The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-02-25

Tie hour for the special order, the con-
stitu,lonal convention bill, now arrived.
Inc Oil was taken up, pending a motion
OF Mr. Smith, Of Crimes, Tor its recon-
INITIAL
Mr. Denmsl offered a substitute pTovid-
ing for an election for delegates in June
ninety delegates, three from each Senate
rial district the vote to be sfar'' or
''sgainst" a convention; nearly Identical
with the blll introduced in the Senate Nv
/ Senator Cul6erson.
The Speaker decided the substitute out
of order uatil the motion pending should lie
disposed of.
Mr.. Lawhon was decidedly opposed to
recommitting the biz.
Mr. Brown, of San Saba, desired the clerk
of the House to read the Democratic address
prepared by the Democrat members of
Congress representing the South aud South
/ west, published in the Galveston Neles Of
! the nineteenth instant. The address hav-
/ ing been read, he advocated IN strong terms
recommittal, and reminded the members
that he was actuatcd by purely Democratic
/ principles, expressing his desire never to
| sec the bill returned to the House.
Mr.. O,Neal expressed his approval that
! TIC BGullcAldu udQ Sldlt0 Ills feelings
so freely and unreserVed. he liked to see
men come up and meet the issue squarely.
The question before this House was as to
| whether there should be a convention OF
not Would this Democratic Legislature
leave for the next Legislature to do what it
neglected
He was followed by Stuart, of Falls,
who spoke against reeommitting.
Mr. Mel cary said that he NvaS In favor of
q convention but desired to have the bill re-
ferred in order that it be clearly under
STOOD
Mr.. Sadler stated that he was not afraid
of the insignificant message Of the Presi-
dent. 1t was time TO get scared if little
feelers in the shape of such documents
were thrown out on the popular tide by
the Texas Democracy too. There was no
danger; could not be If our boosted consti-
tutional guarantees were not a myth. lie
advocated a convention straight, and at the
earliest date
He was followed by Mr.. Henderson. of
Smith, who said he was getting tired of
such thunder and lightning speeches, and
the result thereof. Thought that caution
was necessary, and that the advantages oc-
curing from a convention at this time
would not be in proportion to the risk of
getting in conflict with the Federal govern
ment.
Mr.. Delany said that he had always
been in favor of a convention, but to-day
he should vote against it. He warned the
House not to give the President a cause for
interference with our domestic affairs,
cause which he had reason to be-
lieve was wished for by him. There
is danger from the power IN the
White House uncomfortable by the Consti-
tuition. The President desires a third
term; there is no power to prevent it.
What if he should retain the position by
forcel They might protest as much as
they pleased. With subservient Senate
he has the power of an absolute monarch.
Even States in the North are pOwerless.
They only have the choice between submits
sion aud revolution. Two thousand mil
lions of property and a moneyed aristoc-
racy would prevent the latter. They
would crush us like an egg shell, but not
the President. He would and could not do
anything that would jeUpardize the people
of Texas, and advised to wait until the
danger had passed, the lion been curbed by
the people of the North.
A vote being taken on the motion to re-
commit, it was lost 10y vote of thirty
Also, a motion by Mr.. McLeary to post
pone the further consideration of the bill
until next Saturday by the same vote.
Pending a motion by Mr.. Helton to ad-
journ, Messrs. Stuart, of Falls, and Law
hon were added to the Finance Committee.
House adjourned until Monday $50 A. NJ.
MONDAY, February 20, 1875.
Roll called; quorum present.
~ -,
one day.
Mr.. Sayers was indefinitely excused on
account of sickness.
Mr.. McLeary asked leave to introduce a
bill providing for the erection of monu-
ment to the memory of Sam Houston and
an appropriation of $12,0 therefor. He
stated that he regarded this day, being
Washington's birthday, a proper one to
honor our heroes.
The bill having been read by the clerk,
Mr. McLeary rose and made the following
eloquent appeal:
Mr.. SpeGker-It would be an idle task in
me to stand here in the Legislature of
Texas, and pronounce an eulogy on that
hero, who may be truly said to have done
more than any other man to secure the
| liberties which our forefathers bequeathed
to US, and which we hope to transmit to our
children. His history is his eulogy. He
gave to Texas the best years of his life, and
left to her people the bright heritage of his
wisdom and his example for their guidance
in all time to come. Whatever may have
been his faults, they were like spots on the
sun-only serving to add new lustre to his
virtues. Though thousands of warm
friends remember, esteem and love HIM as a
man, it is as the patriot and hero that
Texas should regard her greatest chieftain.
Though years have rolled away since all
that was mortal of him was consigned to
the dust, yet he lies buried in the cemetery
at Huntsville, without stick or a stone to
show the spot which he chose as his last
resting place. It is debt which Texas
owes to the memory of that early and ardu-
Gus struggle, debt due to the comrades
who fought and fell around the hero of San
Jaointo, that this monument should be
built to one of the slgners Of the Declare
ton of Texan Independence, to the com
mander-in-chief of the Texan army, to the
President of the Texas Republic, to the
| honored representative of Texas in the Uni
ted States Senate, to the Governor Of the
Empire State of this Union, to the man and
hero who has made the name of Texas re-
spected wherever the ADglo-Saxon tongue
is spoken, both by his counsels in the Cabi-
net and his vaIor and genius on the field of
battle. It IS not alone on marble columns
that the name of Houston should be craven.
it should be chiseled on the hearts of Texas
patriots that they may never forget the soul
which animated that hero's breast and the
hefculean arm which flung from his god
like fingers the 'sLone Starr on its meteoric
fight toward its prond station in the zenith,
there to remain the brightest orb that CLOVIS
in the great American constellation. This
\ stone wien erected VIII be bur Hrol1en OF
remembrance and gratitude. Texas her
self, as long as she stands forth among the
sisterhood OF States, sovereign and free, will
be his monument and to her as well as 10
his memory We say estO Perpctua.
Mr.. Watts objected, and moved that the
bill be referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Simpson desired to know why this
reference should be made; the provisions of
the act were plain.
Mr.. Watts replied that. an apuropriation