Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-06-15
.nhat Bill and the Veto!

timed, Just ana 1rOpef anu silould hot nave oeeii vetoed.''
 We very much fear that the ancient liners had not seen that bill when they voted on that resolution. If this article should haply fall under the eye of one of that antique brotherhood, we beg him to read a short history of that bill and then, if he does not admit that the action of the Governor in vetoing it. was just and proper, he may join any other society without fear Soon after the organization of the General As sembly 4 member of the Senate introduced bill in the handwriting of T. c. Hindman, which we give below. At the time he handed in the bill there was enclosed in it paper with the notes or heads of a speech he was to make on the bill, all in the same handwriting. So, it appears he was not only instructed what to do, but also what to say, It is necessary to understand the features of this bill to appreciate the de- merits of the one that was vetoed. Here is the precious document:
 "A BILL 10 De entitled An act to change the time of
 electinq Representatives. to the Congress ofe United
 States, and for other purposes.
 SECTION l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly Of the State of Arkansas, That section seven of chapter sixty of the Digest (of le58,) of the statutes of Arkansas, shall be and the is here by repealed
 SEC. ?. On the first Monday in October, eighteen hundred and sixty -one, and every two years there after, there shall be an election held in each town ship of the several counties in each Congressional district of this State for the election of representa- lives to the Congress of the United States and such election shall be opened, held and in all respects conducted as the law provides for opening, holding and conducting general elections in this State.
 SEC. 3. Until the next apportiOnment of repre- sentatives in the Congress Of the United States this State shall be, and remain divided into two Congressional districts. as now provided by law.
 SEC. 4. If this State shall be entitled to three representatives i'll the Congress of the United States under the apportionment of representatives in Congress, then and in that event this State shall be and the same is hereby divided into three Congres sional districts, as follows:
 The first district shall be composed of the coun- ties of Phillips St. Francis Crittenden Mississippi, Poinsett, Greene, Randolph Lawrence, Jackson, Independence, Van Buren, zard, Fulton, Marion, Searcy, Newton, Carroll, Madison.
 The second district shall be composed of the counties of Monroe, Arkansas, Desha, Chicot, Ashley, Drew, Bradley, Calhoun, Columbia, Dallas, Hot Spring. Saline, Jefferson, Prairie, White, Con- way, Perry, Pulaski.
 The third district shall be composed of the coun- ties of Union, Lafayette, Ouachta, Hampstead, Clark, Pike, Sevier. Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Yell ,Pope Johnson, Franklin, Sebastian, Crawford, Washington, Benton.
 SEC. ,. Ii this State shall be entitled to four representatives the Congress of the United States under the next apportionment of representatives in Congress- then and in that event onerepresentative from the State at large shall be elected to the Con gress of the United States until this State shall be disticted into four Congressional districts by law.
 SEC. G. All acts and parts of acts conflicting with this act shall be, and the hereby repealed and this shall take effect and be in force from and after it's passage"
 The sublimity of the impudence of this maneuvre will be understood by those who remember that the federal census will be taken in 1860, and until that is taken, and Congress fixes the ratio of representation, it cannot be known, with certainty, how many representatives Arkansas will be en- titled to. Surely, it is time enough to dis trict the State when 1t is known how many districts are required. The first district as laid off in the bill is very pretty specimen of gerrymandering. It begins at Phillips county, below the base line, runs up to the border of Missouri. and forms a horseshoe sort of district It rejects Monroe Col. Oates resided there It stops at Benton county. That was the home of ,Jndge Greenwood! It pretermitted Washington county Ali. Wilson lived at Fayetteville! To fix it up so as to exclude all competitors, the most ridiculous division of the counties was made Thus in the third district Ben ton county is joined to Union county the one on the Louisiana line and the other in the northwestern corner of the State.
 The intelligent reader will see that this piece of humbuggerv was transparently ab surd. No body of men would stultify them selves by passing such monStrosity. The bill failed and another of the tricks of the lit tie giant was exposed. Truly, he met with discomftures enough last winter to sour him against the democratic party, and it is no wonder he was so eager to induce the mem- bers to draw their pay for the time during the recess, in order that they might bring odium upon themselves.
 Notwithstanding the above bill was re- iected, the first and second sections were again introduced. At the close of the ses- sion, by a little engineering, coaxing, de- nouncing and hurrying, it was passed, in these words GAN ACT to csange the time of electing Representa-
 tioes in Congress. WHEREAS, The laws of this State now in force, provide for the election of Representatives in Con gress. sixteen months in advance of the time of taking their seats thereby depriving the people of that immediate and fresh representation to which they are entitled; therefore, SECTION l. Be t enacted by the General Assembly | of the State of Arkansas, That section seven of chapter sixty two, title elections of the Digest of eighteen hundred and fty-eght, of the statutes of Arkansas, shall be and the same is hereby re- | pealed SEC. 3. On the first Monday in October, eigl-
 
 thereaf>er there shall be an election held in each township of the several counties in each Congres- sonal district of this State, for the election of rep resentatives to the Congress of the United States and such election shall be opened held and in ali | respects conducted the law provides for holding and Conducting general elections in this State
 SEC g. All acts and parts of acts conflicting with this act shall be- and the same are hereby renesled and this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage
 The bill was so palpably in violation of the constitution of the United States. and SD detrimental to the interests of the State, that the Governor promptly vetoed it. And in so doing he did just and proper act. To enable political adventurer to traverse portion of the State, and force himself upon the people, it was proposed to trample on the constitution and the laws, and to deprive the State of Congressional representation for over one-fourth of every two wears. We give the veto message of the Governor. It needs no comment, for the reasons for such action on his part are clearly set forth, and are sufficient to con-
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