Year: 1861

| pfOacHlHS elcceloll, WnlcH lS to uetefmiHe the political position of the State of Ar kansas, wisdom would suggest that the voters should enquire as to the possibility of getting constitutional guaranties which l will render the longer stay of Arkansas with the abolition republic safe or expe- dient

 l Secessionists complain that such has been the course of the republican party, that the South can no longer have its con- stitutional rights in the Union, and the spirit and letter of the constitution have been constantly violated, in order to enable that party to carry out its purposes of hos tility to our institutions. They do not think the constitution is insufficient, if pro- perly administered, but deny that it is any protection when administered by party who declare their purpose to war upon us, and ours. For proof that the constitution will not protect us, it is only necessary to refer to few admitted facts.

 Mir. Seward has declared in the United States Senate, that there is "higher law than the constitution of the United States, and this remark was made in reference to slave property.

 Mr. Lincoln has declared that there must be a perpetual conflict between free labor and slave labor, until the United States are all free or all slave.

 Mr. Lincoln, in his inaugural, has ex- pressly limited the authority of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States to the parties; while he holds that the other departments of the government are not bound by them. In other words, that he and the dominant party are above all courts in the construction of law.

 The republicans in the last canvass car ried the election upon the declared princi- pie, that their success would certainly re- suit in the gradual extinction of slavery. { We have now President, Senate and House of Representatives, who believe that slavery ought to be extinguished, and who have been elected for their hostility to it.; who acknowledge higher obligation than the constitution, and who are not restrain ed by decisions of the Supreme Court. A mere statement of these facts are conclu- sive as to our imminent danger.

 

 The Union party, if the writer is not mistaken, hold, that we have no safety in the remaining United States, unless we obtain constitutional guaranties more clear and express than we now have.

 Since they admit that we must have con- stitutional amendments, it is fitting to ask what are those amendments, and are they sufficient?

 Mr. Thomson, on the part of the Union members of the state convention, introduc- ed q set of resolutions, which was declared in the convention to be the ultimatum of that party The first resolution relates to the future Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States. To judge of its sui, fciency, we must first consider the consti- tuition as it is; next the evil, and then whether the amendment will afford re- medy.

 According to the spirit of the constitu- tion, slave holder or non shareholder may be elected president or vice president, with ont objection on account of his owning or not owning particular property.

 According to the spirit of the constitu- tion the offices should not be bestowed on the enemies of the institutions of the sec tion where the duties are to be performed.

 According to the spirit of the constitution the President of the United States should exercise the veto power to protect section in the minority against unjust or unconsti tutional laws passed by sectional ma jority.

 The evils are, first, there is not the slightest reason to suppose that any man entertaining southern feelings will ever be elected president in the remaining United States. Mr. Thomson evidently thinks this, as his resolutions would be folly if he does not.

 2d It has been the policy of every ap- pointing power to appoint its friends to office. This will be always so until human nature is changed.

 The principal exception is where office is given as brbe to an opponent, and in case the appointee fails to become friend. the appointment does not produce the in tended result It is no answer to this that Lincoln has not sent men amongst us who would have been mobbed if they had come. It will serve his purpose much better to close the mouths of his opponents with offices. Mr. Lincoln has made three i'm portant appointments in the South; Clay, Blair and Bates, all of whom are opposed to slavery, and receive office as reward for their hatred to their section.

 Sd. No man will contend that we now 1 look to Mr. Lincoln to protect us with his veto from unjust legislation by an abolition majority.

 If these evils exist, then the remedy should enable southern men with southern feelings, to be elected president to prevent the offices South from being used as bribes to induce men to betray their country, and to secure us the protection of the veto power. What is the remedy proposed! Mr. Thomason's resolution proposes that the president shall be elected alternately from the North and South, and that the president and vice president shall not be elected from the same section. What will be or may be its operation Mir. Lincoln ;s ,,o,v rrasident. Cassius MI Clay may be