Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-12-21
GEN. c. F. HEM1SGwAY.-

luen plunuered the treasury. Hlndman, Tn
 his speeches, as proof that he did not
 indorse the per diem iniquity, says he gave
 it as his opinion that the members were
 entitled to the ninety-six dollars, but that
 he ad0ised his friends not to take it! He
 urged, almost insisted, that Fletcher and
 Oates should sign the certificates, and while at this work, he says himself, he was ad- vising his friends not to take the money
 All this shufhing and lodging is easily ex- plained when we go back to the beginning
 Upon the breaking up or informal adjourn ment of the legislature, without day fixed for the return of the members, the cabal sought to take advantage of the state of things. If the Governor refused to fix a day for their reassembling, they would ac- cuse him of neglect of duty, of permitting the public interests to suffer and vast sums to be drawn from the treasury for services they would have sworn the legislature was in session then, and that he was assuming power to dismiss one body and create a new one. It was evident that the unfinished business had to be completed at an early day and that some specified time should be given for the legislators to re-assemble. After full consultation, not only with law yers "of no mean repute," but with the officers of the two houses, the course adopted was decided upon. A similar state of things once existed in the State of Alabama. The members, upon re-assembling, submitted to the supreme court of that State, the ques- tion whether they were entitled to per diem or mileage and the court unanimously de- cided that they were not entitled to per diem, but that they were entitled to mileage. At the proper time copies of that decision will be published 1 need not tell you that whatever course Gov Conway adopted would have been censured The cabal rub bed their hands with glee at the prospect of trouble. When the Governor fixed day for the re-assembling of the legislature, 1t was very evident that was equivalent to saying: The legislature is not in session it will sit again on the 18th day of Jan- uary next. This cut off expenses and saved the State ten thousand dollars. The move was, is, and will be popular one
 It was right; it was, indeed, the only proper course to be pursued under the circumstan- ces. To thwart this action of the Cover nor-to render nugatory the benefits to be derived from 1t and at the same time
 to be revenged on the democrats who had voted against the cabal, they adopted this plan: First, to assert that though the legis- lature was not in session, yet the members were entitled to pay. By this means they deprived the democracy of the credit of having saved several thousands to the State. Second, to induce or force Oates and Fletch- CT to sign certificates and then fasten the odium upon them. Third, to influence and persuade the Sebastian men to take the ninety-six dollars, but not to take 1t them
 selves. Then they could have said: "We refused to take this money. Behold, we are the puros. Look at your democracy who run their arms into the treasury" They asserted and contended, from the very start, that the members were entitled to 1t under color of law. The fact is, that the legislature can do what it peases with the public money. They can appropriate it tc individuals, or companies, or give 1t away to whom they please. In that sense they
 had legal power to vote themselves pay 10
 services not rendered It was a right o
 power. But the law fixing their compen sation did not give it to them. In tha 7 other sense it was illegal. Some men, a
 Gray and others, really thought they wer
 entitled to it and drew 1t. Others saiC r they might as well have it as anybod, 7 Some were told they dared not take 1t, an
 took it to show their independence. Son were foolishly persuaded that l had insultt 7 them, cast reflections upon them and took to spite me. Others said: "Well, boys, is not exactly right, but if you take it., will" Note now, the cabal did not dra
 this money until the last two or three da, of the session. To go back to the resign
 tion of Mir. Oates. The scheme of the;
 fellows was seen through. They were i
 sisting that the speaker should sign the ce
 tificates and that the members were entitlt , to the money. They were suffered to 2 along till they had committed themselve
 They dug pit and swore it was not dee and that it was eminently proper to jun
 into it. Mr. Oates resigned and Mir. Duv;
 was elected. This was saying in substanc
 now if the pitts not deep, jumpin yourse f yes. They were caught in their own tral The very consistency which they bragge
 about required them to do those things the
 had been persuading others to do. I'll
 only hope now was to make all take It,
 that all would be censured alike. Whe
 coaxing would not do bullying was triet
 One of Hindman's lodges was to te
 the members that I had sandered them an
 if they would be independent of me the
 must take the money. At first, the cabs advised their followers not to jump IT
 When they were forced to leap, then tn
 opposite policy was pursued of trying to ge
 all in pile. Some in acceding to tn
 importunate requests of others, agreed
 take it, carry it home and give 1t to thel
 county or to schools Some took It unde
 the pressure, but when that was removed returned it. In word these fellows, caugh