The Arkansas advocate., 1835-10-09

ol tHiS cistte.y si'S 'iSHs to faEucIpate in the councils of the nation, and the rioh, also, of self-government. which they bassT bss extended 10 other Territories, when ,b.;' population egualled the ratio of Fedara, Representation. Under every asnect ss the subject, it ought to be as desirabIe ts the national government. as ii is to the noe pie of this Territory, that the Terr',os.. should become State. Any action of k, Legislature, tending to urge upon Connrss. our final admission, in the speediest mas msn ner, shall receive my decided support. ''.s
 Surrounded as this Territory Is, by slss, holding States, and the right to hold ,ba, species of property being secured to . ons citizens, by the laws of the land, it is m. m. to De presumed that the molnenous auas ton of the right of restriction, which ono ono threatened the integrity Of the Union. will; again be agitated with reference 10 this Te, ritory, or that the rights of the citizens !, any portion of the Union, will be again die. turbed by it.
 The State of Connecticut had no writ,an Constitution until the year ISIS. Unnl that time, her fundamental law consisted of British charters and customs adopted dn. ring her colonial government, by which sha continued 10 be regulated after she beeams an independent State, and which were ras cognIzed by her people as their constitution. until they adopted written one, at the ne' riod l have already mentioned. And ina State of Rhode Island has never assumed form of Government different from inc one granted her by Charles the second- By this charter. the King ceded to the Gov. ernor and company all powers Executive. Legislative, and Judicial -reserging to b,m. self only, as an acknowledgment of bs sovereignty, render of the fifth part of the gold and silver ore that should be found in the territory. This form of government. adopted by the people after their Declara. ten of Independence, became the Consti tuition of Rhode Island, and continues to ] be her fundamental law, without alteration or change, to the present day. These facts are mentioned, to show that our Territorial i form Of government, modified to suit the change, might be adopted by the people, as ] their fundamental law, after they became State ard it IS worthy of consideration whether such system of government would not, for | time. be highly acceptable to the people. It would greatly lessen the expen ses Of a change of government. It would afford IS time to acquire both wealth and strength, and enable Us to establish our fun i dameDtal institutions, al subsequent peri l od, upon more permanent and lasting ba ] sis. With our Executive and Judicial of ficers made elective by the people or the Legislature, it is believed that our present fundamental law. so altered by Congress
 would be as purely republican, as that of any State in the Union, and 1t could hs adopted by the people, immediately aftef they are declared 10 be independent by Congress-.
 i From the report of the Treasurer of the Territory, it appears that the Territorial debt' on the 30th September, 1885, amount ed to eight thousand two hundred and sixty nine dollars and forty and one half cens exclusive of interest. When # Is consid cred, that so large portion of the expense ] of supporting our Territorial Government ! Is paid by the United States, 1t is somewhat discouraging to find that our revenue Is not ] yet equal to our expenditures. If this de- flclency arises, as Is .upposed, in part from ] The neglect ot tho assessing and collecting officers, would recommend the passage Of l an act making those eili CTS liable to re- 1 Hoval from office, who fail io pay into the Treasury the illl amount of their eoIlec' tions; or who fail to make return of then assessment lists, as required by law; and also, that the Auditor be authorised, on motion, to have judgment entered up by the Superior Court. for all sums unaccuunt ed for, together with exemplary damages, as penalty for neglect of duty. am n. formed that near million of acres of land have been sold in this Territory within
 eighteen months. From this source, as
 sooa as the purchasers obtain their patents
 Arkansas will be able to derive an ample State revenue. But as these lands may not be patented for some time, this source
 ot revenue cannot at present be relied od, although Il affords security for the lniafe E and presents brighining prospect, highly satisfactory. ] therefore submit to your [ consideration, inc question, whether the tax
 on lands should not be graduated agreeably to the quality of the soil, and classified ac cordlhgiy 1t Is certainly unequal, lha
 lands which yield the cuiiyator from five 70 E ten times the increase of other lands, should
 not be taxed higher than the lands whIesN
 produce n So unequal d proportion.
 The reports of the Auditor and TreasDI
 CT of the Territory are herewith transmtee s and the important suggestions contained
 lhe Auditors report are respectfully recon,
 xf. I nuf