The Van Buren press., 1871-01-17
The Beginning Of the End.

The Beginning Of the End.
The election Of Governor CLAYTON
Tonga foregone conclusion In the minds
Of those who watched the times. is an
ecthowe1g6d fact. "Straight out
fights, and "simon pure" organiza
tiaaa sgaipst paGex- -such. A. that which
his party had confided to him over reg.
istration we're to rediculous to be serious.
ly considered. Armed With the weapons
OF arbitrary rude whereby to assassinate
tAs. State. If she SAW, proper TO use them
as well against those who gave them to
him, shonld We mourn over the sad re-
sults to the accessories before the fact
me certainly prefer Clayton to any Of
these who were prominently spoken ol
'as his opponents. And for mnay rea
sons: First--it will give us change,
At least in the State government His
worstensmies say that any change would
be for the better. If Lieut. Governor
JOHNSON is to take the holm Of State WI
confidently hope IL will be a great dea
better
iSeoond-Gov. Clayton has made con
servative advances in repeated public
enunciations. His opponents have made
none. Their talk over their wines and
social glasses have deserved no weight
with those they were intended to inhu
cnce in Arkansas; ashamed to stultify
themselves with their masters elsewhere
Because of Clayton reiteration Of prom.
isea made in his flrst canvass, lin stric'
asoerdsnce with the party platform,
they wared against him last summer, and
drove him to apologise and nearly to
the wall. Were these very prosecutors
Of sthose who desired "peace " in tbs
lSud to come forward and persuade that
they ought to be preferred by the op.
pressed over him who had offered some
evidence that he recognized their suffer.
ings? M Hr
The war made by some members Of the
democratic party against Clayton, was
worse than direct endorsement OF him
or the vilest of his prosecutors. 1t was
without plan or efficiency, carping, puer-
lie and we wont say contemplate, but
unworthy Of our party or what use
was it on the very day OF his election to
remind Senators and Representatives that
they would be guilty of perjury in vot-
Ing for him, when it had long been con.
eededI by the nblest lawyers that the con-
vsnion transcended its authority In en-
dsarosing to add, in the State Constitu.
ton the qualifications required by the
Constitution Of the United States. The
State Constitution might provide that q
Supreme Judge should not be elected
Governor, or a constable should not be
elected a justice Of tho peace, during the
term for which the former had beer
elected, becansc the State authority ex
tended over the qualifications of her owr
State officials, The United Safes Sena
tor 10 an officer OF the Federal Govern
ment, and the Federal Constitution ha.
prescribed the qualifications Of claim
ant 70 that position. The Senate is mad,
under that Constitution, the "judge O
the elections returns and qualification,
Of its own members" Besides, thes,
suggestions came TO late. Those who
prompted them cannot assume to b,
"lssders j" Of any experience. BY tu
tile effort, promising nothing, made whel
nothing could be promised, they exposed
their weakness, not the weakness Of tn,
democratic party, for none of the party
followed them,- to its credit for GOODNESS
aud Independent judgment be it said,
Governor Clayton received seventy
one Of seyenty-nine votes in the House
and twenty three Of twenty Ave votes il
the Senate. This is endorsement enough
to fistter any one. We hope it may hav'
a salutary effect upon him in the dis
charge Of the duties Of his present oflic'
while he remains in power, and Of hi
new position when he shall enter upon it
II Governor JOHNSON shall succee,
him, what Geld for noble exertion lie,
befors himl What an opportunity fo
an enduring and enviable fame He il
one OF our own people, played boy ii
the hills and mountains amidst which W,
live. lie cannot but sympathise with us
regardless OF party associations. So ",
are inclined TO sympathise with and trus
~ 1t will be noticed that Mr.. ]. p
Grady of this county, was admitted to
seatin the General Assembly from thi
District by the republican Legislature
The vote between Mr.. Grady and Mr.
Abernathy, was returned to the Secretar.
ofState rs Tie, and consequently Meth
or were entitled to seats. Both Aberna
H. -,