The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-09
DALLAS. TEXAS.
TUESDAY MORNING ::::; NOV. o.
THE CONVENTION.

Sixty-three days have elapsed since
the eventful 9th ofSeptember when the
present Constitutional Convention be-
gan Its session. Ushered into exist
ence by the apathetic vote of people
who scarcely realized the momentous
power they were comforting, nor the
changes necessary to be wrought, this
body In common with all legislative
assemblies in these later days, has re-
ceived from the people who created 1t
the fullest measure of abuse, coupled
with much wilful or ignorant misrep-
representation from the press. While
we concede the fact that this body has
moved somewhat leisurely, excepting
q few spasmodic efforts at diligence,
and has possibly evinced some lack of
judgment In some instances, yet we
are not at all prepared, in the dis
courteous language of the Sherman
Register, to pronounce it u fraud, nor
to concur with the Houston 16leN'dph
In its reflections upon the body. No
assemblage including the names of
men of the acknowledged ability of
William =. Ballinger, John ii. Rea-
gan, Edward b. Pickett, George Flour
noy, Charles S. West, John l..
Henry, Fletcher s. Stockdale, Dohony,
Crawford, Ferris, and others of such
practical ability as Colonel Ed. Cham
bers, Major John Henry Brown, Gen
eral s. l.. Ross, General Whitfield,
Waelder, King and Others, can fail to
embody the profoundest craftsmanship
with thatintimate knowledge oforgan-
ic law 80 indispensable to the rightlul
performance of the great work before
them. We cannot pronounce these
men frauds. We cannot agree with
many Of our contemporaries that they
are revolutionists and have usurped
transcendental powers. We are very
far from saying that they are not earn
estly, conscientiously and faithfully
dlscharging the highest trust that a
State can confer upon its citizens
that of framing its supreme law.
While we may regret that its mea-
sures seem somewhat restrictive, and
that the newly fledged Constitution OF
Missouri has served for their model tC
u greater extent than we deemed de-
sirable, yet dare not condemn such
men rs are there assembled, without
3 an acknowledgment of our utter dis
belief In human Integrity, and in that
lofty patriotism and exalted sense OF
honor which we cannot but feel has
not departed from the bosom of South
R ern men.
There is much material in the Con
vention that had best remained n
home--men whose extreme want o
judgment and very moderate abilit,
wholly unfit them for the position
they accidentally occupy, and which
1t is to be hoped, they will never occu
by again. II Is to this dema
gogical element, which too coniidin.
and humbugged people have, doubt
less to their sorrow, unfortunatel,
elected, that this consumption of tim,
Is to be attributed-shallow Drained
drivelers, who introduce foolish ant
time-consuming resolutions in orde
to see their names in print and to i'm
press their deceived constituency will
the belief that they are earnestly a
work for their good. This elemen
cannot be kept out of popular assem-
blies In republican governments, an,
they are necessary evil that mus
needs be tolerated.
We said in the inception Of this arti
Gle that the Convention had been il
session sixty-three days. Their pc
diem to date, then, preslIming a full
quota of ninety present, Is S2S,35O
add to this the per diem of about lively,
officers amounting to $3.50, mileag,
and contingent expenses, $4,000, an,
we have grand total of $47, l30-no
one half the amount appropriated by
the Fourteenth Legislature for thei
use. These men are trying to do thei
duty, and arc doing IL fearlessly ant
measurably well, and If THE HERALI
can assist in unfolding their hands in
the thankless and laborious tasl,
imposed upon them, we propose to dc
1t; and we beg to say TO them that we
have not lost faith in their honor as
men nor In their integrity as our rep
reeentatives. -40a