The true Democrat., 1856-07-15


 tion of the Laws--The Doctrine that the
 People are to obey Laws of which they
 have no knOwleds e, openly av0wed.
 The Gazette, in long and labored article, arraigns the Governor for having the Acts and Journals Of the last Legislature published and distributed among the people, This is what was reasonably to be expected from the Knoao Nothing organ cf tue Real Estate Bank, W ho is in favor of ruling the people by secret irespoa- sable political societies, and opposed to the suit of the State to bring to light the condition of the Real Estate Bank in which the people have such deep interest. We are not surprised, therefore, that the organ should be opposed to the publication of the acts and journals of the Legislature; we are only surprised that, in this country where the people claim to be free and to have the right of knowing the laws which they are to obey, and claim the right of hold ing their officials to strict accountability, the organ should have the unblushing hardihood to make its opposition openly. What openly op- pose the publication of the acts and journals of the Legislature! To what will not the fa- naticsm of Know Nottingham lead its votares? Are the people to have the proceedings ftheir servants at the capital concealed from their in spection in manuscript records never to be read and never to be seen? Are the freemen of Arkansas, like the slaves of the tyrant Nero, to be governed by unpublished aws--laws only to be found hidden in the archives of the Sec rot,rv of St,to,u offioa2
 The last Legislature was derelict in its duty in so far that it did not make the usual prov- sion for printing the acts and journals. But it made provision enough to answer all pur- poses, if the Governor discharged his plain duty to have the laws executed, imposed upon him by the constitution. The Legislature made an appropriation to pay for the printing, and as they neither elected public printer nor made contract for the printing it was the plain duty of the Governor to have the work done.
 The constitution of the State requires the acts and journals, both, to be published to the people. The Legislature made an appropria- ton to defray the expenses of the publication passed law for that purpose. The consti- tuition requires that the Governor " shaN nhe core that tue laaos Je .taiAJully erecuea." Gov. Conway, under these circumstances did not hesitate, and it would have been criminal for him to have done so. He immediately made contract with the publishers of the True Dem- ocrat for the printing of the acts and ,journals. The work was done at an early day, and in heater style and more convenient form, than ever it was done before. Forthe proof of these facts, we appeal to every clerk of the county court in the State. The cost of printing was the usual rates paid for public printing during the last few years.
 Ike Gazette denounces the Governor for pub fishing the acts and journa1s, because it is op- posed to their publication and distribution among the people It is the organ of the Know Nothing party which had it's origin and it's strength in secret laws and proceedings. It is opposed to open daylight work. It believes in darkness because its deeds are of darkness To what degrading condition would the people be reduced were they denied the privilege of sCfulHIllS tue JouIi!aia ol tHe lINSlSiatNrc, and compelled to obey unpublished Iaws-aws of which they had no means of obtaining any knowledge? Their condition would be that of the most ahject slaves Their boasted liberty would be gone.
 And yet the Gazette, the Know Nothing organ of the Real Estate Bank. censurcs the Governor for not having reduced the people of Arkansas to this condition, by withholding the publication of the acts and Journals. On this issue Gov. Conway is willing to go before the people. If the Legislature fails again in their duty, he will again, if Governorofthe State, cause their acts and Journals to be published and dis tributed among the people, and we venture the assertion, that there is not a man ln the State, outside of the midnight, oath bound party, who will not approve the act, and say, "well done thou good and faithful servant"