The Van Buren press., 1861-05-15


States. The Convention at its first session placed
itself upon the record 1t declared that any attempt
20 coerce seeded State would be resisted to the
last extremity. When coercion attempted,
then, its recorded pledge was made. Resistance
became a duty. 1t had change to make. 1t
could not fail to resist without making disgrace
full change.
The passing of the ordinance was O solemn and
impressive scene. The speech Of Mr.. SroEr, of
Pope county. recording his vote drew tears from
many unused to the melting mood. The speech of
Hon. DAVID " ALKER, President OF the Convention
was among the most thrillingly eloquent addresses
it has ever been good fortune to hear A few
gentlemen IN obedience to their pledges to their
constituents, when they were elected, thought it
their duty to vote against the ordinance. Judge
w Appealed to them to change their votes, that
when, with electric speed, the news flashed from
one end of the country to the other that Arkansas
had gone out of the Union, it should go
voice from unanimous Convention. He had been
as ardent supporter of the Union any man
could be he had adhered to his opinions with as
rgid a consistency Us any man could but now the
time OF resistance had come and let not sickle
about the torn in which we declare our resistance
He appealed to the younger members Of the Con-
venton, many of whom he had educated in politics,
and to the older ones, who, with him had grown
grey In the advocacy Of the principles Of gov
ernment, to come forward, act as one man. and
make the vote Of the Convention as vote, for
seysring the bonds that bind to the Union. To
the young men, who had offered themselves SOL
diers in the of their country he said that his
sons would stand shoulder to shoulder with them
in the hour of rial and danger. He, himself was
enrolled a member OF n military company, and
ready to march at the call Of his country. The
speech of which unable to give even q sy-
nopsis, produced a profound sensation among all
present. and had most happy effect upon the Con-
vention. All of the members who voted against
the ordinance except one changed their votes, aud
it was passed nearly with unanimity. The dis
senting vote, Hon ISAAC MUKPHY, of Madison coun-
to his conception of his duty, and his understand
ing of pledges to his cons utuents. He is pure,
a true and a brave man, and Arkansas has citi-
zen upon he' soil who will be more ready to re-
spond to her call when necessity or public safety
demands that her should offer their service,
''ieir -.,--, an ,,er defence
Now that Arkansas is out of the Union now
that the old fabric of her government has been torn
down, 1t deyoires upon the Convention TO construct
another i'll its stead The work required will oc-
eupy the attention of members for some time 10
coine and a spirit of unanimity and good feel
I'erysdes that body, hope for the best results
from its laIors
Below is the ordinance passed by the Conven-
tion:
An ORDiNANcE to dissoioe the Union no,o er;stn9 be
foee" the State Of Arkansas and the other States
nEite9 irh her uader the compact entitled, " The
Constitution Of The United States of America. %
WHns.As, Ia addition 10 the well founded causes
OF complaint set forth by this convention in resol
tIons adopted on the llth March, a. ID. lS6l
against the sectional party now in power at Wash
ington City. headed by Abraham Lincoln, he has
IN the face OF resolutions passed by this convention
pledgng the State of Arkansas to resist to the last
extremity any attempt the part Of such power to
coerce any State that seeded from the old Union
proclaimed To the world that should be waged
against such States until they should be COMPEL
ed to submit Ia their rule and large forces to &C.
complish this have by this same power been called
out, and now being marshaied to carry out this
! r=,t,1 H..
o remain in the old Union of the United States
would be disgraccful and ruinous to the State of
Arkansas.
Therefore, We the people of the State of Arkan-
sas IN Convention assembled. do hereby clare and
crda, and 1t Is hereby declared and ordained that
ed and approved by the General Assembly OF the
State of Arkansas, on the 18th day of October. A
D., 1886. whereby ii was by said General Assem-
bly, ordained that, by virtue of the authority
vested IN SAID General Assembly, by the
provisions Of the ordinance adopted by the
convention Of delegates assembled at Little Rock.
Tor the purpose Of forming constitution and sys-
tenn of government for said State, the propositions
set forth IN . an act supplementary to act enti
tied act for the admission of the State of Arkan
sas into the Union and to provide for the due exc
cutIon OF the laws OF the United States within the
same, and for other purposes were freely accepted
ratifled and rrevocaby confirmed articles of CON-
pact and union between the State Of Arkansas and
other law and ordinance, whereby the State of Ar.
kansas became member of the Federal Union be
and the same hereby in all respects and for eve
~ purpose herewith consistent repealed abrogated
and fully set aside; and the union now .ubsistine
between the State of Arkansas and the other States
under the name Of the United States of Amcrica
is hereby forever dissolved
And we do further hereby declare and ordan,
that the State of Arkansas hereby resumes to her
self all rights and powers heretofore delegated to
the government of the United States of America
that her citizens are absolved from all allegiance to
SAID government of the United States and that she
Is In full possession and exercise of all the rights
and sovereignty which appertain to free and indie
We do further Ordain and declare, that all rights
acquired and vested under the Constitution of the
United States Of America. Of any act or acts of
Congress, or treaty under any law of this State
and not incompatable with this ordinance shall re-
main In full force and effect ia no wise altered or
impaired, and have ths same effect as If this ordin
ance had not been PASSED. ~
DAVID WALKER. President of the Conven-
ton and delegate from the county of Washington