Year: 1871

SENATE--sPECIAL ORDER.


Mallory's bill, declaring all offices va
cant where the incumbents failed to quail
ify within the time prescribed by the
schedule to the constitution.


Dell moved to refer the bill to com
mittec of the whole. Lost


Frierson moved to amend, so as to
make the bill prospective only in its op
Grafton LOST to l6.


Du1ie moved to amend so as not to
apply to cases where officers have been
prevented, by sickness or otherwise, from
ticking the oath Of Office within the pre-
scribed time. Lost-6 to 16.


On motion of Mallory, the bill was
then put upon its final passage.


Caraloff charged that the object and
purpose Of this bill was to GUST the lieu
tenant governor from his office, to put
the instigater Of the measure in the gov
crnors office to lord it over the State
He denounced the proposition as wrong
and outrage, not only to the lieutenant
governor, but to the people of Arkansas
Thought the bill would also operate very
injuriously upon other subordinate Of
ticers of the government, who could not
have possibly known what the provisions
of the constitution were in respect to the
time in which they were required to take
the oath prescribed, as the constitution
was not then printed. He denounced the
measure as an unhallowed scheme on the
part Of some members of this body to
wrongfully possess themselves Of the
governor office, upon which their eyes
are now fixed and fairly glistening with
earger and intense desire. Mr.. Z, pur
sued this line Of argument and denuncia-
ton in fervid and eloquent speech of an
hours duration.


Elliott followed in a half hours Speech
dehouncing the bill as a damnabe wrong
and outrage, and charging that the sole
purpose and object of the bill was to oust
the lieutenant governor, to put another
in his place, who will become governor; !;
and he charged that the mover Of the
measure, Mallory, was himself candi-
date for the place, and expected to get
it, and deied him to deny it. He said
the passage of this bill would ruin and
destroy the republican party in Arkansas
and as republican he appealed to repub-
lican members to vote this measure down.


Torrans: He was in favor Of this bill.
Said he could vote for it and go back TO
his district and be elected He was a
representative of the people, but on all
party measures, he was n representative
Of the people, but on all party measures,
he was q representative only of the re-
publican party. Thought this measure
was absolutely necessary for the safety
of the lives and property of republicans.
Hadley denounced the manner in which
this measure had been discussed on the
floor by its opponents. Thought it was
shameful and disgraceful, and that the
Senators had no right to question or i'm
pugn the motives of other Senators.


Frierson thought that the effect of the
provisions of this bill would operate with
great hardship upon many innocent par.
ties, who had been prevented from va
riety of causes from taking the oath OF
office within the time prescribed But
he was well aware that the bill was not
aimed at them, but that it was only in.
tended to reach one high in authority
He though the manner in which the bill
was brought forward was outrageous
and that its object and purpose was revo
lutionary in character lie warned re
publicans not to override the consttu
ton which they themselves had made


Dullie said he could not let this bill
pass without entering his solemn protest
He protested against the manner in whc!
the measure had been brought forward
without notice, and rapidly rusheC
through, without allowing time or oppor
tunity for any dclberation or considera
ton Objected to the bill because Il was
retrospective in its operation, and there
fore unconstitutional. 1t was said tina
the bill only carried into effect the con
sttution, but it does not. The constitu
ton says that certain officers elected o
qualified shall take the oath Of oflic,
within fifteen days after notified of thei
election--that is all but this bill declares
that if said officers fail to take that offic,
within the time prescribed, his Office shall
be dec'arcd vacant Suppose any person