We know that the Lateiners were active politically in their German homeland. After a while in their new home a group saw the need to try to unite German speakers into a single active political group. On 14 August 1853 the Rev. L. C. Ervendberg called a meeting at Neu Wied and the Geselliger Verein was formed as a social and political club. Later that year Der freie Verein was formed at Sisterdale with Ernst Kapp as president and A. Siemering as secretary. Other similar groups soon formed. Der freie Verein called a meeting of all Germans to be held during the second Staats-Saengerfest to be held in San Antonio on 14 and 15 May 1854.
At the meeting a group of officers was elected who wrote a platform that would unite the German speaking populace of Texas. When it was released to the general public, it was seen as very radical. We must view it with the eyes of an Anglo-Southerner in a newly democratic republic seething with unrest—on the verge of civil war. Many saw all Germans as radical abolitionists because of the phrase “Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles…” and failed to read the entire document which asked that the Federal government not interfere as States made their own decisions. Generally, the rest of the platform was forgotten.
To-day, it is interesting to look at the document and see what this group proposed and note which items have been accepted and which ones are still emotionally (politically) charged.
We use here the translation found in the Western Texan, 1 June 1854. Sections in square brackets [ ] are illegible in our copy of the Western Texan and are added from R. L. Biesele’s version published in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, April 1930 (33:4)
Resolutions Passed at the Political Convention of Germans in Texas
San Antonio, May 15, 1854
Whereas, we are convinced, that the people of the United States do not enjoy the liberties guaranteed to them by the constitution, nor occupy that position towards foreign nations, in view of their power and extension, which they should occupy; and whereas, we are satisfied that the existing parties have, neither the will nor the power, to improve the political, social and religious relations of the country in a manner to suit the wishes of a large number of American citizens; we have adopted a series of principles, with a view of uniting with that party of those which will, from all appearances, be newly formed, that will afford us the greatest guarantees for the carrying out of our aims.
By so doing we disavow every intention to form a German party; and declare, that our thus associating and conducting our celebrations in our native tongue is induced by consideration of language and none other.
Political Reforms
[1. The Constitution of the United States is] the best now extant, but like all existing things it is susceptible of, and needs improvements. We therefore claim:
- Election of President and Senators, directly by the people.
- Election by the people of Judges, of post tax and all administrative officers, with the exception of cabinet officers and foreign ministers.
- Removal of officers, not from party considerations, but only on the ground of incapacity or violation of duty, according to law and justice.
- Eligibility without reference to the place of residence of candidates.
- The right of the voters, to recall representatives, whose conduct is unsatisfactory, by vote of the majority.
2. In order to secure the United States their proper position towards foreign countries, and to enable them to exert their influence in favor of liberty, we claim:
a. Acknowledgement and maintenance of republican States by actual assistance.
b. Adequate protection of such as belong to the Union, who may be in foreign countries.
c. Adherence to the Monroe doctrine.
d. Abrogation of all treaties for the delivery of fugitives.
3. The naval and land forces are instituted for the protection of the country and its citizens; they should, therefore, be established and maintained as popular bodies within the State. In this regard we claim:
a. That none but citizens and such as have declared their intention to become citizens, at least one year, shall become soldiers.
b. Abolition of all corporal punishment.
c. In time of peace the soldier shall be amenable to the law like other citizens.
d. Abolition of all institutions for the educations of cadets.
e. Establishment of institutions for the perfection of soldiers, who have served for officers; examination by [the State] of officers both in theory and [practice].
Social Reforms
1. Legislative enactments and the administration of justice have for their object, to protect and extend the rights of the citizens, agreeably to the demands of the spirit of the age. Punishments should not extend beyond the requirements of such protection. Wherefore we claim:
a. A general code of criminal and civil laws, which by virtue of their simplicity and certainty, should be intelligible to every citizen and dispense with the intervention of attorneys.
b. The meeting in open Court of prosecutor and defendant, and therefore the abolition of the Grand Jury system.
c. Abolition of imprisonment for debt.
d. Certain property, necessary to sustain life, shall be exempt from judicial sale.
e. Equality of labor and capital in all laws relating thereto.
f. Abolition of capital punishment.
g. Further laws for the encouragement of, and greater protection to, immigration.
h. Repeal of all temperance laws.
2. Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles; but as it only affects single States, we desire:
That the Federal government abstain from all interference in the question of slavery, but that, when a single State resolves upon the abolition of the evil, such State may claim the assistance of the General Government for the purpose of carrying out such resolve.
3. The soil should not be an article of speculation, but should be regarded as a means of compensating labor. In this regard we ask:
a. That not only every citizen, but also every one who has brought himself within the protection of the government, shall, on application, be entitled to a proper quantity of public land, free of charge.
b. Prohibition of the sale of public lands, except to actual settlers.
4. Taxes have no other object, than to defray the expenses of government; they should therefore be fixed with a view to the amount of these expenses and should be, as much as possible, equalized, according to the possessions [of the citizens. We demand in this particular:
a. Direct taxation.]
b. Taxes on incomes in such manner that the larger income should be taxed proportionally higher.
c. A progressive inheritance tax.
d. Higher taxation on uncultivated lands, in order to check land speculation.
e. The greatest possible freedom of trade.
5. Banks can only have the object, to afford to the poor protection against the power of capital, and to support commerce. We therefore claim:
a. Abolition of banks in their present establishment.
b. The establishment of institutions of credit upon a secure foundation.
6. Though Internal Improvements of general utility should be left to the Federal government, we yet ask:
a. Their construction by private industry and public competition, in order to avoid peculations heretofore practiced.
b. Public supervision and proper guarantees to contracts with laborers.
7. It is the duty of the State, to provide for the education of youth as republican citizens, and to remove, as much as practicable, all influences of a deteriorating character. We therefore ask:
a. Free schools supported by the means of the State.
b. Total exclusion of religious training as well as exclusion of religious books from schools.
c. No teacher should be a preacher.
d. No child shall be withdrawn from the free school, unless it is satisfactorily shown, that a sufficient education is otherwise furnished.
e. Establishment of universities, in which any one is admitted free of charge.
f. Examination, on the part of the government, of teachers, physicians, and apothecaries.
Religious Reforms
1. Religion is a private matter. The United States are political states and have no right to interfere in matters of religion, either favoring or restricting. We therefore claim:
a. Abolition of the religious oath.
b. Abolition of Sunday laws and thanksgiving days.
c. Meetings of Congress and Legislative bodies shall not be opened with prayer.
H. GUENTHER [New Braunfels, president]
Wm. KEIDEL [Fredericksburg]
A. SIEMERING [Sisterdale]
L. SCHUETZE [Coletoville]
HIRTZBERGH [San Antonio]
Jul. SCHLICKUM [Fredericksburg]
Sources:
Western Texan, 1 June 1854
“Ethnicity and Politics in Texas” by Joe B. Frantz in German Culture in Texas,
(Boston: Twayne, 1980)
The History of the German Settlements in Texas 1831-1861 by Rudolph L. Biesele,
(San Marcos: German-Texan Heritage Society, 1987)
“The Texas State Convention of Germans in 1854” by R. L. Biesele in The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, April 1930 (vol. xxxiii, no. 4)
