The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-02-20
BY TELEGRAPH.


WASHINGTON, February 10. The
question, whether 1t is good policy,
considering the present aspect of politi-
cal affairs at Washington, for the leg
islature of any southern state to call a
constitutional convention, is one which
has serious consideration by conserva-
tive statesmen, representing both north
and south, ever since congress met.
The subject was first agitated in GeOr-
gia, but before il had been much dis
cussed, the matt was quietly dropped
on the advice of Senator Gordon and
other prominent men. Later, a party
consultation was held by leading North
arolinu conservatives in Raleigh, in
which the same question arose. An
overwhelming majority of those pres
ent were in favor Of calling u conNen-
ton.
The matter was referred to the dele
CATION in congress, where 1t was placed
in charge Of Senator Ransom. He
made II thorough canvass of the lead
ing conservatives Of both houses, the
result of which was that aftel mature
deliberatioil, they considered IL highly
inlpolitic to call constitutional con-
NCttllOlls ltuuSoIii NlptV w ''is' oeNeN
setting forth these facts, and Senator
Gordon also sent letters to his friends
in that state urging that the matter be
postponed for the present, ana 1t was
done so reluctantly. The question adj
dressed to some gentlemen to-day in
regard to the propriety of calling a
constitutional convention In Texas
was unanimously answered in the neg
alive.
They said that while in ordi.
nary times the action of state i'll
such n matter ought not he affected by
political events ut Washington, the
situation now was very ci Zeal anu
very peculiar. Grant has. in his mes
sage, announced The doctrine that the
southern states have no right to
change their constitutions. Ridicu-
lous as this idea Is, itsliould be remem-
bered that after the 4th of March, his
power for mischief is unbound, and
no one can tell what outrage he might
perpetrate. For these reasons, these
gentlemen think it far wiser for every
southern state which can possibly live
under It's present constitution, 70 take
no steps for changing it until 1876.
Texas members desire not to be quo
ted personally on this subject, and pre-
fer that the legislature should take the
entire responsibility of settling the
question. But one or two say they can
see no reason why a convention should
not be called. They do not believe any
revolutionary legislation will be passed
by congress this session, and that II an
election for convention was held IN
October or November, no harm could
he done.
The proposition to hold the election
i'm August does not meet with favor.
The house committee on commerce
has voted to put into the river and
harbo appropriation bill twenty five
thousand dollars for q ship canal to-
Il ffalo bayou, on condition that the
ship canal company shall give such re-
lease of its contracts, etc., as shall
satisfy the attorney general Of the
United States. The same committee
also voted twenty thousand to begin
work on Sabine pass. The item of
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for the Galveston harbor, is In the
river and harbor, and not a separate
appropriation. The house suspended
the rules to-day to pay the state OF
Texas interest on the Texas indemnity
bonds. .f- .srr,. l.,-s-.r5 .e
The bill for the payment of claims
allowed by the southern claims CONF
missioners, was reported and, on q
point of order, was referred to the CON-
Inittee of the whole. SOFA ee 5FRn
1t is understood that the caucus COM
mittee have modified the bill giving
the president the right to suspend
l,abeas corpus In certain sections. The
president consents to the modification,
and 1t il thought that In this shape IL
will pass- ----s--.--
The river ard harbor bill reported to
the house and referred TO the COM
miitee oIlappropriations gives Mobile
barbor. twe,ity-six thousand dollars
Cedar KEYS, fifteen Thousand dollars
ten Thousand dollars; Sa- |
vauah, seventy thousand dollars Gal. |
weston. one hundred and fifty thou |
sand dollars; Mississippi river, two
hundred thousaud dollars; and Arkan- |
sss river. one hundred thousand dol
lars; Mississippi river iTtween the
mouths Of the Ohio aid Illinois, TWEEN
ty Thousand dollars: Ohio river, three
thousand dollars; improve
ment of the month Of the Mississippi
river, TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars
Red Fish bar Galveston bay, ten thou
"a nd two hundred dollars; Red River
raft. twenty thousand dollars (; Chat
aud Flint rivers, twenty
five thousand. dollars; 0palachicoia,
ten thoussH.; dollars; Chcrfawwatche.
ten thousand dollars; Cape Fear river; |
one hundred thousand dollars; james
river, fifty Thousand dollars; channel
Df Galveston bay. twenty thousand
iallars; Sabine pass. twenty thousand
tollars; Warrior and Tombigbes riy-
ars, fwenfy-five thousand dollars.
The secretary Of war Is directed TO have