The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-02-11
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bu wise TO can a Conventlonl

Ine fact that If a constitutional conven-
ton Is called by this Legislature it viii be
IN obedlence to q supposed pressure from
the people is painfully apparent. That the
people want change in the organic law all
admit, bu. no man is authorized TO say that
they want tins. change effected by means OF
a constitutional eonvention-for thew have
never said so. The events Of the last few
weeks IN Washington City and Louisiana
have disclosed the desperate game al The
Republican party, and every thinking man
who can be instructed by experience must
see the danger ahead fer Texas ard the
whole South. Is it ststesmanship Tor a
legislator to refuse instruction from these
lessonsf He may be sure that Grants mes
sage 10 the Senate on yesterday was the de-
liberate utterance of the Republican leaders,
and indicates their purpose. II Mr.. Grant
yesterday informed the Senate that the
State Constitution of Arkansas was "by
violence, intimidation and revolutionary
proceedings overthrow" and new one
adopted, may we not, in the further devel-
opment Of Republican aggression, expect a
like utterance il Texas shall make new
Constitution?
If the President yesterday told the Senate
that If the Constitution of ARKANSAS was
permitted to stand, it would practically
ignore the rights of minorities IN all the
States may we not expect like utter
ance when Texas frames a Constitution
which our people would approved
If the President yesterday, with n servile
Senate at his heels, characterized the action
of Arkansas in changing her Constitution as
violation of pledges, and advised the
national government not 10 recognize 1t as
dangerous to the stability Of State gov
ernments, what assurance can Texas have
that she will escape the vortex of anarchy
if she attempts while the Republican party
is in power, 20 make a new Constitution Z
This message Of Grants is the entering
wedge to new agitation in the South, and
true statesmen, seeing the danger from afar,
will shudder when a body Of State govern
ment makers assemble in convention. Is
it not madness to call convention when
the President, holding the vast power
given by the reinforcement act, " in COM
mand Of the army and navy, and backed by
desperate and fanatical party, utters such
sentiments as his message of yesterday con
tanned With q squad Of soldiers in every
county, under pretense of guarding against
Threatened invasion, overawing the timid
and encouraging the vicious, who can fore
see the result, who guess even at the COM
plexion of the convention Suppose the
convention composed of our best men, how
can they act for the best interest of Texas
when they know that the power of the
national government stands ready TO re-
mand the State to provisional rule, to be
again plundered by carpet-baggers and
thieves, if Constitution is made such as
the people desire2
We are expecting too much If ne suppose
that any convention can now make "a Con-
stitution for Texas, which will satisfy the
people and be acceptable to Grant and the
American Senate. The South ought TO
have learned, if it have not, that it is
easier to tear down than to build up. True
craftsmanship docs not yield to clamor but
seeks to enlighten. A full answer to the
argument ''that the people want a conven-
ton, is found in the fact that Grant had
not written his message on the Arkansas
Constitution, nor overturned the Louisiana
Legislature with the bayonet, when our
! people were last heard from. A fool only
refuses to learn from experience. and the
citizen, who last week favored. a'convenhon,
must be indeed blind, il he does not now
see the desperate peril to our State, and its
dearest interests which would be incurred
If constitutional convention were now to
assemble in Austin.
We in Texas are safe; only our own rash
ness can endsnger us. Our policy is non
action, as to constitutional conventions, un
til our friends are in power. Nothing but
our imprudence or folly can prevent the
speedy triumph Of the Northern Democ
racy. Surely, we who have endured SC
long will not, in the very hour of deliver
ance, lose all that we have gained by pre-
cipitate action.
Ifany man doubts -ifany legislator doubt,
how our action in calling a State con,
vention would be regarded by our friends
in the North, at this juncture let him tel
egraph to any Democratic Senator known
to be true in the American Senate, and the
answer will come imploring us to forbear.
There arc many who will follow the lead OF
no set of men, who, by imprudence, may
hurl this State in the vortex Of anarchy.
The question rises above party, and il the
ominOus signs from Washington are not
needed, the people will have no remedy, ex-
cept in primary meetings, to take the mat
ter in their own hands.
A DEMOCRAT, But A TEXAN.