Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-09
To the Voters of Prairie County.

10 tne Voters of Prairie County. l | conventions are the only means known to us of concentrating political power and perpetuatine po- ntlcal princlples All parties have resorted to .neii' "i.u they nave become recognized institu- ton m American politics. They have been nrac- 'iceu m every age Of our republic and have re- '.u sanction or purest patriots and states men. All the early presidents, from Jefferson down, were brought before the people by what was Known as the congressional caucus: in fact our government was founded through the agency of coi' 'eil'loiis By referring back to the convention that framed the constitution of the United States
 t"iil De iound that the delegates who composed .h"l oouy were selected by meetings (which were Tor that purpose It is the only means of oivinr expression to popular feeling. MT. Calhoun. whose views are frequently quoted on this subject while admitting that abuses had grown up around con ventlons, suggested plan by means of which con. ven'ions mght be made conducive of public good. IL Is aiedSed' however, that there exists no neces slty for conventions from the fact that there is no | opposition in this State This bas ts rafntat;on Tn the fact that number of opposition county con ventlons nave recently been held in the State and strong eorts are being made reorganze the party II must oe evident to every observing man that the members of the opposition party are too shrewd liot ,o enueaVor to take advantage of the present | ' 'iiC ucdhOCTdtc party. and to reOrTanlZe | their scattered forces. The abandonment of de- mocratic organization of the convention system, at th's tlhe' might i'll your legislature with the opposition members, and would result in the cleo ton of an opposition United States Senator.
 But to conclude what have to say in regard to conventions. To that portion of my fellow citi- l zens who vote with exclusive reference to merit ana qualification, submit whether my nomination by convention renders me less fit to be your re- presentatve than 1 would have been without it. Does It ahect my honesty, my capacity or my in teSrity submit to you whether am disqualified to De your representative because respectable portion of my fellow-citzens discovered that had capacity for that office, than I did myself. In regard to the State policy I shall pursue, deem It necessary to say that will legislate with reference to the encouragement of all the great in dustrlal interests Of the country. Having lived in your midst tor the last ei ght years identified as am, with one of the most extensive interests (that of the farmer,) feel that know something of their wants; and while will legslate in a spirit of hostility to no class or calling, yet I deem that their interest should be my first care. The next
 legislature will be one of the most important that ever assembled in this State. Upsn it will devoye the determnatlon of questions which will affect your interest for years to come. Public attention, through the press and otherwise, has been directed l to the necessity of devsing system of internal | improvements which shall successfully develop the vast resources of the State.
 The propriety of giving State aid to such enter. prses VIII be among the prominent questions claim
 ing the attention of your next legislature. Tn re- gard 70 thls It IS hardly necessary for assure you that l am an internal improvement: man. am in favor of such system of internal improve ments that will extend it's blessings to every DOT tion of the State; and am willing, whenever the State is in a condition to justify such a course to give State aid to all the great railroad enterprises of the State. l must say, however, that do not | deem It good policy for the State to enter upon such system until the heavy indebtedness now 1 hanging over her can be liqudated. She has no puDilc domaln that can be appropriated to such pur 1 poses It would be bad policy to resort to direct taxation to build roads with and our financial em- barrassment would prevent the negotiation of State | bonds except at a runous discount. Hence, in my l opinion, the first of the State should be the eXtn%ulShnent of her bank debts, which are hang ing keja nightmare 'upon us; crippling our ener 1 Sles retarding our progress, and preventing the | early development of the resources of our State. hen these debts are liquidated we can enter upon a system of internal improvements which will, at no distant day, place our State among the first of ! the confederacy
 | To recur again to the subject of internal i'm provement, will further remark that the great be- netits arising from the construction of railroads 1 enhancing as they do the value of almost every species of property, and promotye of the pro
 l ltH9 Oi every StCOlUH LnfOuRu WillCl they pass, deem It proper to say that whenever any portion of my fellow citizens desire a charter for the construc- l ton of any work of internal improvement, with out reference to locality, will vote to grant it. If elected, will favor ludcious reduction of taxes. 1 The present rate of taxation established when the amount of taxable property was much less than it now is The report of your State officials shows l that your present revenue law accumulates more money than is necessary for the administration of the government. l deem it good policy rot to levy tax higher than would be necessary for the eco nomical administration of the government. l find there is much dissatisfaction manifested with regard to your common school fund In dis. charge of my duty as legislator, shonld be h0nor- | ed with your sutfrages 1t will be most agreeable duty to favor such legislation as will promote the diffusion or education. l will endeavor to procure | such modification of your present school law as will make it more efficient. Our present school fund.- though small, would do much good if it could l be made available.
 l will favor raising the magistrates jurisdiction to at least three hundred dollars. Such a policy would facilitate the collection of debts, and by in creasing the profits of the office would invite men of competency to it.
 In regard to the listing and collecting of taxes, think they should be separate and not vested in the same person. The present system of devoly- ing both those duties upon the officer, opens wide avenue for speculation and fraud. EXpe- illo SoNL ltdt lOO lfdlly Sie1uaruS cannot be thrown around the collection and disbursement of our public revenue. It would be good plan to impose the listing of taxes upon the magistrates of | the different townships. Two advantages would result from 1.-the general acquaintance of the magistrate throughout the township would secure the Ii ting of all the taxable property, and conse- quently increase the revenue, and also would have a tendency to bring more competency into that office. Under your present road laws, the county court of each county has the right, provided a maj aority of the taxable inhabitants residing therein petition to that effect, to levy road tax upon all property made taxable by the laws of the State, not exceeding the amount of the State tax in any one year.
 will endeavor to procure such modification of the law will enable the county court to refer this question to the inhabitants of each township, and limit the taxation to the lands of both resi- 1 dents and non-resdents. Under the present law the county court cannot tax single township with out taxing the whole county It would be better to let each township determine for itself.
 It is known to you that an immense amount of
 the very best lands of the State have been held out l of market for years on account of the railroad grants. The settlement and prosperity of the State 1 has been seriously retarded on account of it. A tide of emigration is every day passing us to find homes in other States; which if these lands were only in market would settle in midst. It will be years before the State recOvers from the disas trous effects of these grants. In answer to nume- rous inquiries upon this subject have only to say, that if system of legislation can be devised which will bring the lands speedily into market, and work injury to the railroads will give it my hearty support
 In conclusion it is needless for me to assure you that have never immodestly obruded my opinions upon my fellow citizens; yet, in the exercise of my rights as a freeman have invariably voted with the democratic party. My connection with the upmOcracV dat before XpStpr11y and is tho of sincere conviction that the principles of that party are best calculated to subserve the good of the country. My attachment to the party results from different reason than that assigned by my competitors. They connected with the party merely because they had no other organized party (south) to attach themselves to.
 
 Respectfully your fellow citizen,
 JOHN C. DAVE. Southern Trade.