The Van Buren press., 1868-01-17

lhe predictions Of those who have kept up
with the history Of Rsdicalisn,. are being too
faithfully fulfilled. The Illegal ascmbly now
holding sessions at the Capitol. mi.named the
Convention Of the people Of Arkansas" true
to Its Radical sMtcccicWtS has commenced i,s
financial proceedings by Introducing a host
ofnew officers whose extra pay Is to be wring
from y r,iuctant l.,ople by unconstitutional
taxation. These new oIllecs were created. not
by the voice Of the assembly, but by the nod
of the uascrupulous creature who disgraces
humanity and prc.ides over this "aylary Of
| obscenc birds" The history of Radicalism In
our country Is hut narrative of an unbroken
series ofaggrcssi,e and oppressive acts. All
their legislation has tended the same Way
The federal legislation, since 1t came under the
baleful control OF this party, has been charac-
tcrixcd by cncroachmcnts upon the internal
rights and power Of the States, that are calcu-
lated to destroy the Republic That war set
ties the right OF o question, Is dogma, SO false
and vicious, that il Is to be wondered at, that
any considerable number of men should ever
concede its truth for a moment. Yet this Is
the underlying principle upon which federal
4 legislation has proceeded ever since the first
gun was fired At Sumpter. That State sover
eighty fell to the ground when the stars and
bars trailed in the dust, |, the doctrine boldly
put forward by Radicalism. And all.. il l.
too true that many of those to whom the
South looked for guidance and counsel, have
given in their allegiance to this foolish doc
trine. Ii war should again ill our country
with mourning, and drench our soil with the
best blood of the people and the issue should
be against Radicalsm and In favor of State
sovereignty. would this change the doctrine
Does the eternal principles Of right depend
upon walled cities and brstling bayonets .
The power Of exercising a right may be de-
termined by arms, the abstract right Is un-
touched. But We are now called upon to deal
with this matter Is We find II. The Radical
party found themselves in power, and the ex-
ercise Of that power has entailed woes un-
numbered upon us: Taxation, discriminating
and most burdensome has been impOsed-the
country brought to the verge Of bankruptcy
Universal Financial Ruin invites to one
course while National Di.honor stands ready
to welcome uS to the other. Our State is im-
p0verished In the extreme, by the folly OF
pretended statesmen in Congress. The un-
constitutional tax on cotton has beggared the
planter aud Is starving the negro. Our pow
erty was already greater than we could easily
bear, and now, by the folly Of lukewarm men
trembling with cOwardly fear at the threat;
Of Radicalism, We have the curse Of this Con-
vention thrust upon us. And do these men
think their property will be exempt from the
iniquitous tax to be levied for the payment OF
the expenses Of this Convention! They re-
fused to vote for fear Ofconiiscation.they lay,
entailed upon themselves the certainty Of All
Onerous taxation. Already this Convention
has directed the Financial Committee compos-
ed partly of regroes, to report plan Of taxa
alton to defray the expenses of the session
TO pay for the extra offices made by Bowen
and the ten daily papers to each member, an
enormous sum will be required. The last
, Legislature, reduced the tax from one pei
cent, or one dollar on the hundred, to fifty
-. .---.----..-s "
crease the tax to One Dollar on the hundred
again. 1t was Radical Legislature that i'm
! posed the enormous rate of one dollar on the
hundred before, and now another Radical
body will renew 1t. Yet this Is the party who
claims to be In favor Of rctrcnchmcnt and
economy. The tax they propose must be paid
at once. The Convention is made up, In the
main. Of needy men, adventurcrs and negroe.
'-and their cry is money! money! They
came among us to make money and money
they must and will have. bowen, who under
the protection of his shoulder-straps, robbed
the widow and the orphan, expended most OF
his ill-gotten gain, to prevent his being dis
hOnorably dismissed from the service and he
Is now in need of money. lie humbuggcd the
people of this County into sending him to the
Convention and he will repay their kindness
now, by imposing Il burdensome tax upon
them to pay for extra officers created by his
will. Those who were so eager to support
him that they could meet nightly with the ne
gro, and endure the savory African odor. will
now have the pleasure of footing the bill
They will no doubt be highly gratiiicd by the
reflection that their love of country and the
negro, has led them to pay for the ncgro's
part Of the fun as the negro pays no taxes,
having nothing to tax. \ qualification of a
similar character Is IN store for those who re-
fused to exercise the right ot frcemen. Those
who have shown so much love for the society
of the negro will soon have their disnterested
affection tried In another way. The purse
strings those all powerful nerves, will soon be
shaken-Cuflie can laugh as You reluctantly
pay out your hard-earnings for the remunera-
ton of Bowen and his Contention No
matter ifyour children are hungry and your
wife too thnly clad-no difference If your
cribs are empty and your stock starving. the
negro must enjoy the right ofsuiirage and you
must work to pay for II. ...