Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-10

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passed the sctcalling the constitutional convention.
Now. great point has been made that where
the constitution contained a mode for its amend
ment, no other mode was admissible, But that
hrs been abandoned II Is laid down now by Mr.
Jameson, the only writer upon this subject, that
In case Of that sort whore there is mode Of
amendment pointed outby the constitution, itispor
icctly legitimate for the legislature 10 pass an act
submitting TO the people the question whether they
will have constitutional convention. It Ia not
Irregular In the slightest degree II has been done
by majority Of the states OF this Union. II this
government In Arkansas is 10 I've wiped out, then
the governments In New York and In Massachu-
sets and In Illinois are TO be wiped out also.
But they say that there were irregularities In
tho manner Of submitting this constitution that
this constitutional convention, instead Of taking
the machinery that was already provided under
took to make machinervof their own. That has
been done ever and ever so many times IN this
country, formerly Il was the established practice
n | had time enough | should like 10 have the
clerk read a volume or two Of the speeches Of my
friend from Massachusetts, made in the constitu-
tiona convention Of Massachusetts,, claiming for
that convention altogether broader powers than
were exercised by this constitutional conyention In
Arkansas. The convention provided the ma
chnery that everybody supposed was legal.
why sir, in Pennsylvania, IN the very case
which has been cited here, the constitutional con-
vention, containing some Of the most eminent
lawyers In the whole country, supposed they had
the right 10 do this same thing The supreme
court Of the state said IL was Irregular But the
people down IN Arkansas had not become 80
learned or wise but that they supposed the con-
stitutiOnal convention could frame the machinery
for submitting the constitution 10 the people
When this question was submitted 10 the people
whether they would have the constitutional com
yention or not, eighty thousand against eight
thousand voted that there should he constiiu-
tional convention And when they had framed
that constitution and submitted Il 10 the people
to be voted upon, they ratified It by vote Of
seyenty-eight thousand 10 twcnty-four thousand
MIR Garland was nominated Tor GOVERNOR with a
full ticket ~ state officers, and received between
seventy-siX thousand aud seventy-scven thousand
votes and no votes were given against them An
officers Of the government Governor Baxter and
the men who held subordinate Offices under him
yielded np their positions quietly to their succes-
sors under the new constitution. There was but
one government IN the state before, there has
been but one government Ia the state since
Everything has heen going rs quietly and
peaceably since that time as and more ~ than, il
ever was before in the state Of Arkansas Since
Garland came IN as governor Of that state Il Is
just rs pcaceablo and quiet the state Of Massa-
chusetts Not single instance has been shown
oil violence since The calling u this constitutional
convention except that there wns one Ned Abe
! killed. The whole circumstances show that hc
had nothing to do with politics in any manner or
form, nor had politics anything to do with bis
/ being killed
when my brother Ward was down there taking
testimony In july, believe, fellow snatchcd a
pitcher Of ice-wator away from his boy and struck
| him with his shoe and my colleague deemed tan
/ important fact to be placed In evidence But !
was down there In November. and am happy tn
say on this floor and in the presence Of this House
and this Union that the boy was alive and well
/ then.
There is not particle Of e,idence-not scin.
tlla Of evidence In this case that there was sim
/ gle fraudulent vote east at either Of these elec-
/ tons. There is not particle Of evidence that
any single man offered 70 vote or wanted 10 vote
who did not havean opportunity 70 dose. But saws
my friend from Illinois. the air was full OF terror
there was great cloud Of terror resting over the
whole state Of Arkansas and every body suudcr
It,
Why. sir, Il was the purost piece Of fancy that
was ever invented not particle Of truth ia H.
know my friend irom Illinois Is man Of vivid
| Imagination lie easily brings himself 10 believe
ANYTHING that he wants "a believe But As so
Der, matier-of-iad man, ! say there Is not one
woni Of truth IN H.
