The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-02
TO THE DEMOCRACY.
Address of The Democratic State Central Committee.

To the Democracy of the State of Arkansas:
 For some time past, and especial ly since the adjournment of the leg islature, there have come up and gone forth from time to time grave intimations and rumors of impend- ing dissention in the ranks and councils of the democracy of this state. Republican correspondents and special dispatch agents have busted themselves with spreading the reports of such things broadcast throughout the country, and already the signs of an unusual activity are noticeable in the camp of our com mon enemy. In view of these things, and the grave apprehensions that seem to exist in the minds of many of our own party as to the probable danger of division and dis sentien in our ranks, growing out of differences of opinion, and renewed agitation upon the questions invol- ved in the late proposed amendment No. l, to constitution of the state, it was deemed advisable to call meet ing of the full membership of the democratic state central committee to take into consideration these and other matters affecting the interests and integrity of the party, and through it the people of the state.
 In pursuance of such call the com mittee assembled at the state capital on the twenty fourth day of May, and among other things transacted at such meeting appointed the under signed committee to put forth an address to the democracy of the state embodying the action of the commit tee with reference to the several matters coming before it. In regard to the fraudulent or disputed indebt edness of the state it was
 "Resolyed, That the policy of an amendment to our present constitu- tion be submitted to our party and people, to be considered in the can vass pending the next general cleo tion, which shall embodv the follow ing propositions:
 "First-Hsreafter the general as sembly of this state shall be prohib- ited from making any settlement or adjustment of the bonded debt of this state, based on what is known as railroad aid bonds, levee bonds or Holford bonds, which shall be bind ing upon the state until such adjust ment shall have been submitted to anS voted upon by the qualified electors of this state at the next sue ceeding general election after such act of adjustment shall have been passed, and the same shall have been ratified by majority of the qualified electors voting at such election.
 ''Second-That no act of the gen erai assembly of this state, which may hereafter be passed, making an appropriation to pay of any part of principal or interest of any of the bonded indebtedness of this state, based upon what is known as rail road aid bonds, levee bonds or Hol- ford bonds, shall be binding upon the state, or paid from the treasury, until such act shall have been sub mitted to the people at the next sue ceeding general election after such act of appropriation has been passed and the same shall haveIbeea ratified by majority of the qualified electors voting at such election. And they further recommend that no action on sad indebtedness be taken by the general assembly until such amend ment shall have been submitted to vote of the people,"
 It is confidently expected that the principles contained in the proposi- tons above set forth will meet with the hearty approval and endorse ment of the great majority of the party, without regard to the differ ences of opinion that may have pre- vailed in respect to amendment No. l; and, if formulated into a consti- tutional amendment, and lncorpora- ted into the organic law, they will constitute an effectual safeguard against any possibility of corrupt or improvident legislation ever at tempting to foist or fasten upon an unwilling constituency the payment or adjustment, in any way, of any DOT tion of the disputed indebtedness of the state, but will at the same time leave the people themselves untram- meled by constitutional provisions and free to record at the ballot box their consent to the payment or. ad- iustment of any portion of such in- debted as to them may seem just and binding upon the public conscience and the honor of sovereign state.
 The central committee would therefore most earnestly recommend the same to the calm and deliberate consideration of the members of the party throughout the state.
 With reference to the question of the basis of representation In the next state convention, that has also, of late ehcited some discussion. It was resolved, by the committee, that prior to the meeting of this committee for the purpose of fixing time and place for holding the next democratic state convention, each member ascertain as nearly as 1 ,naafhfa ho