The Arkansas banner., 1844-02-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
Eor Me .arA.ansas Ranaer.

For the .arkGnsGS Banner.
 1 MR. EDIToR-The proposition to call an- ! other Democratic Convention, for the noml- nation of candidates, appears decidedly polite and proper The only objection, however, which l have heard to the nominations oil 1 the late Convention is to that of one of the i electors, who, bymany of his acquainances, 1 Is regarded as a whg II is confidently as serted, that in the winter of l840, he pro- fessed himself whig, and that if democrat, he must have changed since that time. In this, injustice may be done him, but as Albert Pike, Esq, of your city, is one of the men to whom, 1t is said, he made known his politics, the truth or falsity of the assertion can readily be ascertained. At all events, It was in belief of it's truth, that his nomination as one of the electors was viewed with sur prise and dissatisfaction. Should another convention assemble, would suggest the name of Dr. John T. Cabeen, of Bradley county, as a substitute, a democrat of long standing, and known throughout the State as 1 most estimable citizen.
 ] It is not to be disguised that the charge so ! frequently and perseveringly urged, by some, l that the State has been under the government 
 monopolise it's offices, has had its effect even among democrats Union and harmony among our friends being the object of the proposed convention to meet in May next, that fact will probably be taken into consideration, in mak- i ing it's nominations; and should it be deemed advisable to substitute the name of some other democrat, for that of Elias N. Conway, l I would suggest the name of Col. James Smith, of Arkansas county, for Governor. i His acquaintance in the State Is extensive, and none who know him well can doubt his capa- 1 city and integrity. He Is man of experience staid habits and sound judgment, above and 1 frmness, of Aattery or fear, and stauneh and incorruptible democrat If the convention will but try him by the 'stime honored re- publican test" ''Is he honest, is he capable, is he faithtul 10 he constitution9" he will be marked as the man.
 It is to be fervently hoped that the con- vention will avoid the names of persons con nected with the management of the Real Estate Bank. as well as of those who were concerned in passing the specie law of the last legislature. The passing of that law, in connection with the failure or refusal to pro- vide for the payment of the salaries of other officers, is regarded by many as an outrage upon the constitution, which democrats can- not consistently overlook. And they reason | thus-By the laws of Arkansas fixing the compensation of members of the legislature and other officers, they are fixed either Ill dollars, or in pieces of paper acith the pro- miSes of Banks printed on them. If in pieces of paper with the promises of Banks printed on them, then the compensation of members of the legislature of lS42 was so fixed; and since the constitution prohibits the changing of such compensation of members, by any law to take effect during the same session at which it passed, he cannot be faithful to the constitution who would vote for the specie law of the last session, which took effect on it's passage, and required specie to be paid to the memberships changing their com pensaton by law taking effect during the same session at which 1t was passed.
 Again If by the laws fixing the compen- sation of members of the legislature and other officers, that compensation was fixed in dollars, then the salaries of other officers, of judges for instance, were payable in dolldrS. A contract existed between the State and those officers, upon their election that they should be paid for their services a certain number of dollars quarterly, and he cannot be faithful to the constitution who would refuse to provide the means of complying with that contract. And the con- stltuton having further provided that the compensation of judgess hall not be dimin- ished during the time for which they were elected, he cannot be faithful to the constitu- ton, who would, by refusing the means of payment in any thing else than the depre- ciated paper of broken banks, diminish their salaries to the amount of that depreciation.
 A man who will take public money by an unconstitutional act, or who would do ind- rectly what he cannot under the constitution do directly, cannot stand the Jefersonian test, His he honest, is he capable, is he faith- fut 10 the constitution2" and it is to be hoped that the convention will propose no such | man to the democrats of this State. Let us have candidates unencumbered with such | sins of omission and commission, and there is no fear of the result. Otherwise, however, there is not only danger of defeat, but danger in victory; danger in victory, lest by electing such man, we sanction and proclaim the doctrine that honesty is not the policy of Arkansas; that 1t is right and proper to com init fraud upon her constitution, and upon her creditors, when money can be saved by it; that the oath of office to support her con- stitution Is mere matter of form, and imposes no obligation, when by so regarding it the debts of the State can be paid in the paper of broken banks instead of money.
 A DEMOCRAT OF '9S.