The Van Buren press., 1871-02-28
OUR INSTITUTIONS.

stitutions in Arkansas has been dark
one, and formidable beyond exageration.
The danger to which these institutions
have been exposed is by no means past
But it cheers us to see that there are signs
of their being able to withstand that
danger. The vote Of the House of Rep
resentatives in unseating Allen, Filing
ton aud Kvmes, claiming seats through
the Beldin frauds" as representatives
OF the Hot Spring district, and admitting
the conservative members, encourages us
to hope that the cloud of despotism how
ering over US is not destined to settle up
on us forever All honor to the patriotic
FoRrr FIVE who gave their votes in this
case in the cause Of Free Elections.
1t is not strange, that the war on our
republican institutions is made by
those who, like all consprators, assail
them in the name aud under the mask of
republicanism" They were foiled we
are glad to proclaim, in honor of human
security, alike by democrats and republi-
" cans-true republicans. And among the
latter were three of that race which the
conspirators had selected as their means
Of overthrow wing true republicanism The
power confronted and the temptations
resisted were as great as legislators were
ever called upon to brave; but most he.
oically have they done it, and victorious
ly.
In our experience Of the last few years
bribery has become familiar to us as a
means of political success, bribery of
bargain and INTRIGUE for place, bribery
Of official patronage in granting business
advantages, and open moneyed bribery.
1t seemed to be the general conclusion
that bribery could not be put down; that
pure election was no more to be seen and
that we must try and get on without it.
It seemed that we were hereafter to get
to be legislators not according to what
merit we might have but the capital we
could command, and our impudence and
dexterity in disposing Of the same. In
this conclusion we have been shaken by
the action of the House in ejecting the
Governors appointees from seats therein
and installing those of the people.
Bribery" says Carlyle, "means not
/, only length of purse, which is neither
qualification nor the contrary for legis-
lating well; but it means dishonesty, and
even impudent dishonesty; brazen insen-
siblity to lying and making others lie
total oblivion and hinging overheard of
any real thing you call vcracity, morali-
ty; with some attempt at putting on the
cast clothes of that real thing, and strut
ting about in them. What lcgislating
can You get out of man in that fatal
aitpatippJ tNftenbthg 6ii the thha door s thres
hold, he, why verify he - ought to be
Governor Clayton was in q position to
do himself great credit and the people
great good. The moment was one of
those which in a mans life makes or mars
him forever. He did not rise to the
hight OF the opportunity. He "threw a
pearl away rather than all his tribe" 1t
Is to be regretted. We sorrow to see an
opportunity lost rs We would to see
treasure sunk The House is master of
the situation. The Executive and the
Senate, carrying it with too high hand,
have gone under" And thus are our
institutions vindicated, against this at
tempt to destroy them, upon their very
first fair trial. 1t is principle Of those
institutions that the country must be gov.
erned by representatives chosen by the
people. The Senate was SELF elected, as
the Governor was, two years ago, The
House contains all who can be said to be
representative in any Of the departments
OF our State government The members
OF the House are the best repositories of
power the people could have. The people
will rely on them to use it wisely and for
the common veal.
One more paragraph from Carlyle :;
"Howel Davis dyes the West Indian Seas
with blood, piles his decks with plunder;
approves himself the expertest. seaman,
the most daring sea.fghter; but gains no
lasting victory, lasting victory is not pos
sible for him. Not. had he fleets larger
than the combined British Navy all unit
ed with him in bucaniering. He once
for all, cannot prosper in his duel. He
strikes down his man yes but his man,
or his mans representative. has no no
ton to lie struck down: neither though
slain ten times, will he keep him so
lying; nor has the universe any notion
to keep him SO lying! On the contrary
the universe and he have, at all moments,
all manner OF motives to start up again,
and desperately fight again. Your Ma
poleon is flung out, at last to ST. Hele-
ma the latter end of him sternly com.
pensating the beginning. The Bucanier
strikes down man, a hundred or a mil
lion men: but what profits it.? He
has one enemy never to be struck
down; nay two enemies: Mankind and
the Maker OF Men"
BENEFIT ENTERTAINMrSr- Yonno