The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-09-23
TENTH DAY.
THURSDAY, September IS, 1875.

Convention met at the usual hour. Prayer
by Rev. E. B. Wright, of Austin
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Mr.. West presented petitions from J. II.
Hutchins and Grooms, asking pay for civil
services during the late war.
Mr. Nugent presented a memorial in re-
gard to farms and stockraising-that stock
be kept in pastures, and farms be hired
without fence.
Mr.. LOckett presented a memorial that
the free schools shall be taught at least -four
months in each year; and that the different
directors may levy special tax for that
purpose.
Mr.. Lockett presented a memorial that al
male inhabitants over twenty-one, except
lunatics and criminals, be allowed to vote,
under such restrictions as may be imposed
in regard to length of residence; and thai
article three, section two, of the Constitu
ton of 1866, be made a portion of the
new Constitution, with the words 'tAfri
cans and defendants of Africans" stricken
out.
Mr.. Robertson presented memorial that
all land certificates declared void by the
Republic of Texas, forever remain so; and
certificates issued to fictitious persons be
declared forgeries.
VII. pICSCuJCu u tIldG I'LL
power is inherent in the people, and, there
fore, they should elect all their offices.
! Mr.. Whitfield presented resolution ask
ing for porter to take care of the Capitol
rooms. Adopted.
Mr. West presented q resolution that no
man or set of men shall be excused from
setting on juries, except by two-thirds
vote of the Legislature.
Mr. Ballengerpresented resolution that
the property of cities, counties and towns,
owned and held for public purposes, shall
be exempt from execution and force sale.
The motion to reconsider the vote elect.
ing a stenographer was taken up.
Mr. Wright made a point of order that
the vote could not be reconsidered, as it
has already been reconsidered once. In
other words, that the Convention could not
reconsider reconsideration.
Mr.. Mccormick hoped that Mr.. Wright
would not appeal to arbitrary rules to
throttle the vote of the members.
Mr.. Stockdale replied that we had certain
rules, and by these rules they had elected a
s;enographer, and the matter had passed out
of the possession of the Convention, and
the rules should be abided by. He
3 Mr. West claimed that this matter had
been settled fairly; that the Convention,
after due elaboration, had adopted the
resolution, and as the resolution had been
once reconsidered, it could not be again
reconsidered. 300 SAG
h Mr.. Ballenger thought the matter could
10 reconsidered, as Mr.. Miles had intro
duced an amendment to the original reso-
luton after it had been reconsided. He
was in favor of employing a stenographer,
but desired first to know the probable cost.
Mr.. DeMorse said he was in favor of en-
ploying stenographer. He said the total
cost would only be "A, $50. $50.
Mr.. Reagan commended this was not a re-
consideration of a reconsideration, but
simply reconsideration of an adopted
resolution.
Mr.. West claimed that the amendment OF
Mr.. Mills did not change anything at all il
the original resolution, said amendment be
ing ''that the stenographer should prepare
his manuscript in clear, round, legiblt
hand - that this much was contemplated
or supposed in the original resolution.
Mr.. Barnett thought the whole discussion
was out of order, that they should wal
the decision of the President, and then OF
the appeal from his decision argument could
be made.
Mr.. Stockdale claimed that this Conven
ton had made contract, and had NJ
right to GO back on il.
The President decided, after quoting
various authorities, that the point OF orde
was not well taken.
The question being on the reconsiders
ton, Mr.. West moved 10 make it a specia
order for tomorrow.
Mr.. Martin Of Navarro moved to lay tn
motion on the table.
The President declared the motion to LAY
on the table was out Of order.
The question then recurring on the mo
ton of Major West to postpone, it Was los
BY = vote of II for TO IS against.
The question being on the reconsidera
ton, the Convention reconsidered by tn
following vote: Yeas, 60; nays, %.
The question then being on the adoptisl
Of the resolution, Mr.. Flournoy offered
| substitute, that the stenographcr repor
only such proceedings as relate to the Con
stitution, and that the Printing Committe
be authorized 70 contract with Mr.. Gibbon
at q reasonable rate therefor, and with som
paper for printing said reports.
Mr.. Russell Of Wood moved to lay tn
/ original resolution and substitute on III
table, and also moved the previous que.
ton
Mr.. Darnell said he hoped the geptlemA
woald not endeavor 70 throttle the Conver