Journal of the Constitutional convention of the State of Texas

[Texas] Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the State of Texas begun and held at the city of Austin, September 6th, 1875. Galveston [Texas]: Printed for the Convention at the "News" Office. 1875. Quarter leather with raised bands over boards. 22 cm. 821, xviii pp. Spine worn; some writing, interior has stains on title page, else very good.

OCLC shows 89 holdings. Scarce today. Morrison, Nineteenth Century Texana, shows three listings. The Constitutional Convention of 1875 was the result of the determination of the Democrats of Texas to eliminate the reconstruction Constitution of 1869. The Democrats wanted to rewrite the constitution to reflect their own policies of white superiority and the right of the state to govern itself with little federal intervention. Of the 90 delegates, six were African American. Amidst the hostile anti-Republican atmosphere, African American delegates worked to prevent the loss of voting rights and public education. Ratified by voters in 1876, the constitution reiterated that the right to vote could not be restricted by race, although it could be restricted by sex. The constitution also reduced the governor's powers; established a ceiling on the state debt; declared that the Legislature would meet biennially instead of every year; and provided for the election of district and Supreme Court judges as well as the reduction of terms of some state offices. This constitution, since modified many times, is still in effect today. None of the African-American delegates to the 1875 Constitutional Convention participated in the Texas legislature again. – Texas State Library and Archives Commission