Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-01-05
HoUsE OF ENTERTAINMENTS,

LITTLE koci, ARK, Dec. 24, 1860. { NEssRs. EDIroRs TRuE DEMOCRAT
 Sirs: Learning that false impression had becn made 6y sol:e means upon the minds of some of the citizens of the county which I have the honor in part to represent as to my position in regard to the federal relations of the government at this time take this method, with your permission, to give ouef statement oI what my course has been in the alarming crisis which OCT hangs our once happy country. have looked with no small degree of interest, forward to the time when this it seems, unceasing strife between the North and the Soptb would be put to an end-Lhe breach seems to widen inc North by the passage of their personal liberty bills have in effect nullifed the only part of the compromise of s5J that was of the least value to ,s the fugitive slave law.
 In their personal liberty sDs, fla fugitive slave De arrested m the free Sates the person so arrest ing Is made liable to fine of from one to five tbou sand dollars, and imprisonment in their penitentia ry for fourteen years. Under this state of facts. with tie memories of the John Brown raids in yir Ginia, the raids and house burnngs in Texas. and the contemplated nsumections in our own be- loved Srate, (butwhch were happily averted) could we as representative in sounthern State. heing southern bern and raised, sit idly by, and take no | stepsto avert the dangers that so nminentlv i'm. peril our lives and our fortunes? No less could be thought oi northern Yankee with his wooden nutmegs who had squatted among us But I, q souherner with feelings alive to the interests and institutions of the South, could not do less than vote for the reference to the committee on federal relations ot the resolutions introduced into this House With the view of perfecting final adjust. nent oi these difficulties. And again upon a re. port from the committee on federal relations, set ting forth the grievances we had received from the North, and demanding of them the repeal of the personal liberty bill, and guarantee to the South that its rights and institutions would be protected in future, coud'not have done less than to have voted for them also. And yet again, upon the fnsl passage P tue bill calling m election by the I pJ;iP'e esssfftaSfeA M- irsnnypa,s tion and at the ssn,e time eecting delegates to the convention, in case the convention was called by the people, to lay down an ultimatum in the con vention, upon which the North and the South might still remain united and the troubles that now threa ten the country be forever quicted, that the coun try might rest in peace, l could not have done less than to have supported the bill without doing violence to my feelings. It must be remembered that from the best information we have, the Pal metto State, South Carolina, has Iassed her ordi. nance, seeded and declared herself no longer in the Union, but separate ard distinct nationality; and nearly all ot the southern States have called State convention preparatory to going out of the Union, unless at the present Congress- they get | nair ri ii | the Union.
 Under this state of case, what could Arkansas do, other than call convenioa or submit to the | people to say whether they want convention or not? Through distinguished individual, an ex member of Congress from Alabama, we learn that siXty-three candidates fol delegates to their con. venuon-who have no oppostion--are publicly pledged for secession, and the remainder of the hundred arc likely to be secession delegates as not. Then can there be doubt but that Alabama will also declare separate nationality? Then what ask is Arkansas to do? To fold her arms ana look quietly on? Nay! Let her brave sons bestir themselves, meet in convention, lay down an ultimatum to the North which will secure ourrirbts ip the union and if it is acceded to by the North. then Arkansas will hold the proud attitude of stand ing as amediatorbetwcen the North and the South. and permanent compromise may be effected which shall forever put to rest these difficulties. and cement the North and the South into one ever. lasting brotherhood. Should we fail in this much to be desired dissideratum, then the tug of. war must and Will come, and Arkansas will as assur- edly link her name and her fortunes with her sister southern sates as the rises in the east and sets in the west l am no disunionist! would that this Union, bought by the blood and treasure of GU tathers might ever stand united and be proclaimed as the land of the free and the home of the braye and may We never resort to secession while there IS hope of getting our rights and equality in the states Should we fail in this, then secession will come as a deraier resort
 am, dear sirs, yours,
 B. F. BOONE.
 r. 5. Washington county papers please copy.