The Van Buren press., 1874-07-28
PROCEEDINGS Of THE C0NSTITU.
TI0NAl CONVENTION.
Little Rock Gazette.l

l
been unable to make all the appointment:
of committees required, and begged the
indulgence of the convention He an
nounced the following committees:
JudciaIy-Flanagin, Eakin, boswell
Frierson, Smoote, Butler, Hornor, Cy
pert, Thomson, Of Crawford.
Executive department-Hampton, Rec
tor, Howell, Mansfield, Thompson, Scott
Gully.
Observation-Disclosures, Eagle, Carter
Chism, Cunningham.
observation-disclosures, Gibson, Ea
gle. Joyner, Carroll, Dodson, Crowley
Preamble, boundaries and declarations
of rights-Bunn, Brown, Barnes, Ander-
son, of Craighead, Williams, of jefferson
Williams, of Union, Harrison.
On motion Messrs Mansfield and Bum
were added to the committee on judiciary.
Mr.. Fishback said he desired to intro
duce a resolution important to all, which
he would read 1t would have to be con
sidered in committee Of the whole, and
he desired all members to inform them
selves on the subject. The. resolutions
are as follows:
WHEREAS, BY the schedule Of the con
stitution of Arkansas, constructed under
military auspices, in 1868, three men, to-
wit James l.. Hodges, Joseph Brooks
and Thos. NJ. Bowen, were charged with
such absolute control of the election up.
on the ratification Of that constitution as
virtually conferred upon them the power
to ratfy it, irrespective of the wishes or
votes Of the people Of the state; and
WHEREAS, THIS constitution, as is now
admitted, was. not, in point of fact, rati-
fled by a majority of the votes east at the
election, but was falsely so declared by
the above named three men . under the
provisions of the schedule Of the const-
tuition :" and
WHEREAS, The voters ofthe state were
not, and, in the nature Of things, could
not possibly be, aware Of the passage of
the last act Of congress, amendatory of
the act entitled "an act TO provide for the
more efficient government of the rebel
states, which did not become Il law un-
til four days before the election for rati-
iieation of the constitution, and therefore
large number of them voted under the
provisions Of former acts of congress,
and accordingly did not vote either for
or against the officers provided for i'll the
constitution and
WHEREAS, Under this confusion Of
acts, legislature, representing a still
smaller minority than the constitution
itself, and composed in large measure
Of men who were entire strangers, alike
to the people and the counties they pre-
tended to represent, was foisted upon the
people of Arkansas by small minority,
who under the forms of law and under
the cloak ofpatriotism, proceeded to per-
pctuate their power and plunder the
state by putting the voice of the majority
under restraint; and
WHEREAS, The people Of Arkansas,
thus dcspoiled of their right to any part
or lot in the government of the state, and
thus under daress, are by no possible i'm.
plication parties to any act of the state
government thus usurped, and of which
they have been the helpless victims since
its Inauguration; and,
WHEREAS, During the long period in
which the people of Arkansas have been
under such duress large number OF state
bonds have been by the usurping
state authorities, to-wit:
OF what are known as " Hol-
ford bonds Sl,370,000
or what are called state aid
railroad bonds, 5,350,000
OF levee bonds, 100000
All of which were not only issued con-
trary to the wishes Of the people, but
were tainted with fraud and.
WHEREAS, The condition Of Arkansas
was, during this period, patent to all the
world, and there can, therefore, exist no
such thing as an innocent holder Of any
of these bonds and,
WHEREAS, The people of the state have
not only received no valuable considera-
ton for these enormous loans of its cred.
it, but absolute injury mislead, and,
WHEREAS, They have paid upon the
fraudulently funded "Holford bonds, 4"
within the past six years, a larger amount
of interest than both principal and inter
est of the debt justly due and owing
amounts therefore,
Resolved, by the people Of Arkansas,
in convention assembled, That while the
state of Arkansas would, under no cir
cumstances repudiate any honest debt or
even any dishonest debt for which she
had received valuable consideration, she
vet feels under no sort OF obligation
moral or equitable--to pay any part of
these fraudulent bonds and it is the dtuy
of this body to prevent by constitutional
provision any subsequent legislation from
ever levying tax, or m king an appro
priation for the payment of either The
principal or interest Of the same or any
part thereof.
The reading of the resolutions was lis,
tened 80 with the utmost silence, and ere
ated profound sensation.
Mr.. Fishback moved they be referred
to the committee of the whole on wed
nesday, at 10 o'clock,
Mr.. Rector thought it too early to en-.
ter on this delicate matter
Mr.. Fishback-I have no objection to
it's pos,pouement to the Monday follow
ing. -.
Mr.. Flanagan moved the reference OF
the resolution to the committee on IL
nance. :,
Mr.. j. NJ. Smith said according to The
rrles the resolution would have lay oveI
one day.
Mr.. il F. Thomson introduced the