The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-05-27
CANDIDATES ron TIE CONVENTIoN

Major William II. Walton and Major c.
s. West have been publicly spoken of by
their friends as candidates for seat in the
constitutional convention. There are no
men in the district or in the State whom II
would give US more pleasure to support for
public position, and especially would it be
gratifying to US to see these gentlemen
members of that body which is to give Texas
it's organic law. Our desire has been, if
nominations are to be made, to secure the
best men as nominees. men who could be
supported with q consciousness that we
were thus doing the State a service COM
mensurate with its needs, and who would
be an honor to its councils. The gentle
men named are Of that order which the
STATESMAN feels perfect readiness to'sup-
port, and II a nominating convention
selects them as candidates they will be
given its most hearty aid. There is a sa-
cred Importance attaching to the acts Of
constitutional convention, which we have
determined from the beginning shall not,
with our sanction, be prostituted to igno-
rance and its consequences. We are down on
sluggards and fools who may know how to
run their faces before a nominating conven-
ton, but who, while the interests of con-
stituents languish, either become the laugh
ing stock Of legislative bodies, or dare not
cope with intelligence. We have seen
enough Of ''orphan districts" as the la
mented George W. Smith called them, and
wiz lend no helping hand to making ours
one. Austin has all the time been too
modest, and in consequences the Legislators
have been supplied from other parts of the
district. While there is as much talent
here as anywhere, it has been engaged in
business pursuits, and has not, therefore,
been forced to hunger after Office. The
thinking people of Austin, of Travis county,
and Of many parts Of the district would
be pleased to support such men as
Major Walton and Major West. If there
are others more suited to fill seats
in the convention, to be found anywhere
else in the district, let them be produced,
and the people will give them due consider
alton. Locality should not control the Sc
lection Uf men for the convention. The
standard should be worth and intelligence,
and il all three Of the delegates in any one
district were selected for their superior
ability from one county or one neighbor-
hood it would be proper. The establish
ment Of fundamental law is very different
from ordinary legislation. The first affects
the whole State alike, while the latter is,
in the majority of instances, secured for
sectional and local purposes. Texas needs
able men in the convention, regardless Of
the locality from which they are selected,
and in this district we should feel special
pride in adding strength to the body. The
gentlemen named are both fine constitu-
tional lawyers; they possess the elements Of
statesmanship; they are men of enlarged,
liberal and advanced ideas, who can speak
to the most intricate points when neces-
sary-peers Of any delegate who will be in
the body-and when Austin has such ma
terial the STATESMAN can give them its sup
port with a zeal. Their ability is our ex-
cuse for the preference. Not word has
ever been spoken to them on the subject by
any one connected with the paper. Duty
to the public interest makes us endorse
them, aud, as in everything else, we are not
backward in expressing it.