The Arkansas advocate., 1832-08-22


 per time, throw their weight into that
 scale, which, by preponderating, saves
 their country from ruin. trust we
 have men enough of this description in
 Arkansas, 10 compel an obnoxious ru- Hing faction to kick the beam, whency- CT they may think proper 10 turn the scale.
 Where there are but two political parties in country, every man who has spark of patriotism, or cares at all for his rights as citizen, must belong to one or the other of them, for the simple reason, that the true principles upon which depend the rights, privle- ges and liberties ofthe country, must be found in the political tenets of one or the other. Every citizen, then, ought to take the side upon which his judg- ment decides the true policy of the country Is concentrated; Or, if be be- lieves them both wrong, let him come out boldly with his own theory, and practice upon it.
 Ask one of those "no party" gen. tlemen, what his opinion is of the af- fairs of this Territory, including men, measures, and demagogues? he will immediately tell you, with long drawn hypoerilieal grlint, that disgrace hangs over the country like humid vapor, which the rays of a midday sun can scarcely penetrate; that the printers at Little Rock ought to be iashcd from their presses, and their printing mate rlals committed 10 the purifying ele- ment of fire. We'll, my good moralist, what do you think of the Ten Section Bill? "Goyernor Pope is a mighty great man;-evcry man who does not vote for Col. Scyicr should have 75 at black .jaek;-the majority of the Le- gisiatore should be marked and brand ed, and Crittcnden should be banishcd from the Territory" 4 vice persa "no party man will tell you that old Pope should be quartered in the Washita cove, and Woodruff should be hacked up for lsh bait; and at the very mo ment these fellows are uttering more premedltated wickedness, than an hon. est man, who acknowledges his party, would do in the course Of his life, they tell you they "beloag to no party"
 The truth is, as 10 matters of poli- tics, the people of this Territory have but two choices, namely, to submit to tine present state of aff;,rs, as admins tered by the present combined auiheri- ties, or, by a manly, firm, and consis- tent opposition, change it for the bet ter, b5 proper use of that powerful weapon, the elective franchise. The recent curtalment of the Executive pa tronage ia this Territory, has created a belief generally, that that office is at present almost nominal, and that the people enjoy the rights and liberties of d sovereign and independent State, with but trihing drawback remaining III the hands of Congress. Ii will not be difficult to show, that this curtail- ment oi Executive patronage has re- suited in much harm to the interests of the Territory, and that 1t has induced d combination Of exotic and indigenous materials, wholly subversiye of right and justice.
 While the Executive office stood as constituted by the organic law, the Governor had sufficient power to force a respect from the other de partmehts of the government and the people,; but after he was shorn of his original power, he was left 8 mere ma. chine for the purpose Of performing few prescribed duties, like the clerk of a corporation, or the first sergeant of militia company. Under this state of things, man of tolerabie mind and or dinary ambition, exercising the office of Governor, would naturally feel him. self degraded, and attempt by chicane- ry and unfair means to force an infu- enee and importance which were deni- ed him by the laws. The gradation of crime in the career of common thief, and in that of a political demagogue, are very nearly allied with regard to their effects on the interests of society. The former preys on the property, and the latter on the civil rights of the peo- pie; and in the same degree in which property and liberty are estimated i'll the abstract, are we to judge of those otienses to the community.
 While the Governor had proper portion of the government assigned him by law, the people had nothing to fear from the exercise of his prerogatives, except the appointment of his favoritcs 10 fill the different county offices. And