The Arkansas advocate., 1835-12-11
We aye again at our post. after an absence


 of three weeks. The Times has become un- usually patriotic in the mean while, and sum- dry guns, loaded with blank cartridges, have been shot off in it's columns against us and some of our friends. A word or two shall be sufficient answer to these volleys.
 The first writer with whom we have to deal, assumes the becoming and modest sig nature of A. B. C.--a proper signature for one who has hardly taken his first lesson III the horn book of political knowledge. His lucubrations extend through three numbers. We shall only touch on one or two points in the whole of this ssWisdom of Solomon
 In his second number he says, ssthe Advo- cate, which is the ostenshle organ of the Southern doctrine, has given Us q tangible clue to what is meant by district repre- senta- ton. That paper says it is, that every coun- ty shall have representative, without re- gard to size, or number of inhabitants.' We said that we would prefer that the whole of Arkansas should be divided into districts
 
 send one Senator. But say these sapient writers, ssthis is the same thing as negro re- presentation,s We should like to know if it IS tho same thing as negro representation in the States where such district representa- tion is established, and where there are no slavesf
 But these crazy writers cry out lustiIy of their patriotism. They go for the rights of the. free tclite ntales. They are the only true Simon Pures. Any thing else is aristocratic, outrageous, and not to be thought of. They labor assiduously to convince the poor men of this country that district representation is only another plan for giving the rich man one. Let us see how the matter really stands.
 / It is plain, from the contests in the last Legislature, that the South of Arkansas has { been placed in decided opposition to the North. There are two great divisions in this Territory-and there will be two in the future State. One of these, the South, is in a minority as to numbers. Now it is of course agreed by every one that the House of Representatives in the State Legislature shall Dc elected, osse fer SC many free white males-on the popular basis. Here then the North will have the majority. If the State Senate Is elected in the same way, the North win have a majority there too. Where tbea sshe protection for he miaority2 It has been the great complaint of the Southern States that the minority in the Union is entirely at the mercy of the majority. Is that man pat riotic who deprives minority of his fellow citizens of all protection and security-of all check on the majority! We ask again. where would be the power given to the minor ity to check the usurpations of the majority! If we form both Houses on the same basis, the vote in one will be the same. on every sectional question, as in the other. For ex- ample, the Senate consists of twenty mem- bers, let us say, and the House of sixty. If both are elected on the same basis, the pro- portion of Northern and Southern votes will be the same in both. Whenever therefore sectional question comes up, and is settled in one way by one house, it must, in the nature of things, be settled in the same way in the other. Where, we ask again, Is the safe- guard for the rights of the minority? Let these men who gabble so loudly about patri- otsm, answer if it is patriotism to take away from the minority every check against the ra- pacity and greediness of the majority.
 But we are ''the ostensible organ of the Southern doctrine." If this means that we wish to see Senate formed by members elected from Senatorial districts of equal sr- lent, it is our doctrine, and we will sink or swim by it. Shall we not provide for the rights of the future as well as the present in- habitants of our countrya Equal extents of country may be supposed to be capable of supporting equal numbers of inhabitants. In making Constitution intended 10 ba perpe- tual, we should provide for the interests of the coming generation. If 1t means, howe yer, that we are actuated by sectional feel ings in advocating the doctrine, We deny it. It is doctrine for the whole country--for the benefit of the thinly settled portions of the North, as of the South. Let it be remember ed that the House of Representatives will be tho peoples agent. TTe aoani nnofhey ao,eat