The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-10-15
ADDRESS OF
Hon. JORDAN {. CRAVENS
TO THE
Voters Of the Sd Congressional District

y
Democracy of the district, it is deemed
prudent to present for your consideration
the declaration Of principals by that
party, especially upon the all-absorbing
question of the currency. The platforms
OF the party adopted Mt little Rock and
Malvern give clear expressions of what
| conceive to be correct views on the
subject-views fully concurred in by the
great body Of the Democratic party in
the entire country and throughout the
West and South by the entire party. If
these views meet with the sanction of
your judgement, and you adhere to the
other and equally important principles of
the Democracy, my record as your ser
want during the present Congress gives
me courage to ask your approval, and
hope to believe that you will give me as
suarnco OF it, by my reelection to serve
you in the next. Tho position of the
Democracy generally, as we'll as my own,
upon the questions touching the currency,
can be readily seen by reference to the
recorded vote taken during the last two
sessions of Congress; and it will BIO found
with the platform OF the party in the
State. But for the passage of the bill to
further prevent the destruction of green.
backs, the country to-day would be in.
volved in absolute ruin, all business be
ing staggered at tho contemplated loss,
on the first day of January next, of three
hundred and fifty riillieni Of its ifesus-
tanning medium of exchange. The votes
upon the silver BILL to repeat the sesump-
ton act, and make greenbacks receivable
for all dues, as well as the action taken
toward the substitution of grecnbacks for
National Bank notes, show to the country
that the Democratic party is the only or.
ganized party of any strength opposed
10 the grinding contracting policy of the
Republican party, policy which has al.
ready brought distress to the door of
every business and industry, and which,
if fully executed, will result in the ruin of
them all. To prevent this ruin, shall,
in the future, as in the past, vote and
work against all cruel measures of con-
traction, and vote and work for the lib
eaal and Democratic measures enumera-
ted and foreshadowed in the platform
herewith presented.
AS your servant | have, thus far earn
estly endeavored to do my duty, my
whole time having been devoted to that
end. The business before Congress is
immense. Bills to tho number of five
thousand two hundred and twenty-three
in the House and fourteen hundred and
thirteen in the Senate, have been intro
duced since my service began. To pre-
vent so treat a number, one of the COM
mittees on which | have the honor to
serve, reported bill giving to the Court
of Claims jurisdiction of claims against
the Government founded upon equity and
justice, which bill passed the House by a
large vote, and is now pending in the
Senate. Should it become law, better
facilities will be afforded claimants, and
the number of bills before Congress be
greatly reduced, giving more time for
the consideration and transaction of bust
ness Of general importance and the pas
sage OF bills of local and personal ma
ture. With the present number Of bills
before congress, the passage Of bills 10.
cal or personal nature, no matter how
attended with great delay and diff
Guilty.
Looking to the interests of my State
and growth and thrift and increased
business and commercial relations with
the States and Territory bordering, aud
not unmindful Of the rights and best in
terests Of the Indians upon our western
border, and the duties Of the Government
toward them, it has been, and is now, my
sincere judgement that the establish
mcnt of Territorial Government there
is omincntly right and proper, | would
not infringe a single property right the
right to the soil or its value included
but secure these beyond preadventure,
and confer upon the Indians the great
boon of American citizenship, securing
to them the protection of the Coustitu-
ton and the laws enacted underit, equally
with the citizens Of any other State or
Territory. The policy of allowing mil
lions OF acres Of land, over which the
iurisdition of the United States for all
governmental purposes is complete, to
be forever occupied by few thousand
persons assuming national independence,
without yielding aught of the millions
of which it is susceptible to the trade
and commerce of the country, needs on
ly to be considered to be condemn
ed. Millions of money have been spent
upon the Indian, and for no other IA
tional purpose than to fit and qualify
him for citizenship. Happily, those on
our border are now fully qualified, and
it is nay desire and purpose that they
shall enjoy with us the mutual blessin gs
and share the single destiny of our com
mon country.
The most stupendous fraud having
been perpetrated in the late election for
President ever practced in a Govern
ment of constitution and laws, |, at tho
suggestion of citizen of this State, on
the 29th Of October last, submitted a
proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton upon that subject, which, together
with many others, was referred to the
Committee on the State of the Law re-
speeding the Ascerlainment and Declare
ton of result of Election of President
and Vice President. That committee,
distinguished in its formation, after more
than six months elaboration, finally re-
ported to the House a joint resolution,
proposing an amendment to the Consti-
tuition embodying tho method Of my
proposed amendment. 1t proposes a
dirnot vote hy tha naOnle nj tho Statas