Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-01-02
impairihg the obligation of con

tract was most ably reviewed, and the pow CT most clearly denied. In that State after its severance from the old government, and before 1t became member of the Confed crate States or the adoption of its constitu- tion, a stay law was passed, and the court held, that if nothing in the State constitn- tion had prohibited, the adoption of tho constitution of the c. $. after the passage of the act, would have ipso tacto, annulled and rendered void, so far as 1t was oppo- sed to, and in conflict with the constitution of the c. $. So much then, for the pow CT of the convention to intefeIe with this grant. am of the opinion that the title of the R. road company to these lands, em braced in this grant is clear and indeteasl- ble beyond the reach of the legislature, or of the convention, and in this opinion, l am sustained by some of the best legal tal- ent in the State. Before parting with the convention, and in order to fully advise them of their duties, should they ever be called together again, (which God forbld) 1 make the following extract, from an able article, published in the Washington Tele- graph, some time in July last, edited by JnO. R. Eak1H, ESQ. He says
 "The convention was called to take into consideration and determine the political relations of the State-for no other pur- pose. The act of the legislature calling it, was passed in view of the troubles between the United States and the South, and was intended to give the people an opportunity of declaring in their sovereign capacity whether or not they would dissolve their connection with the federal government and if they should so wish, to enable them through the convention to do so and unite with the South. For this purpose, and for this alone, the people voted. Let each man candidly question himself and refer in his memory 10 the canvass for the convention, and say whether or not, secession or union, was not the sole question then in his mind. And as he voted "convention" had some kind power lifted the veil of the future and revealed to him that he was calling in to being a body of frail and erring nor talS, who would not only withdraw the State from the federal compact, but having done that would assume supreme authori- ty over all legislation-change the constl- tuition without reference to the people annul the acts of the gislature-establlsh ordinances which the regular law making power might never be allowed to alter or annul-impose solemn oaths of obedience upon all who executed the offices of the State, and adjourn with the power of reas- sembling and perpetuating it's power would he not have shrunk aghast from the picture of so terrible danger to his liber- ties, and have suffered his right arm to have fallen from its socket before casting the vote.
 But it never was contemplated, no one could have foreseen what has happen ed. There was nothing to call the at tention to it, Neither the act of the legis lature, nor the speeches of the canvass, nor the papers of the day, ever alluded to or thought of aueht but secession. The convention was specially created for that alone.
 When Arkansas was pluclsed away from the federal stem, she became 6 perfect gov ernment, fully organized. There was no necessity growing out of circumstances for the convention to assume general leglsla- tive powers The governor and legislature might have done all that was necessary to secure the safety of the State, or any defects in their power might have been supplied by amendment of the constitution. Ten nessee seeded even without any conven- tion, and did all that was necessary. It must not be forgotten in this connection that the limitations of power in all legiSla- lures were principally imposed by the feder- eral constitution. and that the legislatures may do all that they are not forJidden to do. When the convention did its legitimate business, and removed the incubus of fed al restraints off from the legislature 1t be- come ip8o tocto capable of exercising all the powers ofa sovereign State. 1t might legitimately have made war, raised troops issued bills of credit, granted letters of mar que and reprisal pledged the public lands, supported armies, made treaties, done any thing in fact not prohibited by its own con stitution, and, unless we fail to remember, none of these things are. Had the conven- ton adjourned and gone home, there would have been no need of revolutlon.- All the revolution now existing they made Their services were not required, as legisla- tors. The body was not organized for pru- dent legislation about ordinary matters no single bodies are There were none of the restrictions and safe guards against has, tv action. It would do we'll enough to ex press the opinion of the people concerning secession and our relations with the south ern States. That it should have done, and have left other things undone. It was Nnever asked to do otherwise. It was not fit for it."
 To those members of the convention, who voted for Hobson's amendment, l, in behalf of this company tender them our sincere thanks To those who apparently wish to deprive us of our land grant, l leave to their own reflections in the matter with wish that theirrights may never be interfered with in like manner. Entertain ing the foregoing views, see no cause why you should not at once proceed to dispose of your lands, I would therefore advise that they be offered for sale at such prices as may be agreed upon by your board of directory.
 FEDERAL GENERALS IN MIssoURI.-Two of | the federal Generals in Ohio as great military humbugs as Fremont himself One | of them, Gen. Sturgess, commanded the cav 1 Il .Ia sfC O. .cn11