The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-07

ELEVEN.
The President appointed the following
gentlemen as said committee: Messrs
Flournoy, Dohoney, Ford, FIemmins
King, West, Barnett, Weaver, Ross, Cards
md Mills
Executive Committee. win notice same
N full tomorrow.
MIR. Dohoney, chairman of Committee on
Suffrage, made q report that all persons
years. of age and possessing the
necessary qualifications should be allowed
to vote, and recommending payment of
poli-tsx as necessary prerequisite.
Mr.. Renfro made minority report, from
same committee, protesting against the pay
meut of State, county and poIl-tax.
Mr.. Russell of Harrison presented an or
dinance relieving the citizens of the late
overfnwed districts from the payment of
taxes for the year 1873, and asking that
committee of seven be appointed TO con-
slider the matter.
Mr.. Russell of Wood moved that it be
referred to Committee on Revenue and
Taxation. Adopted.
Mr. Kilgore presented resolution that
the pages of the Convention be allowed So
a day. -
Mr.. Erhard presented resolution that the
State retain q bureau of immigration. Re
ferred to COMMITTEES on Immigration.
Mr.. Stockdale submitted some additional
rules for the government of the Convention.
Adopted.
Mr.. Erhard presented a resolution that
the property of the wife shall remain her
separate property; that she can buy, sell
and make contracts; but that her property
shall be subject to sale for debts contracted
by her.
Mr.. Whitfield made report from Com
mittee on Education.
Mr.. SAMSON presented a minority report
on Education, claiming that the Education
of children was private and individual
matter, and that the State had no right to
tax one class of citizens for the benefit of
Others. The minority report was signed by
Messrs. SAMSON, Holt, Durham and Cooke
of San Saba.
Mr.. Whitfield moved that 200 copies of
the articles proposed by both minority and
majority be printed and make special order
for Tuesday. 10 A. NJ.
Mr.. Ford moved to amend by inserting
400 copies" Amendment accepted and
the original resoluion, as amended, was
adopt E
Under resolution heretofore adopted,
calling on the Adjutant General for infor
nation, he reported that the information
asked for could not be compiled and laid
before the Convention before their ad journ-
ment.
Mr.. King moved that the report be re-
ferred to the Committee of eleven appointed
this morning on frontier matters. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Martin of Navarro, Mr..
Martin of Hunt was added to said special
committee.
Mr.. King moved that 100 copies of the
report and such tabular statements as were
made 10y the Adjutant General, be printed.
Lost.
On motion of Mr.. Russell of Wood, Mr..
PAUL. was added to the Committee on I'M
migration.
In response to a resolution of tie Con-
vention, calling for an estimate of the ex-
penses of the Land Office, the Commission
er replied, that, the expense for the present
fiscal year had been about $4,000, but that,
hereafter, the expense would be less, as
there had been a great amount of business
to be transacted this year, that there would
be no necessity for hereafter.
The next business was the further con-
sideration of the Legislative department.,
the question being on the amendment to
Section fifty-one, 'that the Legislature
shall not grant money, public lands, or
anything of value"
Mr.. Stockdale spoke against the amend
ment, and told the Convention how the
West had suffered for want of railroads,
while at the same time they had always
paid their full share of taxes, and assisted
in the support of the government equal to
any other section.
Mr.. King made an able and eloquent APP
peal against the amendment. He said it
had been the policy of the State to grant
aid to works of internal improvement, and
now, when the West is still lacking the
conyeniences that other sections possess, it
is now coolly proposed to crush out the
principle of granting aid to works of inter
nal improvement. He said he would say
in all earnestness and kindness, and with
out meaning it as a menace, that if this
policy were pursued, the State would be
+ divided. The West had suffered long
enough, and his people were restless. He
loved Texas with all the devotion of his
heart and would be panied beyond meas
ure, If this great and glorious State, with
all her hallowed memories of the past, were
divided. He desired to sound the alarm in
time, and prevent, if possible, such sad
catastrophe. He was panied to know that
this amendment was Introduced by a
member from the west (NIr. Arnin). He
had listened attentively to the address of
Mr.. Mccormick on yesterday, to hear him
advance SINGLE argument in support of the
amendment. Mr.. Darrell had said that not
a single railroad had been built by State aid.
He (Mr, King) would venture the assertion
that not Ia single railroad had been built in
this State without such aid
Mr.. Lynch followed Mr.. King. He said
you can take our land, and leave US out OF
the advantages you possess, but you can
never take from us the hallowed memories
of the Goliad and the Alamo, where Travis
and his $50 comrades fell in defense of theiI
blessed Texas.
Mr.. Mccormick said he appreciated the
honesty of the members who had proceeded
him, but he was, as a member from the
west, opposed to sluandering the public
domain on railroads, but desired it should
be given to public schools. He asked mem
bers to be not at all alarmed ut the ''bloody
shirt" held over their heads by the mem
bers who had preceded him. Western
Texas was as loyal as any other portion oil
the State, and had no idea of severing the
''Lone Starr with all her great and glorious
present and the hallowed memories of the
past m nav, ~, "a
Mr.. Lockett said he represented an hon
est and generous people, who desired to
extend all the benefits possible to the west.
He said this had been a compact between
the east and west, and could not in good
faith, be broken. Many of his colleages
from the west had travelled nearly all
the entire State to get here. He had come
to this State about twenty years since, an'
had travelled nearly all the way by rail, but
it was such a rail as he did not desire to
travel by again-it was q rail prlzing stages
out of the mud at nearly every step. The
proposition of Mr.. Mccormick to give the
public lands to schools was q subterfuge.
Mr.. Flournoy spoke against the amend
ment. He said railroads had been bless
ing to the State. They had brought Immi-
grants and settled up places that had been
Tut barren waste. Were lands increased
in value by the advent of railroads? Would
the tax assessor and collector assess lands
djacent to railroads at the same price he
would before the railroad came No sir.
He was asked if it was wrong to slow
Legislatures to squander the public domain
Il .sEf n n -