Now, what are We asked to do Here Is one
/ government there is not ycstge. not a shadow
OF any other government 10 Arkansas ctcout what
/ we have here. Whatever there Is Of any govern
ment In Arkansas, in opposition IN tho Garland
I government, We have night with US Il is at pres
ent with us As the poor we're with the disciples
We are asked 10 say 10 the President that be j. tu
wipe out this constitution, and all the officers from
[ governor down % township officers tho whole
thing is 10 be oyerthruwn. and he is TO send his
army down there and set up government
Have We any right 10 do this ! am not going
into any disquistiun about the respective powers
" this government ! am one Of those who BE-
lievs that in the sphere 81 the national govern
mont, with those national concerns that have been
iutrustcd 10 the national government, the national
] government IL supreme. o. can ffhnN every man.
believe nothing in this old iallacy abont Ibis be-
ing partnership Of states The national govern
ment 10 the extent Of the powers intrustcd to 10,
Is government over every man In this union, aud
tmay reach eyeryman personally and indiy iduay
Upon the other hand within that range Of row
reserved Ia the states land this includes an the
range OF local government their power is Just as
supreme just as clearly beyond the interference
Of the national government a. that Of the govern
ment OF Great Britain or Of France And u this
nation Is 10 remain intact nation this wise
balance Of power that our forefathers established
must be preserved. We went through a great war
to preserve the national life the national author
ity the national power. That i complete and
perfect But II Is Just as indispensable To the life
Of this nation 20 it, perpetuity, that preserve
intact and lnviolate the power that has been re-
served 20 the states that the national life should
be preserved Why, sir already We cover half tho
b continent OF North America; and II We hold to-
geiher II VIII not be very many years before We
shall probably possess all, nearly all Of IT,
p How can this national government take care Of
the domestic concerns Of the pcopie-thelr local
government? II everything is 20 De centralized.
/ II everything is 10 be brought under the hammer
I of the national government, 80 that whenever We
, please We can put down state constitution or a
state government farewell TO the existence Of this
nation
know the strength n party feeling am a
E party man myself never pretended u love my
political opponents A. well a. my political friends
= | could always make myself believe they were
better men, that they acted upon better princ.
! pies Bat ! never could carry my party attach
4 nent 80 far A. to be willing TO ovortnm the gov.
e eminent 70 accommodate my political friends and
( certainly, II there were any of them that even
E knew that wanted 10 do Il for, | do not think
+ should selec, the particular individuals that ar,
i concerned in this case
q know perfectly well the appeal that has been
q made 10 every individual member upon this floor.
4 have not sat here for the last two months with
= out seeing these ghosts that have been mentioned
4 stalking about this House. have not failed I,
e hear and see what has been going ON. How fni
\ these things have Influenced the partisan iugd
Z mens Of members do not know it Is not for me-
> To say the result Of this vote will determine that
But do appeal TO gentlemen upon this floor tc
look at the consequences Of doing what they ar,
/, / asked TO do. II men are only actuated by party
I and partisan motives, then feel that Eau appea
. 10 them. II there il anybody on this floor who II
= actuated by laser motive | do not appeal /,
: him, To any man whose judgment can be innu
! enced by a consideration lower aud baser thar
/, mere partisan affection and party afiiliatlon,
have no appeal TO make. such men have no RICH
!, here.
Il Mr. Speaker, this is undoubtedly the last public
political act shall be called upon 10 perform
= After public life Of somewhat unusual length
4 am about 10 retire u private life, never again.
= presume, TO occupy public position. never ex
4 pected To be called upon Ia confront monstrou
! doctrine as is advanced here Ineyer supposed
that II lived TO the age Of Methuselah il woult
!, ever be my duty TO comba, monstrous, so dan
gerOus doctrine that which this House is caeI
u upon TO establish In this case. But the occasion
~ has arisen. II has fallen tn my lot feeble advo
/ this doctrine am nctuated by no other feeliuj
: than regard for the welfare Of my country and
y desire for It's future prosperity. have the sam,
- - stake In the country that the people general,
\ have have children and grandchildren, who
u hope are hereafter to inherit their share in thi
country, and desire II preserved for their sakes
:, For myself, am influenced by no wish 10 win
: personal or party triumph In this matter
. there had been any reasonable and fair groun,
q upon which | could have obliged party friends,
- should have been as delighted TO do II ~ any
- body. But could not go TO any such length ~
q We were called upon to go, Therefore although
n have been charged in variety of quarters will
- making pretty long advance and stride towsr,
the democratic party, yet II never get any neare
10 II than trying 10 preserve nyiolate the consttu
N ton, do not think shall ever reach that muol
a. to be desired goal.
It The TAX BILL.-The Springfield RepuJ
e iican very properly says of the new tax an,
" tariff bill that +" it accomplishes very smpl,
h and easily the increase Of rovenue," anC
!. that, as il taxes no article which is no
re taxed already, ii neoessitates the verl
y minimum of increase in the labor and cos
r l.. A