The Van Buren press., 1868-02-21
Clippings from Campaign Gazette.

NILLAINoUS. -Inere is perhaps no VII
hihy to which the radical party will not
resort for the accomplishment of party
purpose. The whole time of the " mon
gels" has been occupied in devising
means for the furthering Of radical
schemes; but in nothing have they so
psinly and palpably shown their reckless
and indecent rascality, than in the attempt
to SO confuse the people as to prevent a
fais and honest vote against that combi
nation of monstrositics which they have
christened " a constitution" and submit
ted os.ensibly for the action of the peo-
pie ......
For instance, in the 3rd section of the
Schedule it is provided that, In vot-
ing for and against the adoption of this
constitution the wortls for constitution
or against constitution shall be written
or printed on the ballot Of each voter,
but no voter shall vote for or against this
constitution on a separate ballot from
that cast by him for officers to be elected
at said election under this constitution.
Now, in the ordinance "to provide for
an election by the voters registered in
this State under an act Of Congress en-
titled an act to provide for the more eff
fcient government Of the rebel States,
passed March 2nd, 1867, and the act sup
plement thereto, and which ordinance
accompanies the SO called constitution,
alter providing. as they were bound to do
under the acts ofCongrcss, that all voters
now registered in the State should be al
lowed to vote upon the adoption Of the
'constitution, they 60 on to provide in the
md section that " in voting for or against
the ratification Of said constitution the
words for constitution or against con
stitution' shall be written or printed on
each ballot, bit no person shall oole at tie
polls provided for By this ordinance for any
State or County officer prescribed in said
Constitution" ..
1t will be recollected that the COM
handing general causes the election upon
Me Consultation to be conducted by regis
ttars or judges of election appointed by
himself, and under the act of Congress
any person who had a right to vote for
or against the convention at the last cleo
tion has right to vote now upon the
constitution. That election will be, in
contemplation of law, and perhaps will be
Ia fact, wholly separate and distinct from
the election for officers as provided for
ii the schedule to the constitution, the
3rd section Of which we have quoted
above The convention has fixed the
18th of March rs the day for the vote on
the constitution The election commits
doncrs have fixed the same day for the
election of officers under that constitu-
lion, but we hope there will be no misun-
dcrstandng among the people on the
subject all ,cho are mow registered haze
right to rote ON tie question Of tile adop-
Goa or rejection Of Tie constitution without
taking any additional oaM.
That clause of the 3rd section of the
schedule to the constitution which pro
vides for vote on the constitution at the
elcctionfor officers, is mere party trick,
Intended, among other things, to cause
contusionand misunderstanding, and to
cntice the honest people OF Arkansas into
swallowing this abomination, mis-called
constitution. We hope our people
everywhere will see that it is made to fail
Of its purpose. OK THE l3Tn OF MARCH
TIE voxERs NOW REGISTERED WILL HAVE
the RIGHT, WITHOUT TAKING ADDITIONAL
oArIIs, TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST TIE con.
sTlrUTloN. THEY NEED NOT HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIE
OTHER ELECTION WHICH OCCURS
ON THE SAME DAY, THAT Is, THE
ELECTION WHICH TAKES PLACE
FOR OFFICERS, UNLESS THEY
WISH TO. E5
The v!llainous purpose Of the T" menag-
eric" is transparent, God help the coun.
try, If snch men set control of it.
The people Of the State must defeat the
constitutions lrretrevabe ruin will be
theirs if they fail to do so. 1t is their
last only chance to save themselves.