The Arkansas advocate., 1835-12-04


 the leading features in republican govern
 ment is that of strict accountability of re-
 presentatiye 10 his constituents. Ii may
 then become me as a public agent of the
 pc ople to render you concise detail ofmy
 course in the last Legislature. My duty--
 perhaps my interest-would have dictated
 an earlier discharge of ihis obligation, but
 being called from home on business, and
 unexpectedly detained thereN beyond my
 time, have been prevented. SThe all-ab- sorbng question of State Government so engrossed the attention of the whole Legis- lative body, that many measures highly inn portant 10 the country were lief. undone from necessity. My attempt to regulate the coun- ty treasury, and to secure the more prompt and faithful accountability of sherifs and
 other public officers, failed of success,
 though not for want of my hest exeriions.
 But l succeeded better in procuring the
 passage of law giving mechanics lien
 upon the products of their labor until paid
 therefor, and exempting from all manner of
 execution the tools and implements oftrade
 of every mechanic, and also of every farm CT and cultiyator of the soil, including one
 plough-hofse or other beast of barthen in addition to the several articles of household
 furniture heretofore exempt; thus securing
 the unfortunate and industrious mechanic
 and farmer the means of supporting his fa-
 mlly and freeing himself from embarrass- ment, Tn defiance of the oppression of his
 merciless creditor. An act was passed purporilng to eqnalize the taxation of real estate, but in fact t was but mockery of
 the subject. While the bill was under dis
 cussion Tn the House of Representatives l
 offered resolution referring it to select committee, with instructions to report bill in its place, taring aU p,'opertg, lands and negroes, according 10 raIuat!oa. But in this measure, in itself so just, was over powered, the gentlemen from tlie slave bold- ing counties on Red River and Mississippi an undivided front against it. thus evlncing strong disposition not to bear an equal portion of the burthens of the Government, although at the same time they were claiming more than an equal DOT ton of the representation and control of the Government, on account of their wealth. Several other amendments 10 the existinc laws and of general interest 10 the commu- nhy received my support, some of which passed and others were rejected. But the great subject of calling Convention, as with my duties, under all the cir calls perhaps for more of our attention than any other. The Report in avor of the measure, which as chairman of
 he committee had the honor to make. Was almost unanimously adopted; but d more difficult subject Tn the details of the pill afterwards introduced was found in fix ng satisfactory appoftioninent of the re- presentation. The joint committee which prepared the biIi fur inc Convention consist ed of seven members from each House. promlseuously selected from different sec lions Of the Territory Ny first proposi- tons, as d member of the committee. were. either to let the Convention consist of sixty equally apporlioned among the white inhabitants, or if it would give more general satisfaction, to let ii consist of six y-two members, the same as the Leoisla-
 lure, and elected in the same manner: but he majority of the committee thought this number too great, and forty. then foriy-five, vas suggested, to be equally divided among he white inhabitants. Here the question 'f Sfape representation first presented itself D tangible shape. Mr. Ellis, of Miller county, coniended that three .tijfiths oj the fdres ought to be represented as a matter 'i constitutional right but then expressed l'nselt satisfied with the proposition of some other member of the committee that each county however small should have one representative, and the residue be an- oortloned among the larger counties, ac- cordng 10 numbers. This basis finally re- reived the sanction of the committee, and Dill was presented giving twenty-one mem- oers to the Northern ard Western sections of inc Territory, and twenty-one 10 the Southern and Eastern sections, although much weaker Tn point of numbers than the former. By this arrangement Pulaski coun- y had three members-more in proportion to her numbers than any other except Chi cot. And by this apportionment all the in-
 eresis oi fuiaski were as faliy protected and as securely guarded as they possibly could be without making her sole mistress, and this presume she did nol desire. She lad full power to check either the North, lilN, South, the East, or the West, severally. or c,o'nailned, should they assail her rights. Tn this division ofpower, Pulaski, with Sa-
 lne and White, controlled one fourteenth part; Tn the amendment afterwards propos- ed by Mr. Walker of Hampstead, she only controlled one twenty-hrst part: and in the division finally settled dossa ,,pon. she eans trols one seventeenth part; ;conseonen,lv the first bill introduced by ihesommt,e5. gave her more power in the generafs;v;s;oa