The Van Buren press., 1861-02-01
10 the People of
Arkansas

the political aifiirs of our country,
has called a Convention of the
ipcopie, for the purpose, as expressed
IN t'Ie words of the bill, to (. tl:1a
into consideration the condition ol
political. aiiiirs. and determine w'rl;
course the STATE Of Arkansas shall
take II the prasen, political crisis
The election is t, be hid on the
iS;h day of February, at which cleo
ton dual vote is 10 b. taken one
OH the question Of" Convention or
= No Conyanllon," and the other fol:
De!glte or Delegates, to which,
each county nlay BE- entitled. to rep
resent ii in ..Ie Convention, should
it be dctarninci, tiat by their votes
the probe have tilougn; proper TO
call Convention.
HwaS proi,ahiy the wish OF large
majority, that the Legislature should
pass a bill OF this kind and It is the
duty of every citizen in the S:ato, to
record his vote on the question o;
Convention or No Convention, ac-
cording TO hi; views; and as this will
nc an election more impor;a,i. tlan
any which has ever been or ever nav
be held during the !itct;me of'any hui
man being now living, it is TO be
hoped TIA: every man Will fee! it 70
be his sacred duty 10 vote for the
Delegate Or Delegates, whom he
would choose TO represent him in
that au5us: boiy-shou'd !: Be tonatl
t!iat a Convention ills been called.
It is also 10 BE- hoped that every ,n4n
who sla'' BE- elected a ,la:og,to to
that body. W Il i,o al I.i:;ie Isac.l On
Or baiJrc TIE II Aay Of March, " t.
the properly. ceEti:iad votes Of MS
county on the question nf Convention,
or No Contention, as i required in
in the bill, and also with som prop
er proof of h:s election. which seems
to have been overlooked in framing
the bill.
And now; l beg to b allowed .o
address every citizen to w:.oIn t.,is
may 90. If YOU believe iiat tho
Fed ri Un,oa can be saved, anl IS
worth saving, vote for men wa, g.
gree with you in tha. opinion, AMI ii
you believe shi; the honor ana inter
ssts of Arkansas require that she
should scccic from the Ulioa. vote
for candidates vino are OF that orin-
ion. Do not su!flr Yourself to b.
deceived IN the views Of vour can
Ididatos, as some Of the paopIe il;
other Stats have been ca sion
your cand:dat2s. /; t.roy ar honcs.
men, they viii frankly avow t;ic:r
opin.o.s and if they 60 moi, they
ara either d3nago -uas, w.lo see;s
your su.iragos in order to elevate
themselves INTO position wiaic,l will
give them distinction, and who Will
IN tlat event, go with tint par;y in
the Convention which! i.icy find 10 be
strongest ; or they are men who have
not fully made up their minis rs t.
the importsnt issues before Us, and
conss1u ally lack the Intelligence
and DECISION of character required
for the position they aspire to or,
hast and worst Of ali, ,aoy are men
WHO design To obtain ycur votes and
then hsiray the one side or the other
The issues are too pain for any na,l
Of intelii sence To misunderstood
them, and he, who has not by this
time, made up his mind, may be q
very hoaast man, but he is totally
unit 10 represent you.
In one respect, the whole people
of all tie Southern States agree
none desire to remain in the Union.
unless all their rights IN that Union
arc fu'ly recognized, and saiiist,cts-
rily secured. There being no disa-
groement among curseIvet on tia:
question, this Is not TIE ;ssue at the
PRESENT TEIE. The true issue is
do the minority of i:le people of this
State, hold to the opinion tlat tincil
rights may be secured in the Union.
and because of hclding that opin-
ion dasirs for the present 10 remain
in the Union Or do ths maiorit,
Of the people of tbs State firmly be.
lieve that thair rights cannot be Sc.
cured in the Union, and because OF
holding t.lat opin;ondesire 10 seccdc
Immediately ffon the Union ? As
no opinion conscion::ouSly formed
can be degrading 10 any lnan-,et
us call t'sings By thoir r:gi. nlmcs
an1 dos,s.late those who ao!i t.ls
lo9inioas frs: nam ID UNION sS IS
and those wilo hold the opinions las
named DISUNIONIS is. let u
have no prejudice agains; any mar
for any opinion he expresses, if w
believe that tn opinion h u;ters i;
honestly entertained. Bat let u:
vote for no m IN, wilo does no; de-
clare uaeIuIvocaily, that he believe.
their &c ho,e of Sao,1ripr ou p.,,