The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-23
icasons why u Convention should No,
be Called.
From tho Ncwnort Now.

From the Newport News
By act OF the General Assembly, ap,
proved April 4. 1887. II WIS enacted THAT
ut the next general election there shall be
submitted to the qualified electors the
question Of calling constitutional conycn.
tom The electors will find upon their
tickets ''for convention" or against con-
rcntion, and will be- called upon 10 vote
accordingly. The electors should consider
whether q now constitution Is demanded,
and II 50, for what reasons.
a brief resume Of tho constitutional
history OF the state will not be without
interest Tho territory of "Arkansaw"
was organized by AN act Of CongrcS. in
lslp. In 1880 the Territorial Gunpral As.
soinbIy called convention for tho pur-
pose Oi ifnmlng constitution with Wow
To admission ~ the State uf "Arkansaw. "
There was no enabling act OF Congrcs. an.
thorizlng the procedure. The convention
met nj Little Rock january 30, 1896 and
framed a constitution knownns the cnnsti.
t",'an 81 iuuo. rms WIS submitted to
Congtoss aud approved by that body. and
TIE state WIS admitted June ~. 1874. This
continued Ia he the constitution nj
the State until May q. 1861, when a
new constitution was adopted to
take the state out Of the Union. This
constitution WIS not submitted Ia the poo.
pie for ratification. The State sccpdeJ
and the war followed Tho Cohfy .infntes
luil"d IN bold 80 State, except the south
western corner. In 1854, the Federal gov
eminent having rcg,incd possession oi the
greater potion uf the state, those in favor
oil the Union side called convention To-
hamc u now constitution aud 10 bring IA.
state again In friendly relations with the
Federal government
This constitution was said to be prnyis.
ionnl, aud It's authority was not rrcn,uizrd
NJ Washington. The right of suiffarr vns
still restricted 20 white male inhabitants
Ailor the final overthrow Of tho Conf,,i.
euicy nnd the rrturn ui the slldirri from
the war, u was discovered that thn.e vbn
hal hccn In rebellion were aryely h, tL,
majority. The elections of lNB put tb.,
class IN power The substitution of tsGi
failed % receive recognition NJ tho h,nIs
Of Congress In 1867 the rrrbusifn,ii,n
acts Wcr passed. declaring that no lawful
government existed IN the States lately i'm |
rebellion, providing means bv which INV
iul governments might bo established |
Ivy these acts the colorcd people werr |
allowed 90 vote IN tho clcrt,on al |
delegates to the convention, nnJ |
those who had taken pau In tho |
rebellion Wcrr not allowed ~ vote. 4 now |
was adopted IN accordance |
with these views, known as the constitu. |
ton 81 ISIS. THIS constitution put a /
great power la the hands IT the executive
department The government was author
it'i 10 appoint the judges oi nll the courts.
ihn prosecuting attorneys and many other
officers usually elected by the people al.
rect The government under this rousti.
lnl"n became very odiOus, though ihp r,.
'iriciion upon the right of suffrage VAS
hiugllvd 10y nn amendment Ia 1873. nj.
lowing ail citizens 10 vote Notwithstanding
participation IN the rebellion. The sny.
IInmrni bycimcuiinns aud those Whnnll.l
,n' m"0t important places Wcrc dislikrd.
10 lhh Them must De- made low hon.
'rhlr exceptions The Governor In tho
Irlf Is.L The Hon. Elisha Raxtrr, Of
,,,,''A Nll,r' was % conspicuous exception.
~, y l'' H'h"frl lud respected Tor his
,ali '"l' 'punt' in ilu,r tfuuhlous times.
'lv " NnhliuF example IT the insmti.
.ud' OF republics lu 1874 be- called an
Ni''tdlnafl "s,l1u oi the General As.
',I,nI'F. ne had been violently ousicd
" '''.' ~ WV INlN lliN claimed tu
ave elected him. aul when lee showed
nat hc Wa the Governor II tho whole
'@.'g' and not u party ncutly, thcy
Iicd TO overthrow him. Hut the pafty
'ho IN The election voted against linn ,
anne To his rscuc, aud by the helm of I
he President, firmly established him in /
Ne seat ,
by that Gcncml Assembly a conycn,ion {
,as called ~ frame q new constitution
his convention discharged the duty dc. {
Owed upon u anil prepared a consiiiu.
'on' which upon submission 20 The popu.
" vote, was adopted anl declared of fdrr,
'clohcr ~, lSlL Under this cnnstitn. ,
ION W. have lived and ilourishcd until =
io present time. What a new constitu.
on would Indicate Il that the pcoplc had 4
ialc step In advance In political science y
nl ucsircd To put that step into practice.
liat advance has been nader Com.
laint Is made Of the homestead and OK.
hpuon clauses Of the constitution, pu, .
~ mo people ruady 10 aay that u
10 crci itor shall have the last CENT i
TIE debtors property Are they In \,
ct willing 10 diminish tho amount on.
nptcdY We think not Il Is The creditor
as mat makes tho demand. IL Il con.
lnfod more itnuuFtaut ga tta .,.,.,,uuuttv | A.