Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-11-03
For the Arkansas Intelligencer.
A N 5 A $.
Msrepre esentdton-So--C CLmate-- Product0ns- Scene
ry-Characier of the People, &c.

ry-Charaeter of the People, &c.
ARKANSAS is but little known broad, and less
understood From causes moi easIIy OWNED. the
country and its inhabitants have been grossly mis-
represented. and so siDguiarlv have these misre-
presentations been mixed up with truth and bile.
romance and reality, that no fair portrnIture OF
either be found in the publications of the da
The generality of riters have given their sketches
second ha ndod, taken from reliable sources
until persons at distance have come to the con-
cuSion that Arkansas is only famous for private
brawls, cruel iynchings, and the bloodiest encoun-
ters TO he found in the annals of border warfare.
Consequently. they suppose the ma joritv of the
people TO be in semi ba rbarous state, half horse
half alligator" and shudder a, the lhonght of an
Arkansian, whom they picture to themselves ms
armed 10 the teeth, bristing with knives and pis.
tols, desperate, or else, rollickng. da re-devi
sort of u parsonage, made up of ignorance,
ness, bombast nd folly. Education, refinement,
and indeed every thing of the kind. they take foI
granted unknown these semi. ba rba ria ns nd
settle down under the firm conviction that A rka n
is the least and last of the mi ghy brothe hood
Of stars which adorn the standard sheet Of Ame
rcan glory!
And yet, this same State. so basely abused
sa ndered, and caricatured in magnitude holds the
fifth rank in the Unon,-has large and intelli.
gent population that will compare favoraby with
any, and, as regards natural advantages, is not a
whit oehInd the greatest. Her skies pierced
by the loftlest chains of mountains, viga bic
rivers, Gone OF which is 200 lies long. a nd cross
es The whole State, with innumerabIe tributary
streams, inersect the country in every direction
while millions of living springs. clear as the azure
OF heaven, and cool and refreshing as the dew
from crystalline cave. gush from the lip of the
virgin rock. and sweep down The sides Of a thou
sand hills. She can boast of every variety o
climate, from the soft bland Temperature Of the
sunny south, TO the biting cold ofihe frozen north
of tho most beautiful prairies, richly carpeted with
the finest grasses and flowers in be wi derng pro-
fusion Of the sweetest perfume, and loveer tina n
the boquets which bloom in the boudoir of Persia
queen, while the widest and most magnlfcen,
scenery fills up the deep back ground, and finishes
picture scarcely to be surpassed upon the globe
The rivers and creeks abound with fish of the
largest size, the favor of some being deIica te
enough 10 plense the taste of the most fastdous
gormnnd,-and the woods. gens, and mountains
WIN cholce game, easiiy procured and almost
within haiHng distance. The greatest vnriety of
fruits, vegetables, and grains, may be raised in
abundance in this highly favored land, with but
halt the labor and expense required in other States
lhe 81 ontaneous growth of the valleys and bottom
lands. especially in the south. is truly wonderful
aud beggars description. The grapes pucked by
Caleb and Joshua, in the land Of Canaan were
not more delicious than those which may be found
IN any quantity in the north n nd north west For
many miles, the trees and shrubbery restooned
ana garlanded with vines. on which they hang in
tempting clusters, GROWING the hills. and sprea iiug
along The borders of every winding streum Other
States are celebrated for n few American staples
only. Arkansas can nearly supply them ALL In
her mountains and valleys lie imbedded all kinds
oil minerals. including granite and marble of the
rarest nnd hncst description. The medicinal QUA
lilies OF her waters equal 10 any IN the world
and he Hot Springs, only so miles south w es, of
Little Rock the capital of the State re unrvalled
Nothing can exceed the fertility of her land, even
where they present the most unpromsipy aspects.
and though there large tracts uutlabIe. and
many OF them at certain seasons of the wear
overhown, yet the greater proportion is yalua ble
extensive ranges, and rich pasturage for
the numerous sheep, hogs horses. and other stock.
win which the country is most abundantly sup
piled. As held for immigration, ii far exceeds
any other IN America, with perhaps the execution
OF California. 1t affords such boundess variety
that the stranger and foreigner, at a very small
cost, may have their cherished habtudcs suited.
a M hnd pleasant and agreeable home in its
bosom, where they may rest in peace, and live in
the midst Of plenty.
Taste, refinement, and good breeding. are os
nlghiy appreciated. and as generally prac,ised in
Arkansns IN proportion to lis population nd yea RS
as In The older and weather. sections of this youny
republic. But for kindness, un6ounded hosptnIit, &.
freedom from conventional rules nd denerdence
OF opinion and manner, the citizens of Arkansas
have few equals, and no superiors The honesty
oi the ro"ghest of the sovereigns and their hiob
appreciation of honorable conduct and moral ;,,s.
gritty are truly admirable. No doors nor Windows
are locked or barred at ngh,fa sea rceIy anywhere
Robberes, or cold blooded murders. a re bui seldom
committed and when outrages of the kind are
perpetrated, they are in the general tracenble 10
the early feuds of the first settlers perne,uotod
through their descendants; but even these ore of
rare occurrence, and are tolerated nowhere within
Inc BOUNDS OF the commonwealth. The brood
smiles and beneficial effects Of Christianity and
temperance, are felt and enjoyed :. from Dan even
unto Beersheba." Improper behavior. at religious,
Poli1ica'' or indeed at any public gatherings is
rarely seen. AT camp.meetings, no officers are
required to keep the peace. as all alike feel bonnd
10 respect the worship of God, by whatever demo.
mnaton OF christians it is conducted, whether in
me forest deep, the city full, in the TEMPLES of
nature or OF art. Knives and pistols are ra RELY
,rn. and one NAV travel with thous, nds Of s,a.;
IN MS possession, from end of the State TO he
other, unmolesed. In word, rkansas is n ,eweI
OF State, IN the rough It's true but no less vo
'uaoie on that account. Besides she ia n, ,b;s
moment being subjected 10 searching process
'hat IS bound ere long, to bring out into ,trong
re',eI the most brilliant points of her cha racter,