Des Arc citizen., 1866-11-17
GOV, MURPHY'S MESSAGE.

Q
 to the General Assembly of the State
 In it there is nothing extraordinary, ii
 we except the marked disposition to
 evade committal to any policy or line
 of conduct. After setting before the
 House the manner by which the pres
 ent State Government was organized,
 which he declares lis the offspring oi
 necessity he proceeds to the discus
 sion of the various measures that will
 require the consideration of both
 Houses. Calling attention to the rev enue of the State as being of great i'm portance, he says: '0The prosperity of State depends in a great degree on its revenue being sufficient to meet all needful expenses. A State whose scrip is at discount cannot count on . high degree ofprospcrity. Taxes may
 be high, yet if assessed on equal prin- ciples, operate as stimulant to enter prise and industry if the revenues are wisely appropriated to education and N 10 the improvement Of roads and riv- crs." Next in order is the education of the rising generation; and upon this subject only is he perfectly sounu. With him we believe that education is a subject of grave import, from the fact tliat 'no State in the Union is at present behind Arkansas in education al provisions. He advocates the es- tablishment of common schools to the end that Arkansas may keep pace with other States i'll educational facilities.
 Passing over that portion of the mes- sage in which the civil rights bill is discussed with a mighty leaning in it's favor, we come to his views upon the Constitutional Amendment; and here the Governor actually surprises us. Hear what he says about it. .'Though not all the insurgcnt States could de- sire, it becomes very grave question for the Legislature to decide whether any terms more favorable are likely to be obtained by opposition, or whether if is not the better policy for the State to accept the proposed terms, and thus secure the prompt reconstruction of the State into harmonious action with the governing States, and on an equal sty with them in the Union.' "Not all the insurgcnt States could desire j" hf,vr ffJ of hof .1v,,, Ia spoken in these few words in favor of a measure that destroys the honor of Arkansas, insults the memory of her noble dead, and writes infamy and dis grace upon her brow. No, it is not all the States could desire, nor is there in it one feature that could be desired by Arkansas, though the adoption of it secured to us full represent ntion ofwhich, wehave no guarantee, This proposition from the Governor, We feel, will be instantly rejected by our Legislature. Never can that body of men SO disgrace themselves and their constituents, as to ratify the Con- stitutional Amendment. Palsied be the hand that introduces it, and may the tongue grow mute that advocates it. If harmonious action with the governing p States can but thus be secured, let us never act in harmony ; and if our s'equality (Dlwith them in the Union is to be bought with such a price, in the name of honesty and in- tegrity let it never be paid. But what authority has our Governor for saying or believing that our relations with the general Government will be thus established. Surely Forney has not guaranteed it, nor will the oracles of Radicalism admit it. We repeat, in thus recommending this measure to the Legislature, the Governor surprises us, for we did think--notwithstanding his over-loyal proclivities-his knowl- edge of the peoples views and deter imitation in this matter would restrain him. After treating at some length the railroad and aenitentiary question, he closes by invoking the Divine favor .on the workings of the Legislature and asking Him to guide tilem in their lA5ors.