The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-05
shall the Constitution be Submit.

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To the Editor of the Dallas Herald:
The ACCESSIBILITY of submitting to
the people the Constitution for ratiiica-
ton has not heretofore heen questioned;
but however startling the proposition
may be of not submitting this instru-
ment, it IN, nevertheless, one that de-
mands the most profound considera-
ton. The first question necessary to
be determined Is Ms to whether the Con-
stitution is required 10y the law calling
IL into existence to submit its work for
ratification; and, secondly, if not sub
mitted, il this proposed Constitution
valid, and to be recognised rs the SUI
preme organic law? In answer to the
first query, it is manifest, from crit-
cal examination Of the law creating it,
that the Convention is not required to
submit the Constitution for ratificn-
ton, and, If we might be permitted
inferentially to grasp the purpose of
the Legislature, it would seem that this
body did not contemplate this submis-
sion--and this view IL strengthened,
from the fact that the proposition OF
Convention or no Convention was
first submitted to the people and the
call for Convention carried and dele
gates elected thereto. First, we have
the people ordering n Convention to
assemble, then electing delegates
thereto empowered to frame the Con-
stitution; but nowhere do we find
them evincing desire to have this
Constitution submitted, nor do we find
their representatives requiring such
submission--and the people not SO
evincing n desire, nor the Legislature
not recurring this submission, the only
Legitimate inference Is that submis-
sion was not intended, and is wholly
unnecessary to the validity of the in-
| strument rs our organic law.
Thus 1t appears that the Convention
are masters of the situation, and that
1t remains with them To submit or not
submit the Constitution--that if they
frame Constitution and solemnly
pronounce " to 'be the Constitution,
II becomes In fact and I'm truth our or.
ganic law, without further affirmation
on the part OF the people. II these
premises be true, then Il ques.
ton Of political expediency pre-
sents itself, which 1t buhoOyes
W to discuss, and that question Is III to
the policy of submitting this instru-
ment for ratification.
Would not such submission be dan
gerous, and result possibly in an over
throw of the instrument 2
We know that II Is not the policy of
this Convention to favor railroads.
that II IL likely to enact exceedingly
stringent provisions respecting them
provisions, which, being obnoxious,
and the opportunity being offered,
these powerful organizations would
not hesitate TO undertake to defeat.
Thus we have arrayed against Its
confirmation the railway power of the
State.
1t Is morally certain that an usury
clause will be inserted in the Consti-
tuition limiting interest to II per cent.
This provision IL obnoxious to the
banks and money lenders of the State,
and the vast influence of their capital
Will be used against ratification.
In these hard times offices In this
State which acknowledgement the in
cumbents are not sacrificed to patriot
ism, and the consequence Is that Sher-
ifis, District. Clerks and Justices of the
Peace who have yet two years to en-
Joy their offices would exert the very
large local Influence that they possess
to defeat confirmation.
Judges Of the District and Criminal
courts are adverse to being ousted
from honorable and lucrative positions
aud will not willingly promote their
own ruin. The Republican element
IN the State holding itself massed UNI
der the unanimous advice OF bold and
able leaders, will to u man vote against
ratification; and when we combine
with railroads, bankers, usurers and
Office holders, the scattering vote of
that element which might dislike and
thus oppose through principle certain
provisions Of the Consultation, and su-
per-add to this the solid shot OF the
Republican party Differed by such
leaders rs Pease, bell, Norton, Davis,
Flanagan and Hamilton, the result Is
calculated to cause the gravest renec-
ton.
AZ the ranger from some mountain
peak gazes into the far distance for the
curling smoke OF hostile lodges, and
reports to his captain the result of his
observations, 10 we, from our watch
tower, glance abroad over the intlu.
ences now moulding the destiny OF our
State, and report to the people, the
source OF oil power, the indications OF
"a swiftly gathering storm, q storm
which II rests with them to invite Of