The Van Buren press., 1861-02-15
Tho Arsenal.

'he Iate Littie hock papers. give An &C.
count OF the surrender Of the Arsenal al
that place. and its o:cupsnce by citizen SOL
diery. under the direction Of thc Governor
vi our State. From all the information We
can gather. this proceeding resulted from a
desire. on the part Of the Governor and the
citizens of Little Rock. to prevent . coils.
ion between the Federal troops and band
of mi.gaiieI creatures. wh ,. by some con.
csrtei action. started from points on tn.
Mississippi river ami on tbs Arkansas river
oeiow Little Rock. anl met At that place,
for the purpose Of taking ths Arsenal. To
amy one acquainted with the position Of the
Arsenal. the act must appear wanton ani
absurcliy silly. Situated in the centre OF
The State-occupief by q very small body 81
'nsn-surroundsd by large population. al
OF whom were citizens of Arkansas, frienL-
ly to the cause Of the South. and deeply in
terestsi in every thing which could aff.cr
the interest. Of the State and the people
the absurd wan:oness of the act. is q mon-
ument OF the im.'ecil;ty Of those who plan
mel it /; bu: when we remember that tn.
troops ani men who occupied that Arsenal
had bsen detached from the Garrison a.;
Fort Smith. but short time since. an /.
went to Little Rock. by request Of the Cover
Nor OF our S.a,s and Of the people of Lit
tie Kock. for the purpose Of defending them
against apprshen .e danger from tine rail,
of Montgomery or other miscreants, it be
comes an act As dishonorsble as it is un-
chisalrous-an act. the folly Of which i,
only excee.lesl BY itsinfamy
The motives Of the planners were, prob.
ably. to excite the people into the belief that
the Federal Government was their ENEMY.
and thus to prepare tho masses. ON tbs eve
OF tine approaching election. to cas-. their
votes for secession. To tho crs.lit of most
OF our secession friends here, be it sail. that
their >ad faces. on hearing the news, betokep.
I'd their regret at. and di.approval o the sy.; ;
ami we think we can venture to say that the
At Ill meet. as it merits, the unqualified
condemnation OF every DECENT man !, the
Sia;s. whether secessionist or uuionist. ana
may we not reasonably hope that many O:
our honest secession friends will be l,J bv
this ciicumstsnce to reflect on the Madness
which sAsins t" govern 80 many of their
party, an.f'thns be ininencel to cast th.ir
vote" in favor Of law and go'L government,
AMI thereby rescue the State from Ia. ana.
chy which will 10 likely to prevail If
the measures Of such desperate mcn shall b.
unchecked by any laws. but their own
wills-ss must be tho case. should thu State
be committed TO secession.
Contrasting strangely with the fsslinr
Or the conduct of that lswless band in tLe
lower part oi this Stats. is the sentim IN. nj
our people here in reference to th o,cup.nts
OF tins Garrison, within five miles of ,h;.
plae'. Ws look apon them as our defend
ers and frienls. ani the people of Caw.
ford AMI S.bastisn Counties will turn on,
es "soss 10 resist any attempt IN the mart -,
any psop'e to disloiss them from THAR an.
proprists quarters. 50 long ~ Arkansas n.
mains in the Union. Aud We doubt M,
thss the officer in command. woali inn.
meliately evacna,s the Garrison. on = civ.
il demsad being made by the Paorss su,hor.
ity. sh"uld the PsorLs Of Akansas A.
termine BY their VOTES that ths Stss, ahalI
ssrede.
We desire it to b. distinctly under tool.
that in tide forege ing stricturss. Ne have DO
ress'saes to thoss lsw-sbidiag citisrns of
Little Rock. who enassvore.l to prsvsn. the
threatened outrage. and who yielded .t last
to what they conceived to be . necssx;tv
and we ars hopeful that the Governor va,
equally blaneless.
\ Word 6om Cen. Jaak.on
We ssssnmsad 70 ths a:tsasioa Of or
fsisnds q ell views, IL follow;.~ av,..,,