The Arkansas advocate., 1834-01-01

thls act the Governor contends that he is clothed, not only with the power to select and sell the lands, but to appropriate the funds for the accomplishment of the ends for
 which the donation was made. Judge Ful- ton, as acting Governor of the Territory, believed that the act clothed the Governor with no such high and important powers, and so expressed himself in letter 10 the
 agent employed by Gov. Pope to erect the buildings. By reference to the net, it will pc seen that tho landi is granted to the :. i CT rltory ot Arkansas" and that the Governor IS only made the Agent of the Territory to sell and convey the lands. The construc- ton then, placed by Judge Fulton on the powers 10 he delegated to tho Governor by 1 the net is most obviously correct, and the 1 opposite construction eyinces the most unz blushlng assumption of unauthorized powers that we have ever known to be contended for by any public functonary. This exer- cisc of power, so palpably in the teeth of the act of Congress, and in violation of it's express provisions cannot meet with the sanction of flee men. The people of Ar kansas will net tamely and peaceably sub- ! mt to so violent an usurpation of their rights. True Il IS, that we are not to be individ,lai- ly affected by the settlement of this ques- tion, viewed as matter applicable in it's immediate bearing to the people of Arkan- sas. Yet there Is another view in which we conceive ourselves interested, and that IS, in amesting the march of 'yranny where ever We see it--in opposing barriers so as to impede it's progress-and ill arraigning before the bar of public opinion every pub. lie officer who may tfample under his feet the restraints which the law imposes on him. 1t will be recollected that this same Gov ernor, under the influence of the inebriating bowl, t IS believed, ,eulogized himself, as the "0yerseer of distant plantatien." And truly, if the people of Arkansas permit such lawless exercise of power, they will be under the direction of an oyerseer who gov erns with unlimited authority. This land, by the act of Congress, is granted 10 the people of Arkansas. To their representa- tlyes, and to them alone, belongs fhe power of fsaying how the funds shall be appropria- t4d. That individual cannot surely De justly ooiioAious u lSSiSfdtiVe, of SubstiidloiIdi animadFersions, who in the discharge of public duty honestly refuses to assume pow CTS which he cannot officially exeloise.- The people of the Territory of Arkansas can but approbate that high principle of nor ai duty winch induced judge E;ilten, in the absence of the Governor, to refuse to ex- ercise power which placed at his disposal d large fund, by which he could have aug mented his popularity in the employment of friends, and the completion of a building in which the feelings of the people are strongly enlisted.
 There are but few men nowadays filling public offices who go for the interest and benefit of the people. They are first for themselves, and lastly for themselves {; and we have thought that public officer could not give to the people better evidence of his honesty and fidelity, than by taking sides with them against his own interest. it would seem, however, that majority of the House of Representatives of the Legis- lature of Arkansas have yielded 10 the iDa- pe,iai riescs of their dictatorial .0verseer," and with d subserviency, rarely to be wit messed, kissed the hand that chasteneth them.