The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-02-11

Mr.. sadler offered . special JOINT resOlu-
ton, asking a committee Of seven TO re-
port By bill, OF otherwise, upon that part Of
the Governors message ia regard TO
special cOnstabnlary force 10 aid the civil
authorities IA certain cases Adopted, and
the following committee appointed: Messrs.
Sadler, Storey, MunsOn, Miller, Epperson,
Saith Of GTimes, and Reeves.
The resolution OF 8Tr. Miller, ia regard to
the introduction of Lew business, was
taken up and adopted.
Mr.. Munson offered Joint resolution In
structing and requesting our Congressional
delegation to urge upon Congress a speedy
indemnity for the loss Of stock on the
frontier. Referred TO the Committee on
Indian Affairs.
Bill for the repeal of the pension law was
presented, and, at the request of Dir. BIC
Leary, was referred TO the Committee on
State Affairs.
Mr.. Douglass presented bin TO prohibit
the sale of intoxicating drinks 10 a circuit
Of Whitis's Mill school house, in Hill coun-
ty. Referred. r afrfTc
Committee on Agriculture and Stock
raising. reported in favor Of the bill 70 pre-
vent parties from cutting brands ont of
hides. EngrosSed.
Also, bill 10 give a lien on crops.
adopted, and consideration postponed I'M
til February -.
The constitutional convention bill was
taken up as special order.
! Mr.. Smith said he was not against cali
ing a constitutional convention, and that if
the necessary amendments could not be
| passed he would then be willing to vote for
aconvention. He was in favor of amend
ments. Thereupon he took up the Consti-
tuition of 1915 and that of 1870, and upon
comparing them carefully from beginning
to end, showed that only eight or ten
amendments would be necessary 10 place the
present Constitution thoroughly in accord
with that of 1S45. When such Constitu-
/ ton could be made without so much cost to
| the State, he saw no reason why it should not
/ be done; that this is not good time to call
a convention. He was in favor of public
schools, and no one knows what win become
of them if we have a convention. If we
have one, it is highly probable that univer-
sal suffrage will be a question before that
convention, and in the present temper of
our people, it is possible that there may be
a conflict on this subject with the Federal
government. He had noticed on the vote
in the Senace, few days ago, on the Inter
national bond question, that the Senate was
nearly equally divided. This showed to
his mind that the people are alsomuch di-
vided on the subject, and there is more
! feeling on it than on any other subject.
/ Did not one of the most eloquent men in
the State, the other day, IL the Senate, de-
clare that less causes than the International
bond question had wrecked empires and
divided States, and was it not replied by
| the other side that if their property was
taken without authority of law, they
could afford to see a division of the State.
He was not willing to see her divided. He
did not want to give q release to his inter
est in the Alamo and the San Jacinto !;
neither did he want to relinquish bis inter
est in the teeming Tecollections Of our
early history. He could not relinquish his
interest in our great immediate future. He
| lonced to see the time when Texas shall
tread our national councils with the tread of
a giant He never wanted to behold divided
Texas. Gentlemen have said that this is
not political question. He agreed to this,
and hoped that members would rise above
politics and above party. He thought the
House signifed this when it voted down
the committee amendment consolidating
the Fifteenth and Eighteenth Districts.
Every interest and every intelligence should
be represented in the convention. Is. it a
suitable time to have convention when we
can have the desired change in organic law
by amendments? Amendments will an
swer, and, therefore, convention is unnec-
essary. lie said he had shown that eight
or ten amendments are all that are neces-
sary; that the people only want change
in their organic law, and want that in the
cheapest possible way. Gentlemen who
are opposed to this position, if they were
not so well known to us all, would suggest
the idea that they want a convention
whether there is any change in the Consti-
tuition or not. lie wanted to change
the organic law, and if his views do not
carry, he intended to vote for conven-
ton without reference to instructions, with
out reference to party, and without refer
ence to outside influence. The House
should rise above any other consideration
save duty to country.
A call of the House was ordered for the
vote on striking out that part of the Senate
bill referring to making the reference of
the call for convention to the people.
Call was temporarily suspended, and Mr..
Brown, of San Saba, called up Senate Joint
resolution to inquire into the facts as pub
lished in the STATESMAN in regard to the
condition of the Travis county Jail and re-
port upon the same by bill or otherwise.
Passed, and Messrs. Brown of San Saba,
Reeves and Foote were appointed on the
| Joint committee.
Several efforts were made during the call
by the enemies to the constitutional con-
vention to suspend the call or adjourn,
all proving fruitless, until the absent men,
bers were brought in, when the vote was
taken, resulting as follows:
Yeas-Anderson, Bean, Brown of Gregg,
Bruce, Cain, Chambliss, Cochran, Delany,
Denman, DeMorse, Donald, Douglass, Foote,
German, Goodwin, Hart, Hayes, Helton,
Henderson of Kendall, johnson, Kemble,
Lawhon, Massey, McCuiston, McLeary,
Middleton, Miller, Nicholson, O'Neal, Pat
rick, Patterson, Pickett, Price, Reeves, Rog-
ers, Sadler. Schmidt, Simpson, Stephens,
Stuart of Falls, Stuart of Houston, Trip
lett, Watson, Wood and Wortham--45.
Nays-Mr Speaker, Abnar, Ballard, Beck,
Brown of San Saba, Brown of Harrison,
Cards, Eastland, Epperson, Farrar, Free
man, Galvan, Gellatly, Harris, Harrison,
Henderson of Smith, Jenkins, Kessler,
Lea, Lindsey, Linn, Manning, Matthews,
Mitchell, Meissner, Munson, Oxsheer, Ros-
borough, Roberts, Scott, Smith of Grimes,
Swain, Won Biberstein, Walker and
Watts-35.
Paired-Davis and Jackman, Barziza and
Storey.
Davis and Barziza would have voted yea.
Upon which we mentally threw up our
that and hurrahed for convention.
House adjourned till 10 A. N. Monday.
MONDAY, February s, 1875.
Roll called, quorum present.
Mr.. Savers was indefinitely excused.
Mr.. Delany was granted leave Of absence.
Messrs. Stephens, Smith Of Travis, Miller
and Price were also excused.
Bill to regulate fire and marine insurance
companies, with amendments Of the Senate,
was reported favorably. The House con
CURED in the Senate amendments, and the
bill was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Denman, the Commit
tee on Internal Improvements was instructed