The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-07
The amendment offered by Mr.. Allison

Mr.. Brown was IN favor OF thc SUBSTITUTE
Of Mr.. Allison. He said amendments could
be submitted to the people having bug
under the chip, and they not discover the
same until after the vote had been taken,
aud the next Legislature should have the
power and authority to set such an amend=
ment, or amendments, aside and save the
people from the injury they had innocsntly
voted on themselves. He cited case in
| point that occurred wears ago, aud men
toned the fact that in the thirteenth Lesis- |
lature question of ratifying an amend
( ment to the Constitution had come up, aud
many in that body were in favor of setting
said amendment aside on the ground that
the people did not at the time of voting
fully understand the effect of the amend
ment. He was not one of that number at
/ the time, but had great respect for those
who differed with him.
| Mr. Weaver said that he thought when
the people spoke NJ the baliot-hox 1t was
sufiicit mt; that he would rather trust their
unbought votes than trust a Legislature.
Legislatures were possessed of many of the
Weaknesses of human nature, and he was
sorry 10 say that history proved that at least
a portion of them could be sometimes
| bought.
Mr.. Chambers favored the amendment as
a safeguard against hasty or ill-advised vot-
ing, and as a check upon amendments that
had some other object in view Than that
the people were made to believe.
Mr.. Moore offered the following rs sub
stitute for the amendment of Mr.. Stayton:
| Strike out in line nineteen, after the word
''of," and down to the word $50, +" in line
twenty -one, and insert ''either of them;"
and strike out all after the word Texas,
in line twenty-thrce, and insert land the
Governor shall, by his proclamation, SO de-
clare"
Mr.. Russell was opposed to the amend
ment and substitute, and was in favor of the
original section from the com,Aittee-clain-
ing that 1t was a wise safeguard.
Mr.. Ballinger offered the following as a
substitute for the pending amendment and
substitute: Section 9. The Legislature, at
any biennial session, by avote of two-thirds
of all the members elected to each House,
to be entered by yeas and nays on the jour
nails, MAY propose amendments 10 the Con-
stitution, to be voted upon by the qualified
electors for members of the House of Rep
resentatives; which proposed amendments
shall be duly published once week for
four weeks, commencing at least three
months before an election, the time of which
shall be specified by the Legislature, IN one
weekly newspaper eff each county where
such newspaper may be published; and it
shall be- the duty of the several returning
officers of said election to open poll for
and make return to the Secretary of State Of
the number of legal votes cast ut SAID cleo
ton for and against said amendments;
and if more than one amendment
lie proposed, then the number of votes
cast for and against each of them; and if
it shall appear from said election that
majority of the votes cast have been cast
in favor of any amendment, the said
amendment so receiving a majority of the
votes cast, shall become a part of the Con-
stitution; and proclamation Thereof shall
be made by the Governor" g 9'e4 80 ~
Mr.. Mum accepted the substitute and
withdrew the one he offered. H
i Mr.. Stayton accepted the substitute, and
withdrew his amendment. t1it
Mr.. West was opposed to the substitute
of Mr.. Ballinger, and hoped the Conven-
ton would support the original report from
the committee.
MIR. DeMorse thought the substitute of
Mr.. Ballinger q dangerous Que to the hb-
critics of the people. The only departure
from the original section as proposed by
the committee would be the adoption OF
the amendment offered by Mr.. Asllson-
that majority of the next Legislature
: should ratify. f3
Mr. Waelder made speech in favor OF
Lu6 OTlHludl IIOu Tue COnullIltt.
The substitute of Mr.. Ballinger was
t adopted by vote of 80 to 81.
Mr.. President offered an amendment to
strike-o section one. - 81
: Mr.. Mccormick offered the following rs
, a substitute for section one: "The people
of this State may call Constitutional Con.
vention at any time, and majority OF
. them may, by their voice, expressed at the
3 ballot box, desire; and no laws shall be
, passed curtailing or presenting the exer-
else of this great individual right"
| Mr.. FlournoY offered the following sub
5 stitute: "The Legislature shall, at the ex-
: piration of ten years after the adoption OF
, this Constitution, submit for the action OF
the people the question of Convention OF
no convention to reform, amend or alter
the Constitution, and unless a majority OF
the votes cast at an election on such ques
ton be in favor of the convention, no such
convention shall be held, but the same
question shall be submitted at the expira.
ton of each ten years thereafter until the
majority of the votes cast shall have beer
: in favor of such convention. The mode oil
] ascertaIning the will of the people, as above
!. provided, shall be prescribed by law; bu
this shall not be construed TO interfere witt
r the right of the people to assemble in con
vention at any time they so will it."
l IL
, m ant to sti1e out ''ten," before the wore
wears" and insert twenty
Mr.. Reagan was IN favor or the amend
il ment of the President of striking out tho
first section. In an able and eloquent argu
n ment he commended that this was the inaien
able right of the people; that they wer,
q the source of all political power and coulc
do as they pleased, without regard to legis
4 lation on the subject.
: Mr.. Num- was in favor OF the Legislator,
regulating the matter and manner OF calling
> conventions, subject to the ratification O
the people. Was it to be supposed that
+ Legislature and Governor elected by tn.
g people would perpetrate a wrong on then
!. and allow them no chance Of redress
! Mr.. Holt moved the previous question
Previous question ordered, it being the
q adoption or rejection Of the motion OF Mr.
Martin of Navarro to strike out the Wort
q ''ten" and insert twenty Lost.
4 The next question in order was the sub
stitute offered by MIR. Flournoy. Lost
n NJ. Mccormick then withdrew his sub
stitute.
It The next question in order was the amend
& ment Of the President, to strike out the sec
), ton regulating the calling of convention
+ and it was adopted by vote.of 40 to "a.
u Mr.. Dohoney then offered the following
= as section one Of the article: ..The Legis
lature may, at any regular session, by a vote
Z Of two-thirds of all the members Of eacI
House, pass joint resolution TO take tn.
= sense Of the qualified electors OF the State
at the succeeding general election, upon chs
proposition 10 call constitutions con
Y vention; and IT, at such election,
Z majority Of those voting vote in favo
;. Of calling constitutional convention, th,
!. Legislature, at the next succeeding session
y shall pass joint resolution calling Con
stitutional Convention; which Convention
when it shall assemble, shall frame
= Constitution and submit the same 70 /
vote Of the qualified electors of the Stat,
for ratification or rejection, and II a ma
9 jority Of those voting a. such election shall