The Van Buren press., 1869-05-11
Proceedings Of Meeting Of Republican
Members Of the General Assembly of
fFJc Arkansas, jH'

At meeting Of a ndmber Of Republi-
can members of the General Assembly OF
Arkansas, held at the City ofLittlc Rock.
on the Sth OF April, 1859, tue folio wing
Preamble and Resolutions we're unani-
mously adopted
WHEREAS. In the bad management OF
our State Government, under the unwise
administration Of Governor Powell Clay.
ton, and IN the rash, reckless and improvi.,
dent legislation Of the General Assent bly,,
under the con rol Of the Governor aud
his partizans, the, Republican party. Of
ene"'""'"s mas received wounds, from the
uatiring efforts dt It's true friends and de-,
Tenders eau alone rescue it, aud save II
from threatened defeat and overthrow;
therefore, ..t L..t.s.t ..f IA t.}s..
Resoised, That renewing our allegiance
to the .Xatonal Unios Republican party.
and our fidelity and devotion TO the true
principles and doctrines ofthst party, A.
set forth AID declared in the platform OF
the Chicago Convention, We do must
solrmnly protest, in the name Of the Re-
publican party and Of tho people OF Ar
kansas, against al those great errors,
abuses and corrupttons Of the admins.
tration, which have caused 90 much dis
satisfaction aud. discomfort in the party.
and brought so much trouble and distress
upon the country.
| Resototd. That while it is needless to
specify, in detail, all the Numerous acts
aud measures, 50 universally known and
reprobatcd, that characterize and make
up the policy and administration OF the
government, yet we deem It proper to
enumerate the following among the more
prominent causes Of complaint: r.
lst-The criminal abuse Of power and
dereliction OF duty on the part OF the
Governor as Commander in Chief OF the
Militia forces Of the State, under the late
reign OF Martial LdD, whereby that
which was intended BY its friends and ad-
yisers a. q wise and wholesome measure
Of safety to the government. and safety
to tho citizen, was converted into Al en-
gine Of the most atrocious wrongs, crimes,
and oppression. l.....
2nd-The criminal and corrupt mis-
management Of onr great and important
railroad interests, whereby q large por.
ton OF the State has been entirely ignor.
Cd and overloo ookcd in the dispensation'o OF
State aid" and nearly all the leading
auth orizcd routes OF the State been seized
upon by an organized " ring" OF penni
less advcnt,irers undor tho convenient ar
rangements ofa General Incorporation
Act passed for :hat purpose, who, in con
nectiou with the Board Of Railroad Com.
lnissioners under the control Of the Chief
Executive, have been made the recipients
and bcnciiciaries Of all the benefits Of the
loan Bill" by which somo thirteen
IN lions OF dollars have been awarded
3rd--Tho improvident, not TO say cor
rnpt, management of the Funding Bill,
by which q debt Of several millions Of
dollars, being a portion OF tho Holford
claim, which the State neither legally nor
mor4t y owes, has been assumsd aud fund
cd without the authority or consent OF
the people, aud contrary 10 the Constitu.
don ofthe State. s.aaofa..... ..
4th.-Tbe general spirit Of reckless ex
pendi!ure and extravagant appropriation,
which has characterized the administra
libn, Of the government in all its depart
menls, whereby the representatives OF the
party promised the people Ia their
speeches and through their press during
che late Presidential canvass, should not
exceed two or three hundred thousand
dollars, have run up to the enormous and
almost incredible sum OF a milliox and q
haJ dolloss per annum.
Rssoipsd, That with such record OF
improvidcnce, folly and crime to father,
It viii be utterly impossible for the Re-
publican party to maintain itself. or TO
hope for inturo success, therefore, that
a. the only means Of safety and protsc,
tion that IL lcft us, We whereby, IN the
maine Of the Republican party, repvdlcte
said record and its lauthors,, aiders and
abettors; and, planting ourselves upon