The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-11-04
FoRTY-sEvENTH DAY,

tomorrow s..fs5 a-T
FoRTY-sEvENTH DAY,
AUSTIN, October 2s, 1875.
Convention met at g. A. NJ Roll called;
quorum present. sHs3a 1y=. 1e'
Prayer by Rev Mr. Phillpot.
Mr.. Latimer, Assistant Secretary, was ex-
cused on account of sickness. ~" r.
Mr.. Martin of Hunt was excused because
of illness. sd5 'ro44 500 al A" ~-s2'.
Mr. Ramey moved to amend the resolu-
ton of Mr.. Gather to appoint committee
of six to draft an address to the people of
Texas In regard to the Constitution by in
creasing it to thirteen, one from each Con-
gressional district and one at large. Car
ried.
Mr.. Weaver offered the following resolu-
tion:, ....-
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the
State has decided the law levying one per
cent. scheolta tax Unconstitutional; therefore,
be it
ResOlUed, That the amount of said tax
paid by each taxpayer heretofore be .ascer-
tanned and placed, to the credit of said tax
payer against the amount heretofore as
sessed. .ia!s h..f esntaso is s5.f s-I7 81
Referred. aoid SIC O. -i,8sf, i..l zsgtrs.
/, MIR. Moore offered the following resolu-
ton: .sThere shall be elected by the quail
flied voters of each county in this State q
county treasurer, who shall reside at, the
county site. and hold his Office four years,
and until his successor shall be qualified /;
and shall have such compensation as may
be provided by law" Referred. r. -IHs
/ Article !, on Judiciary Committee, was
taken up, with three minority reports
thereon. 3n'J sia3 7s-at.j 9i.Jl ~ tei
The President announced the special order
to be the majority and minority reports of
the select Committee on Education.
Mr.. Dohoney moved to postpone the con-
sideration of educational matter and con-
tinue with the judiciary report. Sa,.'t =
Mr.. Mills was opposed to the postpone
ment. The bill was printed and laid on
the desks of members soon after the session
commenced, referred to select committee
anu now reported again and comes up this
morning in its regular order; and he was
surprised to see members who claimed to be
friendly to free schools voting for its post
ponement. The subject of Judiciary, he
would admit, was one of great Importance,
but the members OF that committee could
not agree, as could be seen by the different
printed reports of the committee. He de-
sired all the reports on Judiciary recommit-
ted to a special committee of fve-three
farmers and two lawyers. Some of the re-
ports of the judiciary, if adopted, would
make the system more costly than tine pres
emit one. The minority are more interested
in this matter than any other, and If pub
lie schools are killed IN Texas let it be done
now and let the friends of education see
who are responsible for SO greas a calamity
The Convention voted to consider the
reports from the select committee on Edu-
cation. W
(Mr. Flournoy in the Chair.
Ir Erhard made a lengthy and interest
ing address in behalf of free schools.
Mr.. Reagan offered the following amend
ment to section three; "Strike out the
word 'stwo," and insert the word lone,
so that there would be but one dollar levied
as poll tax for public schools" !" Carried.
Mr. johnson of Franklin, offered a sub
stitute for the section: ''rhat there shall
be set apart not less than one tenth of the
annual revenue of the State deri gable from
taxation, and poll tax of one dollar on all
male inhabitants in the State, between the
ages of twenty lone and sixty years, for the
benefit of the public free schools.n
Mr.. Russell Of Harrison offered the follow
! ing as substitute to section three and all
pending amendments: "And there shall be
set apart annually not less than one-fo6rth
of the general revenue and poll-tax OF
one dollar on all persons between the ages
of twenty-one and sixty years. And the
Legislature shall also provide for the levy
ing and collecting annually of not less than
one5sixth of one per cent, upon all the tax
able property in this State for the support
and benefit of public free schools for q pc
Rod of not less than four months in each
year."
Mr. West was opposed to the amend
ment. He said, either give thespeople a
good system of free public schools, or give
them none. The people Of Texas wanted
no dilly-dallying in the matter. They
were looking to this Convention to carry
out what had been promised during the
canvass. Do not make then. fine
speeches on the hustings, and then fail to
Hoa-ry ont those promises after being elected.
Either give them goOu sysssssr OF -P~..t:-
schools, or do as his able and eloquent col
league, MIR. Sans I'm boldly fight any sys-
TEN of schools by taxation - but do NOT
sswhip the devil around the stump" in any
such manner as this report indicated.
Mr.. Reagan replied by saying that Texa:
was not now in Q condition to be taxed fol
school purposes. Leave this matter OF per
fecting the system Of public schools TO the
Legislature, who could arrange it as the
times would admit. The people are nov
too poor, too poverty stricken, to thrust OF
them an onerous tax. Leave the CONNER
cial towns and railroads, and you would
m many instances, fn6 the most squalio
poverty. The people of Texas had beer
robbed of thei- property, crushed IN spiTlr
and all gone save their honor. which to-dal
shines as bright as the sun in yonder heaven
without a stain thereon. Il
Mr.. Mccormick, in order to draw hin
out, asked him what property the Peopl'
of Texas had LOST.
Mr.. Reagan replied that we had lost mil
lions of dollars Of what was guaranteed b,
the Constitution of the Uniied States ans
Of the State as property-taken from us =
one fell swoop--the negroes. The peopl
lof the state had also left their varioas ayo
l cations. and given their time, labor, and al
the earnestnSss OF their souls 20 \ cause dea
TO the heart of every true Southron- Il
thst four years stores were closed, farm
living idle, the ring of the anvil, and th
busy hum Of industry hushed, and all prog
erty crushed; thousands Of our gallant son
sent 20 their s.loug home. and signs an
tears came up in bitter wAiling from almos
every hearth stone IN our loved Texas, hund
reds were crippled, among then his frien
Mr.. Mccormick, who had Nttested bis dg
vofion to the Lost Canse, by his DARN
In the field Of battle, and the loss OF on
OF his limbs
III At fke conclusion Of his powerful speecl
. X many eyes were fiIled with tears as the \
/ cital Of the wrongs Of Texas, aud many {