The Van Buren press., 1861-02-08
TO the Voters of CrawfnrJ, Comm,

10 the Voters of Crawford County.
FELLOW CITIZENS Near the close of our
last Legislature an act was passed, calling
a State Convention to be held at the city
of Little Rock the dfh nf Mar.l, "~~t
provided majority Of the citizens of the
State were in favor Of holding said Con-
vention. The object of the Convention to
be to take into consideration the present
difficulties existing between the slave-hold-
ing and non-slave.holding States OF this
Confederacy. Under that act each county
was called upon to elect. to sit in that Con
vention. as many delegates as they were
entitled to Representatives in the popular
branch of our State Legislature. That cleo
ton to be held on the 18th Of the present
month.
On the first. day of this month. written
communication. signed by all the Grand
jury now in session. was presented to Jesse
Turner, Esq. aud myself, requesting us to
become candidates for seats in said Conven-
ton. The individuals who handed us this
communication assured us that many others
outside of said Grand jury. had agreed to
favor any selection which that body might
make. After consultation, Mr.. Turner and
myself. although. by no means, coveting
the responsibility, consented to become can
didates. and permitted our names to be sub
mi,ted to you. On the following day We
were kindly invited by Col. G. A. Carroll.
to take part in public speaking. to take
place. pursuant to an announcement made
by Mr. Carroll, himself, he being also a
candidate. At which time we were request
ed to express our sentiments upon the
course of action. which, in our judgement.
said convention should take.
My engagements in the Circuit Court,
are such as to preclude me from attendi ~
the appointments announ,e1 by Col. Car
roll. Since then it is impracticable for me
to meet you facc to face. as I would be
glad to do. Ideem it my duty. as well as
your right to require. that declare my SEN
timents in some form, in order that you
may fully understand my position in refer
ence to the momentous questions which
now shake the foundations of our govern
ment to its very centre, have seen fit to
choose this method.
| On the 9th day of November. last. was
consummated, in the election of Presi-
dent. all that fanatical, abolition, warlike
hatred of the equal rights guaranteed to the
slaveholding States under the Federal Con
stitntion. For forty years the struggle for
this consummation has been unabatod. save
for short periods brough. about by compro-
mise and concession ON the part of the
South. The result of that election struck
terror to the hearts of Southern citizens.
They beheld in the President elect the en-
bodimsnt Of unconstitutionality and aboli-
tion aggression. They beheld the represen-
tive of fanatical minority exalted into the
ruler Of an immense majority. They beheld
sectional Chief Magistrate endowed with
that power which the nation alone should
confer. Sorrowfully they saw that this last
!" unkindest cut of all was . practical
demonstration Of tho fact that without
proper concessions and guarantees the union
of the North and South was at an end. /
cannot find language adequate to express to
Won the sorrow that took pos,css;on of M