The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-20
Ar KANSAS.

'
ter being shorn of his strength, was again
vouchsafed sufficient power TO pull down
'the two middle pillars of the house" in
which lie was confined, whereby "the house
fell upon the lords, and upon all the people
that were therein" killing him and them.
Judge Poland having been shorn of his
strength by the voters of the second con-
gressional district of Vermont seems, IL
telegraphic and other advices are to be re-
lied upon, TO be about to enact the role of
Samson and pull down the republican party
in ruins about him. Misery likes company,
and although he has plenty of it, he seems
dent "stlcks" to his present position in ref
erence to Arkansas and continues to refuse
to interfere in favor Of Smith, that "pillar"
will be removed from the judges hands.
The position is simply this: The people of
Arkansas, acting in their sovereign capaci-
ty, adopted a new constitution this year,
and, under it, elected Garland governor
the republicans refusing to vote, claiming
that the constitution was of no force and
the election, consequently, invalid.
Brooks, however, who was governor
under the old constitution acquiesced
in the result and turned over the
executive office to Garland but Smith the
lieutenant governor, taking, or pretending
to take, a different view of the question,
claims to succeed to the gubernatorial
chair and seeks to exercise the functions
of the executive. Judge Poland, who is
member of an investigating committee into
Arkansas affairs appointed at the last ses-
sion of Congress, is en- route from Little
Rock to shington-whither, it is said,
he has been summoned by the President
and 1t is reported, by telegram and other
wise, that he is prepared to report in favor
of and advise the recognition of Smith.
| Ifthis report should prove true, and the
| President should be weak enough to act
| upon the advice, Judge Poland will prove
the very Samson who will have accomp-
lished the destruction of the republican
party and buried 1t in common ruin with
himself. We trust that the report is not
| true or, if true, that the President will re-
tain his present attitude of non-interference.
| The question of who shall be recognized
as the de Jacto governor may be purely
| political question, one for the President
| to decide and one from which, when SO de-
cided, there can be no appeal, but it is a
dangerous power to exercise at any time
and never should bsinvoked or used ex-
cept in extreme cases. 1t seems to us
rather a late day to question the right of
the people to make and alter their organic
laws at will. so long as that will is express
ed through the forms of law. The max
ing and altering of constitutions is a
very simple act if we but view the matter
reasonably and divest ourselves of that
superstitious reverence which, in the minds
of some, surrounds the constitution. The
constitution must be obeyed and respected
so long as it is the constitution and all laws
must accord thereto, but any and all provi'
sions may be altered by the properly ex-
pressed will of the people. In Vermont
we have lived and prospered, as a state, fol-
nearly century under constitution which
was never submitted to or voted upon by
the people, but no one questions its obliga-
tory character. Michigan was admitted
into the Union with constitution adopted
without any regard to law. Massachusetts
is now with constitution adopted in def
ance of an express prohibitory provision OF
the pre-existing constitution. Maryland
we believe, is similarly situated. No ques
ton has ever been raised or suggested il
reference to the validity of these organic
laws, and why should there be in reference
to that of Arkansas? The republican party
have had enough of southern troubles oil
its hands without seeking fresh ones will
which to load itself down. The Presiden
was credited with saying, in reference t
the Arkansas troubles early in the year
that he "had enough southern governor
on his hands" We trust that he remain
of the same opinion still, and that, in spit
| of the ADVICE of interested parties or mem
bers of investigating committees, ne will
leave Arkansas to take care of itself.