Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-11-18
GOrerH0T s hcSSage continued !.

hLerai and economical adopted instead.
The doctrine of removing power beyond the
control OF The people. for their own safety and
benefit, is now being every where exploded. While
the march OF mind aud the progress of improve
nient IN government, is well as in & ther things
the examples afforded us. of remodeng the pri-
mary laws Of some Of tho other Slates-and the
formation Of others. upon the most liberal basis.
by new States Just entering into the great sister
hood, have taken place since the adoption of Ar
kansas. new evidences havo been afforded US. OF
tho ability Of the people TO make selections of all
their public func lonareS, without the inlermedi-
ATE action of irresponsible agencies. affurdlng
Hmpies OF self-goycrnment in the cearest and
strongest Iigh:, which, by adding guarantees
for the faithful performance of pubci trust, and
tho perpetuity of human liborty, ~extoris the ad-
mraIion Of the civilized world
Il consideration Of these suggestions. in further
0Hce of the welfare of your constituents, may in
duce this General Assembly % call n convention
Of the people, based upon ra:o Of the numerical !
strength OF representation in the lower House. to
alter and amend the present Constitution by redu-
cling the number in each branch ofthe Legislature.
The Recommendation may we'll be made upon COR
sderations ola TWO fold character. That portion
Of the old Constitution which provides. "':.In So
much facility for It's alterat: on is believed thu
most obiCclional feature in The Instrument The
Constitution should 90 fixed and stable. By the
present mode, the change takes place without fix
ing the proper responsibility any where: the I'M
Iiatiye step taken by the Legislature is often done
hastily under TIC impression that needful checks
VIII meet the measure in its progress through two
":her stages which it has 10 pass under the forms
provided for sqch amendment-buti is found, that
Ie action OF the people at the ballot box is merely
:assive, tic interest elected by the general e!oc-
IONS having Withdrawn the public mind from such
te measure comes up for their finaI aclion, it is
.fored pass matter Of course, all response
EIhty having long since been dissipated such has
seen the case, such have been the breaches made
lhe Constitution of this State, in less than ihir.
cen years after its adoption.
While approve most of the amendments. BELLE
'tHg them wise aud salutary, my object is TO rem
ely the mode taken in their Accomplishments
And while upon this subject, will Ike occasion
10 present to yogr notice one other valid reason
hich, although last, is not least in importance
alludo 10 that want of constitutional restraint
fihch should be thrown around all Legislative &C
i.on, IN limiting the substance of bill to the char
actcr of lis caption. Who has not witnessed the
vi effects, Of the incorporation of. incongruou.
matter embraced in one bill whereby measure o.
10 merit. and often Of Peruic!ous character, is
attached TO the most important laws, their pas
srge, anG often upon their last reading, placing i
;ages By the merest tricks, incidont 10 the forms
Il ,funrestricte1 legislation.
outstanding the Constitution makes provis
ion fOr establishing Court. Of Chancery, the Leg
!s!alurc has gone farther than to confer chance
- Jurisdiction upon the Judges of the Circu
Courts wI;Eia their respective districts. The ac
cunslaIIon of business of this character, warrants
The establishment Of such Court at the seat OF Go
vcrRment, as the law cases, apart from those il
II
Having learned from gentlemen OF the bar. III.
Importance oil thus measure, | most respectfully
commend il 10 your attention.
/ he SUBJECT OF Internal improvements is one O
vital interest," and is we'll worthy Tho cOnsiJerotio,
OF this General Assembly. While the power i
denied, under The Constitution Of the L. States I,
Congr, S.. 10 establish such q system within lh.
States, as well as the expedlency of comforting {
power so dangerous in Its exercise bv a govern
ment with thousand varying and sectional inte
rests are questioned, and where from the manne
OF receiving The almost entire revenue is from i'm
posts levied upon the articles received in exchanUe
abroad, for one or two great staples whose growlI
Is confined to portion Of the Union, much weak
er IN lis representation III the national conncs
Than IN lis contribution to the common cxpancf
tCres, sound policy would not claim the exercis,
OF doubtful! power by Congress for temporary
advantage, derived from partial appropriations
still the power and privilege under the State 20
TerEElsA1, has never been questioned or denied. -
The only objec. of consideration in connection
with this subject. is the means of lis accomplish
mcnt. The general government, in the grant o
3OO,OG0 acres as do,. alton TO this State, coulC
not have afforded 10 US q A'ronger Instance OF the
recognition Of the exclusive r. ght in the respective
StateS and her want OF the abil.V 10 entertain th
work herself, than by making such grant. The
right, on the part Of the General Go, arnment, Il
10 collect money and to distribute IL omo,,g q the Sc
veroI States for such purpose being doubt,d. the
power or tie Government TO grant lands for that
or any oiher beneficial purpose to the States il
winch they lie, ls maintained upon ralioua. grounds
first, because the lands are cgitinateIy the Dro-
Pcrty of the States in which they lio second, il
is jus. and rational 10 surrender hern because the
new States can never be placed upon 4 constitu-
uonal equality with the Oldest States until thew
shall possess, well the right Of soil as of iurs-
diction within their owQ limits. The constitution
provides that States shall be admitted into
Ibis Union upon equal footing ith the original
States. Although the State Of Arkansas has pas
sed through all the forms of admission for more
Than twelve years past, yet she is still in Il state
o! pariuriion and cannot be fully in the Union
upon Just and constitutional grounds, until she has
The right to taA every foot of domain within her
jurisdiction 1t is true Justice requires that the
United States Treasury shall be reimbursed for
the outlay In The purchase ofthe original territory
cut OF which our State has been carved rs well
also Tor the eXtlngu!shmeat Of Indian titles and