ occur ~
II growing aud expanding society. our
present constitution has not been IN
npily termed M omnibus bill, contain
lnR spo ,inl legislation on almost every
subject, and II N for this reason that Ut
every turn In your efforts Ia enact de.
alrnhle laws you are met and stopped
by some of Its provisions. Legislation
should iind no place In n constitution.
our legislatures meet for the purpose
of enacting laws. Constitutions are or
dained To limit and define the powers
of the government, and to guide II In
making aud executing laws. When
ever the maker of II constitution de-
scends In ordinary legislation, he
plants In the instrument the seeds of
It's destruction, and does that which |
will surely render change necessary. |
II will he found universally true that
those state constitutions which con-
tain the smallest number of proyi-
sions, which adhere most closely to
fundamental declarations, and to the
fixing simply of boundaries, leaving
the interior to be filed by the enact
ments of the legislatures, have been
the wisest and most enduring. A law
enacted ut this session of the legisla-
ture, which proves, on trial, to be bad,
may be repealed ut the next, but put
in the constitution, and it must be sub
mitted to possibly, for years, and I'M
til the sovereignty of the state is
aroused Many OF the vices of our
present consultation can be cured by
t simply dropping out obnoxious clauses,
and leaving the subject matter of them
to be dealt with by the legislature. In
order to provide against too frequent
recurrence of the necessity for change
in the constitution, | suggest that the
{ amendments should not be so restric-
= tive, but that much should be confided
to the discretion of the law-making
4 department of the government. AS
. before remarked, we do not ourselves
e understand as yet, the changes which
A have been wrought among us, by the
5 events of the past few years; and the
n government should have room and
e verge enough to meet and provide for
: developments and eXigencies, which
d our new surroundings and conditions
G may bring about. A constitution coli
f structed of principles which do not
change, but which leaves to the gov.
e eminent it creates, power to expand
: and adapt itself to the changes which
q are constantly occurring, is what we
II need.
d Having clear convictions of the pro-
priety aid policy of proposing amend
If ments to the constitution, which shall
e be thorough, and cover the whole
= ground, earnestly recommend thai
II your honorable bodies, without further
= delay, proceed to prepare them.
n Very Respectfully,
# RICHARD COKE.
IL Whereupon, Mr.. McLeary offered
le concurrent resolution that the house o
s. representatives, the senate concurring
y that special joint committee be ap
IS pointed, composed of five members
@ from each house, to frame and presen
It to the legislature new constitution
e by way of amendments on the plan
IT suggested by the governor, and tina
t. the message be referred to that com
Ii mittee. Adopted.
e The speaker appointed the followin!
If committee, on the part of the house
,e to frame and present the Legislature ;
system of amendments to the consti
IS tuition, in accordance with the message
a of the governor on this subject: Nc
Is Leary, Harris, Epperson, Reeves, De
II laney, Rainey and Simpson.