The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-26

dozen or more colored members in the Arkansas Legislature, and one ofthese owed his seat to the sense of justice of this Democratic Legis- lature, for the right to this seat had been contested, and the contest was decided in favor of the colored mem Der against the white man. Much as the G.>D. may rave about this Florida law, it is no worse than laws in some of the other States. In Cal ifornia some years ago (perhaps it is so still) the list of jurors was taken from the tax list, so that none but those owning taxable property could vote. This law is as much against negroes Tn that State as the Florida law is against the negroes there; yet no threat is made to destroy the sys- ten of government under which We live in order to bring about change in California.
 The G.-D. goes so far in it's blind rage as to assert that if the cause of negro education is neglected by the Southern people for the next ten years to the extent that it has been opposed for ten years past, the north will enforce it on them, and that the public schools in the South will be managed by central bureau at Washington! And yet" says the G.-D., 'the mind can hardly grasp the immense far-reaching changes involved in this transfer of power from the local to the central govern ment." It will not be difficult to grasp at least one of the far-reach- ing changes involved, and that is the loss of our liberties, for to make such laws as may best secure the happiness and prosperity of its peo- pie is despotism. It will be found that in each of the States differences do not result from a mere whim or caprice, but from necessity. What might be very proper law in Yer mont might not do at all in Ken lucky, and law much needed in Arkansas may be undesirable in California. I might go through the whole 3S states and point out impor- tant differences in the laws of every two states composed even of con tiguous territory, but this is unnec. essary. As every head of family must govern his own household by rules of his own, subject to one gen eral law, so must each state control it's own internal affairs, subject only to the fundamental law provided by and for all the States.
 The G.-D. says "every instinct of freedom protests against such cen tralization of power," yet, flashing itself into a fury, declares that it will be "the inevitable penalty for the abuse or misuse of local power, and that "old men may yet live to see school boards, justices of the peace, policemen, assessors and all other local officials receiving their commissions from Washington and recognizing the authority of cen tral magistrate or cabal as omnipo- tent and as despotic as the Council of Ten in Venicep'
 That such sentiments as those quoted should be allowed to pass unheeded does not seem to me as evincing proper interest in the general welfare by the press of this state. l know that all energies are directed towards attracting. the at tention of immigrants to the many advantages Arkansas presents; yet no such atrocious sentiments as those of the G.-D. ought to be allow ed utterance unless they were follow ed by a stern rebuke. From the foundation of the government to the present day the struggle has been going on between the centralization heresy and the principle of local authority, and that struggle will con tinue through all time. "Eternal vigilance is the price of libertyw
 SAxET.