The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-02-03
TAelailg
ID. McCALER. Editor.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

mltteo on Constitutional Amendments,
IL opposed 10 calling n convention to
form n constitution, and layors the ap-
polntment of u commission OF i've,
seven or nine men 10 draft one, ana
submit II TO the people for ratlllcalion'
Ifutlned by the people, II willbecome
their net. Very true. But what voice
will the people have In forming it?
The alternative would be arbitrarily
presented TO the people thus: Take
this work Of Ave men appointed for
mot elected by you-yotc this consti-
tuition they have made, or continue to
live under the detesied constitution
forced on you by Radicals and bayo-
nets IN 1860. IL Is the precise principle
and modus operandl of 1869. Then the
cry was ooh II Is n vilalnous consti-
tuition, but we can only ESCAPE military
rule by adopting 1t, Let us swallow
the bitter pill now, and as soon as our
rights are restored, the people can
make n new constitution through Il
convention of their own choosing"
Was not that the way In which the
present Radical constitution was forced
down the Threats of the people In 1869"
We repel the idea that any appoint
ed commission Of men, whether five
or seven, should be clothed with that
high exercise of sovereign power
evoked in the formation Of an organic
constitution for million of free peo-
pie. 1t Is at war with the very initial
principle of republican government.
II was suggested and canvassed as
then dernier resort by the last Legisla-
ture, and, after being considered was
cast aside.
On tho contrary, the constitution
should be framed by the largest practi-
cable representation of the people. 1t
Is fashionable to say that II body of
thirty or sixty can legislate more wise
ly than n larger body. Admit for ar
guments sake, that this is true. Yet
the rule does not apply to the deliber-
ations of constitutional convention,
for the good reason that II does not en-
gage in miscellaneous legislation, but
stands charged with single duty, the
formation eff a constitution which shall
embody the best rules, principles, limi-
tations and machinery of government
to guarantee the protection Of life,
property, liberty and happiness. We
undertake to say that the great vot-
ing majority of the people UNI
derstand, appreciate and desire
these things as well and as much as
men in the learned professions. Then
the true democratic-republican doc
trine on the subject is, to have large
assemblage of delegates, chosen by the
people themselves, from all parts of
the State. The seaport interest is one
the vast stock-raising interest is an
other-the untold lumber interest Of |
the east is another-the iron interest of |
the northeast is another-and the vast |
coal and copper interest of the north
west is another-iivc great distinct in
terests which may be considered more
or less sectional in character. Then
comes in with these the agricultural
interest common to the whole State
the question of internal Improvement,
of immigration, the judiciary, the
county tribunals, the general subject of
corporations and monopolies, the
drainage of our means by foreign in
surance companies and Others of great
moment, which may be considered as
common to all-the whole supple
mented by the life and death question
of frontier protection.
We hold that convention to insure
full expression to the popular will and
secure n wise and durable constitution,
with Judlcious concessions, checks and
balances, the whole resting in the
hearts of a great people as THEIR CON-
sTITUTIoN, should be composed of one
hundred and twenty members-onef for
each senator and representative. Then
we shall have an organic law, sprung as
nearly as practicable in representa-
tive form of government, from the
brains and hearts of the people them
selves. When such an instrument
shall be ratified by the people, of their
own free will and accord, it will stand
as pillar of light, guarded by the ,
hearts of those by whom it was made,
and for whose welfare and happiness !
it was intended
We want no star chamber constitu-
ton forced on US again as n choice of !
evils. We are free people, possess
ing the same rights of self-government
and modified sovereignty as Pennsyl-
'ania, which has lately made u consti-
'utlon to protect her people against
vast and corrupt monopolies-as Ohio, !
which is now framing new constitu-
lion; the same as Massachusetts or any
other State. We claim no more. Then ..
ct us exercise the right, the blood !
bought right, as becometh an enlight- l
'ned and patriotic people, proud of !
heir history and jealous of their honor, :
and never abandon our manhood by !
ielegating our most sacred rights to a /
of men, however learned !
and pure, who are of our own selec- |
ion. ,,
HOLLOW HORN" AND ITS TREAT. |,