The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-21
TIE CONVENTION.

That the public is beginning to feel that
the constitutional Convention is failure
Is a fact which cannot be denied. some
are sun hoping against hope. But public
expectation is beginning to confess keen
disappointment. There is intelligence,
ability and experience in the Convention /;
there is a desire to promote the public in
terest. But the body moves on with the
understanding that its action uust be sub
mitted for ratification or rejection. Its
work must be popular rather than right.
While there are doubtless many unselfish
men in that body, there are great number
who themselves are looking forward for
Office, aud who are anxious to make a record.
TO go before the country. The mania for
fics is the curse of the times and IL Ia
having its influence upon the action of the
Convention. That body is trimming TO
what it believes IS the popular breeze.
It Is wanting in courage and pluck. lis
tormented by the fact that its work has 70
be submitted TO a vote of the people. Its
members are embarrassed in their action nv
cowaFdly fear that they may, do something
which will render them unpopular and TINS
prevent them from obtaining some Office.
They underestimate the public intelligence.
The public want good constitution. They
want one that will give protection to life
and Liberty. When the trainers of the Con.
stitution of the United States we're engaged
in this work, their sessions were secret. and
they could afford to do right without the
Tear OF public opinion. And that Con.titu-
TOR has been model for all that have been
made since. II our Convention had gone
to work in the same way, its work would
have been far better and done in less time.
Members would not have introduced SO
many absurd and buncombe resolutions, or
made so many speeches intended only to
catch the popular ear. They would not
have been afraid to do right because it
might render them unpopular. OF course
there would have been fanatic clamor
about the matter, and the widest curiosity
to know what was doing, and much misrep-
resentation, and in view of this such a course
atthis time was not possible, but if it were
the public interest would have been best
promoted ".'s3
But it is far easier to point out evils than
to point out a remedy, and these are some
incident to republican government which
must be endured. The present Convention
is perhaps as good body as can be had at
this time; it as nearly reflects public senti-
ment as anyitbat can be elected. 1t perhaps
has as much patriotism, pluck and courage
as we can hope to gather just now in any
such body. Its members are as free from
selfish ambition as any others would be who
could be elected to fill their positions.
Their weakness and infrmities are only such
as are common to their constituents That
We will have pretty fair Constitution, one
that will doa few years, is very likely, but
that it will fail to meet public expectation
is foregone conclusion. The public ex-
pected some limitation upon suffrage-the
public expected that those who control cleo
lions in many instances should at least pay
a poll tax, and thus be forced to contribute
something to support the government. But
this is MOTTO be. The government protects
persons as well as property, but no means are
to be provided to force persons to contribute
anything to the support of the government.
Taxes can only be collected upon tangible
property, and those who have none cannot
be forced to pay anything, and yet they can
vote, and thus CONTROL the policy of the
government without contributing anything
to its support. But the clap-trap Of prop
erty qualification, and the success Of the
right" of suffrage when there is no such
fright" are barriers against the adoption of
policy that would equalize the burdens of
government. Everybody in the inmost re-
cesses of their hearts know that this Is
right, is just. The members of the Con-
vention know it, feel it, but have not the
pluck to act upon 1t. 1t would encounter
opposition, excite hostility to the Consti-
lution and endanger its ratification, and
they dare rot act upon the conviction. But
in this they do, as public men have often
done, underrate public intelligence, and
their work will not give satisfaction, be ac-
cepted or long endure, unless at the same
time. scheduleof amendments is submitted
and adopted, ho s4a