Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-05-30
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONVENTION
TLa.ra4Il.u Nav 22 ISG1.

Thursdoy, May g, 1851. Convention met and after the minutes were read and approved, Mr. Turner presented a communication from Gen. N. B. Burrow representing that T. P. Crntchheld, late U. s. Receiver at Little Rock, dled on the 2lst of January last, and had left Tn the hands of his official securities about Sl0o,- 900; that portion of this had been paid in the way of post office drafts, but that there still remained in the receivers oll2e, of which he held the key, about Si0,oo0, and proposing that the State should take charge of thls.
 Mr. Stilwell presented memorial from S. H. Tucker, c. F. Bertrand, s. II. Hemp stead and Peter Hanger, remaining secu- rites of Crutchfeld, requesting that the convention take no action in regard to the matter, but that the remaining money be allowed to be paid to Rapley & Hanger for postal services in the State of Arkansas.
 On motion of Mr. Turner, both memo rials were referred to the judiciary con- mittee
 Mr. Lanier presented communication from the officers at Camp Rector, recom- mending the appointment of Major J. J. Gaines commander of the artillery.
 Hon. E. H. English, chief justice, and Hon. H. F. Fairchild, associate justice, and | Hon. J. l. Stirman, secretary ot state, ap- peared within the bar and took the oath prescribed by the ordinance of the conven- tion.
 Mr. Stillwell introduced an ordinance providing for the repeal of an act of the le- gislaturc in regard to the militia law ap- proved January 24th, 1861.
 | Mr. Yell saw no necessity for the repeal. He presumed the gentleman's desire for it's repeal arose from the facility with which money could be drawn under it. This was remedied by the general ordinance of this convention upon the subject, which provides that money shall not be drawn except for actual service.
 Mr. Stillwell thought there was liability fo conflict in the two acts. Without his ordinance it would be matter of construc- ton, and while one officer might construe it one way, another might think differently. He proposed to put it beyon cavil or doubt.
 Mr. Floyd advocated the passage of the ordinance. The law passed by the General Assembly placed too few limitations al ound the drawing of money, and under its ope- rations a large amount had already been paid out, which, undera more rigid system, might have been saved.
 Mir. Mayo moved to lay the ordinance on the table, The ordinance introduced by the gentleman from Pulaski proposes to abolish a whole system necessary for the proper training of the militia. He did not believe we ought to abandon the proper training and organizing the militia.
 Motion to lay on the table failed and the ordinance was adopted.
 Mir. Patterson, of Jackson, introduced an ordinance declaring that the members oi the military board shall outrank any officer of the Arkansas militia. Adopted.
 Mir. Gould introduced an ordinance pro- viding that the military board have control of the arms of the State, and that all the arms distributed be returned to them.
 Mir. Totten, of Arkansas, moved its re- ference to the committee on military affairs.
 Mr. Cypert moved to amend the motion for reference by instructing committee tc report tomorrow Motion and amend ment adopted.
 A communication was presented from the executive, representing that he was toe unwell to attend the convention, and re- questing the appointment of committee to wait upon him and administer the oath prescribed by the ordinance.
 Mr. Totten, of Arkansas, moved that the president of the convention and two mem bers, to be appointed by him, be q commit tee to wait upon the Governor and admin ister to him the oath prescribed by the or dinance, and that the convention take a half hour recess while the committee was performing this duty.
 Resolution passed, and Mcssrs. Totten nfc t6fifn1ttec: '""" ''"'"
 At the expiration of the half hour the convention resumed it's session
 Mr. Totten, of Arkansas, from the com mttee to wait upon the Governor, reported that they had performed the duty assigned them, and that his excelency had taken the oath prescribed blythe ordinance of the con vention.
 The regular order of the day, ordinance No. 15, providing for the conGscation of the personal property of alien enemies, was taken up.
 Mr. Totten, of Prairie, moved the re- commitment of the bill, with instructions, to appropriate the indebtedness of Arkan- sas with citizens of the -slayeholding | States in such manner as not to interfere with the rights of attorneys or other agents, and so as not to make it oppressive upon | I Il moving this amendment, he remarked that the bill returned here was most admirable in its details and was finely gotten up, but while satisfactory in it's provisions in re- gard to the personal property of alien ene mics, it did not propose to absorb northern indebtedness. Northern newspapers repre- sent that there are forty odd millions of dollars of northern indebtedness in the South, and in their discussions of this sub ject, habitually assume that this amount will be absorbed and appropriated by us for the support of the war. It is not only sanctioned by all the writers upon interna. tional law, but is just and right that the means due to the enemy in our midst, should be absorbed and appropriated to his defeat. The State of Georgia, through the proclamation of her Governor, has already taken the initiative in this matter, and has declared that all the indebtedness due to northern citizens shall be paid into the treasury of that State and appropriated to the support of the war. It is true, 1t pro- vides for its refundment to the debtor at the close of the war; that however, is very different question. It is mere ques- tion of diplomacy, to be hereafter settled, and does not involve the rghtfulness or policy of the proposed absorption and ap- propriation. Acts of confscation, not only of personal property and indebtedness, but of real estate, were passed by all the colo nies during our revolutionary struggle.- We have the sanction of revolutionary ancestry, not only as to the morality and DO. Hey of confscation in general, but as to it's propriety in struggle not dissimlar to that in which our forefathers were enoaned