Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-01

1 purpose III every case, we say nOl anu why. "o must meet all political exigences they arise lfa storm should gather our political horizon, we would desire an old pilot at the wheel we would wish some one who had some experlencelh Tn goVerhhleht re election in such case becomes necessary rotation | in such case will not be most beneficial univer sal rule must be without exceptions for exception destroys it. universalty 1t k no longer entire. 1t is no longer universal. In the presented the exigencv of the time would demand suspension Of the doctrine of rotation, and consequently renders it no longer universal This demonstrates beyond doubt that if the greatest good to the greatest num- Der be the fundamental principle of democracy, the doctrine of rotation never become unirerSal rincple."-Tam Buren Aatel1igencer, Aug. l4h. | This is excellent doctrine; the reasoning is sound and logical; we subscribe to every word of it. Moreover the Inteligencer in its issue of October 2d in referring to the fact that the Hon. John s. Phelps had been spoken of as prominent candidate for the spearkership of the | House of Representatives, thus endorses that gentleman's fitness for the post: We cordially and heartily endorse the above His long service in Congress, his matured judgment and his industry render him peculiarly fit and suitable for the speakership." How little these extracts resemble the tone of former one given from the same source. Here we have the h. l telligencer advocating the promotion of a gen. rleman to position of increased dignity and trust, because of his "irdustry," his "matured udgment," and his "long services.'' What worse than this have we who are accused of being in favor of "perpetuty in office," been guilty of? On what other grounds have we advocated the retention of any officer in the public service? But we resume our extracts:
 '" We do not belong to any sectional party clique, have always been in the national democratic par ty and are in favor of having all parts of the State or Union. represented by of the same party. If has served one term and found worthy in any office, 1t is reason that he should be damed and if the peope say elect him, have obect h. but the people say let it be known that he is not sec tional' man.
 The people are in favor of rotating every sectional man, either in high low offices and when this kind gre removed, and men elected that have connec- ton with hem. and il the people think them worthy we say elect them a second time. But we will never be in favor of one family being kept in office for life "-Fo't tSD1ith Herad, Aog. 22ad.
 The Herad's correspondent Rotation" in an article published in that paper of August 18th, says:
 Rotatonists do not contend that having once holden office hall disqualify from ever holding again. have already shown that we do not deny the con-tltutona right of any to hold office dur ing life If the people to re-eect him again at the expiration of each term.n
 And the same writer in another article pub lished in the Herald of October 3Oth, further observes:
 Again, the enemies of rotation either misunder-
 
 don't know of any W no contends that having once holden office disqualifes from again holding it, but we at the same time say that it confels upon him no rights superior to other men,"
 The Napoleon Planter in commenting upon some views on the subject presented by the True Democrat, makes the following avowal:
 Again in the above extract he gives Us to under stand that those who adv"ca'e change of incum- bcntS in of the leading offices of the State can not do otherwise than advocate the removal of all officers at stated periods. This is not the ca,e.'
 And pursuing the theme, introduces this ex- tract from the True Democrats:
 '' And while we freely admit that no one should be allowed to remain in simply because he k inf his place can be filled by more honest and capable We shall ever contend that no man should be remov- ed for the purpose of supplying place for another less deserving, less honest or less capable"
 And responds thereto in these words:
 We endorse every letter of the above-t is thor oughly democratic and it expresses to fraction the extent of onr rotation proclivtes.' :"
 Now let the reader compare the foregoing extracts with the following enunciation of pru- cipe made by the True Democrat in respond ing to the charge that it is in favor of "perpe- tulty Tn ottlce," etc, to be found in its issue of Oct. 9th. The very same position had been taken by 1t, in the discussion of the question. in its previous issues, but having it here ex- pressed in more compact and consecutive form, hence our selection:
 'Our position is that man having been once elect ed to fill an office is sufficient for his being damned forever afterwards and therefore prohibited from aspiring to office in future. We accord to him the rght to aspire as often he may desire, and to the peoPSe the right to elect him as often as they choose. While We give to every man. under all cir tunstaneeS, the right to offer candidate for any office we also accord to the people the right to elect whom they please. We detest prescription and will pros eribe no man, i1 or out of office"
 What person unacquainted with the course of this discussion would fer one moment SUD- pose, on comparing the preceding extracts, and noting the remarkable coincidence of senti- meEt, that the language proceeded from parties so widely anta8onlStlc as the rotatiouistS and the anti rotatonists? The suppositon would naturally be that these views were the expres- slons of persons holding one identity of opinion, and given from the same stand point of the subject, instead of from extreme divergent points. The True Democrat merely rcitorates. m the correction of misrepreseutations, views previously eXpresse3, see, for instance the issue of l4th of July last; whilst the rotationists, having been driven to the wall by the expose ot the irresistible results of the adoption of thelr prlncpe, desire to escape theretrom by dehnlng their positions aud stating tut they 'oouAt not al'oays oPply ther principle; that where the public good required iis pretermsson they would pretermit its action. They are, there tore, as we stated in previous number, not TO- tat'0aists, as such They unfortunately 1t would appear, selected word as a rallying cry whose meaning they have to qualify, 10 pare down, until It really means little if anything more than is included in the principle and usage of renoUal from o6ice. Is it then asked why, since we acknowledge this disqualified meaning of the phrase, we have written at such length to expose the unsouudness of the principle of TO- tatIon? Our answer Is that while we hold to the strict etymologcal and conventional mean Ing of the word, and assert 1t can have no other we are willing, If they will act up to their ad. missions, to give them the benefit of the con- sessions they have put upon the record; but even III doing this have found their articles SC overburdened with unsound arguments and sophistical reasoning in favor of the principle, unaccompanied by the disclaimer as to the qualified meaning which they wish to convey the one appearing constantly, the other occa- slonaly-that the great body of readers lose sight ot the main question: the cry of "rota- tlon,' Tn all the vigor and ullneSs of its conse- quences. It is this idea we have endeavored to combat; and since can not admit that the rotationists can at will change, alter or modify the meaning of words and of language, we are forced to consider them in their ordinary and accepted meaning. There is, however, another al ernatlve: Will the rotatiOnists, since they declare they do not desire the strict application of the principle-since in point of fact, they have qualified and so modified the distinc- tive signfcation of the word selected to repre- sent their principle that it ceases to be princi- ple-like honest and true men drop the word, and select some other, whose ordinary and le- gltlmate meaning requires to softening down, no pruning to correctly represent their views? l hls IS the course that common integrity, and common justice and plain dealing with the mass of the people, would dictate should be pursued; if 1t be not adopted but the cry of "rotatiou' persevered in, they can blame only themselves if doubts of their purity of motive be invoun- tarily suggested and forced upon the considera- ton of the rehecting and reasoning observer CONSERVATIVE
 !Sebastian county Ark., Oct. 18th, 1857.