The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-09-16
the Convention adjourned to A. NJ. to-
Arerlr Senteml,er IL 1s-1

The President appointed, as 8 committee
on old land titles and Mexican grants
Aessrs- Reagan, Wright, Robertson. Bal
finger, Henry of Smith, West aud Ferris.
Mr.. Ford presented resolution that til,
judges of Sopreme, district nd crimina
courts should not be active participants in
the politics of the couatry, during theil
term of office, and that the Legislature
should pass law providing for the removal
of those SO offending.
Dir. Norveii presented a resolution that
the Judicial power of the State shall be
vested In one Supreme court, in district
courts and such inferior courts as the Legis-
lature may from time to time establish. Nc
judge of any court, except Supreme and
district judges, shall receive salary from
the State. The Supreme court shall consist
of chief Justice aud two associate justices,
two of whom shall form quorum.
/ The Supreme court shall have appellate
| jurisdiction only, which shall be c.
extensive with the limits of the State. but
| shall not extend to or embrace any case III
mlsdemeanor, or interlocutory judgments
nor shall extend to or embrace cases com
menced in any other court except the dis
trict court; and such cases relating to the
estates of decendents and wards COM
menced in the probate court aud brought
into the district court by appeal or GER
te0rdri, as may be designated by law. The
Supreme Court to have power to issue the
writ of hd6eds corpus; and, under such reg
ulations as may be prescribed by law, may
| issue writs of mdnddmHs, and such other
writs as shall be necessary to enforce its
| own jurisdiction, and also to compel a
judge to proceed to trial and judgment in a
cause the court to hold its sessions once
every year at not more than three places in
the State; the court to appoint its own
clerk, who shall hold his office four years.
subject to removal by the court, for neglect
of duty, misdemeanor in Office, and such
other misdeamors as may be prescribed by
law; the judges of the Supreme and district
courts to be elected by the people; the su-
preme judges to hold for six years, and the
district judges four years. The State shall
be divided into four districts, which shall
not be increased previous to the expiration
of four years from the first general election
under this Constitution, but may thereafter
be increased, not to exceed Two additional
districts in every four years, provided, the
Legislature shall have power to change the
judicial districts whenever they are proper :;
, the district judges shall have resided in
the State three years preceding his election,
and IN the district for one year, and shall
Term of office, and shall hold the courts in
one place in each county, not less than
twice in each year; the judges of the Su-
preme Court shall have resided in the State
five years preceding their election, their
salary to be $500; the district judges to
receive salary of $4,000 annually. The
supreme and district judges shall be re-
moved by the Governor, on the address of
majority of each House of the Legisla-
ture for wilful neglect of duty, misconduct,
habits of drunkenness, oppression in office,
incOmpetency, etc.-not constituting suih
cient cause for impeachment-the cause or
causes for said removal to he entered on
the Journals of both houses: the Judge SO
charged to be sent with a notice of the
charges, and he be admitted to hearing
the vote on such address to be taken by the
yeas and nays and entered on the journals
u both houses; district clerk to he
elected in each judicial district; to hold
his Office for two years, to be er-CficiO clerk
of the probate and county court; an At
torney General to be elected, and a district
attorney for each judicial district, who
shall hold their offices tor ten years; the
Attorney General to receive a salary of
$4,000, and the district attorneys $500; a
sheriff to be elected in each county, who
shall hold his Office for two years; each
county to be divided into five Justices pre-
cincts, and five justices shall be elected,
one of whom shall reside at the county
seat, and shall be chief justice, and no two
of the justices shall reside in the same pre-
cinct. They shall hold their offices for ten
years. They shall be commissioned by
the Governor and should vacancy occur
an election shall be held for the unexpired
term; one constable to be elected for each
Justices precinct, who shall hold his Office
two years. There shall be probate court
in each county, one term of which shall be
held by the chief justice at the county seat
once month; the judge shall not set in a
case wherein he is interested, or where he
is related to any of the parties by consan-
guinuity or affinity, or where he shall have
been counsel in case. All qualified voters
to be qualified jurors.
| Mr.. Brady presented a resolution, that
the President of the Convention order an
election in the Fifteenth Senatorial Dis
trict, to fill the vacancy caused by the res
| ignation of the Hon. Mr.. Goddin. Re-
| ferred to a special committee of three, con-
| sisting of Messrs. Brady, Brown and Flour
noy, with instructions TO report tomorrow.
Mr. Brown presented resolution, that
the Committee on Railroad Corporations be
instructed to consider the propriety of re-
| curing that, no railroad or part of a rail-
road, to be hereafter constructed, shall
pass within three miles of county seat,
without passing through and maintaining
depOt in such town, unless prevented by
natural obstacles, such as hills, mountains
or streams-the truth of which shall be a
| judicial question.
Mr.. Brown presented a resolution, that
the Committee on Revenue and Taxation,
take into consideration the propriety of
providing, that all taxes on lands in this
State, not situated in an organized county,
shall be assessed and collected under uni
I form provision of law, by the Comptroller
at the seat of government.
Mr.. HAYNES presented a resolution, that
the Legislature shall pass no law requiring
citizens to pay tax or license to sell their
productions IN any market in the State, nor
grant to any corporation the power to pass
| such laws or ordinances.
Mr.. Gather presented resolution, that
no separate criminal court shall be created
in any county, unless said county contains
at least thirty-five thousand inhabitants.
Mr.. Num- presented a resolution, that
the Attorney General be requested to fur
nish the Convention such information as to
the amount and character of business in
courts as may be in his possession. Adop-
ted.
Mr.. Robertson of Bell chairman of the
Special Committee to inquire regarding the
election of a stenographer for the Conven-
ton, reported in favor of employing Mr..
Gibbons, at ten dollars per day. The Con-
vention refused to adopt the report.
Mr.. Flournoy afterwards moved to recon-
slider the vote, and after speeches were
made by him and Messrs. Stockdalee Moore,
Reagan and Weaver, the Convention re-
considered their vote, and elected Mr.. Glib
bops as said reporter.
Mr.. Flemming presented resolution,
that no officer of State, county, city or
town shall receive more than five thousand
dollars, net, per annum, and all sums in
excess of said amount shall be paid over to
the State, city, county OF town treasurer.
Mr.. West presented a resolution, that the
Committee on Federal Relations, be in
structed to inquire into, and ascertain as