The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15

.gnifcance Just now. 1t Is only
necessary to make general criticism of the
spirit OF this work. which is among the first
untrsmmeled results of Southern senti-
ment. Nothing could be more libers, or
noble. The declaration ofrights which con-
stitutes the second article establishes the
equality of all men in all respects, and no
invidious distinction is drawn in any one of
the nine and twenty sections OF the article.
The third article secures the franchise to
every male citizen and rivets the grant with
every possible guarantee. The rights and
powers of the three coordinate branches
of the state cvernment-executive, leg
islative and judicial--sre clearly defined.
One or two matters of detail may
be worth noticing. One of these is the
Limitation set upon special legislation and
the granting of exclusive privilege by
charter 30 corporations. Another wise re-
striction is that preventing the state or any
city, county or town i'm it, from lending its
credit for any purpose whatever. The ques-
ton of mixed education Is avoided, as the
law makers of Arkansas seem to have deter
mined wisely that they would not have q
con stitution of many colors. The essential
point is gained, however, in the declaration
cf article fourteen, that "the state shall ever
maintain a general, suitable and efficient
system of FREQ schools, where
by all persons in the state, between
the ages of six and twents-one years may
receive grstuitous instruction" Tho main
difference between the proposed constitution
n u
the Limitation in the power of taxation and
the loauing OF municipal CREDITS the
change made IN the authority of the COVER
ror. The old constitution was constructed as
piece of machineryite rule a satrapy, not 10
govern a commonwealth. In thES design, an
appoihtingpower was put Unto the hands of
tie governor, which made him virtually
supreme. The same thing was effected in
other southern states, and Arks nsas has done
week to strike for liberation in her new consti-
tuition. The following condensed statement OF
the appointing powers of the governor, as
it now stands, is sdopted from a Southern
correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette:
1.-THE governor o. Arkansas has more Off
cal patronage than any governor in the
Union: ne appoints chief astice, sixteen cir
cult judges, sixteen prosecuting attorneys,
one chancellor six criminal judges, three su-
ivers0rs in each of the eighty counties of the
state, six circuit court clerks, eighty county
tressurers, eighty county assessors, eighty
coroners, all the justices of the peace, con-
stables and notaries public, a land commits
sioHer, a commissioner of public works, a
stats geologist and Insurance sgeDt, with
perhaps sosae Others, besides having power
to ell all vacancies in elective Q Eices." Add
to these powers the more important enc OF
the controepf registrars, and it is easy to con-
c5iye the sort vi repas lican government that
reconstruction gave the rebel States. Through
the deserSion of Baxter to the conservative
party, reform has been made possible. and in
tie neweenstitutfen the executive Office rs
limited t0 something likeits natural proper
Sions. The change-is SO much for the better
fhat even the bayonet rule of Gssndaulet WIZ
Risms viii hardly defeat it. all honest men
will second the sppeal of the constitutions
CONVERSION to thepeople of Mrkansss of al
parties to ratify the work.