The Van Buren press., 1861-02-15

~~A" SAsinonS, having AHoWH yOuIOr many
years, and having the utmost confidence in
both your abilities and integrity to repre-
sent the wishes and interests of our county
IN said Convention, respectfully request
that you will permit your name to go before
the citizens of Sebastian county as a candi-
date for one of the delegates to said Con-
vention.
Very resnectfullv. vnur ob't servants.
Signed by large number.
FoRr SMITH, Jan 90, 1861.
10 Messrs. r. NJ. JOHNSON, +. H. WOLFE.
JOHN BKcKLE, mitchell SPARKS, JOIN
CARNALL and others
GENTLEMEN have before me yours of
yesterday, inviting me to become a candid
ate to represent you in the convention to be
held at Littl. Rock. on the fourth of March
next, the object of which Eonvention-if
the people, by their votes should decide to
call one-is to take into consideration and
determine what stand Vrkansas shall take
in the present political crisis. Were 1 so
selfish as to consult my personal feelings or
so mercenary as to allow pecuniary consid-
erations to influence me, it is an honor
which should decline without hesitation.
l have never taken an active part in po-
litical affairs, nor is it my intention to do
SO in the future but "clouds o'erlapping
clouds, are weaving DER our house an evil
woof-a fearful canopy" Our country is
shaken by a political earthquake which
ruin to all that Americans held
sacred. But yesterday we were the most
happy and prosperous Nation under the
broad canopy of Heaven. A Nation offer.
ing and affording home, refuge for the
down-trodden and oppressed of every part
OF the globe--a Nation whose flag COM
manded respect on every sea and in every
land with government standing on the
broad basis Of JUSTICE and EQUALITY
government which allows and encourages
the poorsst boy to aspire to tho hia hest
place in the gift of free and independent
people. Now, as if by the touch Of q ma.
gician's wand oil, all is changed and we
are threatened with the most terrible of all
scourges of which the human mind can con-
ceive-cirI icor, with all its attendant hor-
rors.
Fellow citizens, under this state of things
hold it to be the duty Of every man, how
ever humble or private his previous posi-
tion may have been, to come forward and
make every sacrifice in his power to assist
In bringing peace to our unhappy country.
and save our glorious Union, if possible to
be done. by means honorable, just and esxi-
table alike to sll sections of the country
We should. in my humble opinion, stand
firm in the support of our Constitutional
rights-rights guaranteed to every Amer
lean citizen whether by adoption or native
born } by Constitution made sacred and
consecrated by the blood fortunes and honor
Of the noblest patriots of any ago or any
land-not by such Arguments as tyrants and
despots use. nor by inconsiderate, extreme
or hasty action but by prudent, wise and
conservative counsels.
That the South has been wronged, no
candid man can deny but in our efforts to
redress those wrongs. let MS not forget that
there are thousands upon thousands Of union
loving, conservative men in the non slave
holding States who are ready to stand shoul.
der TO shoulder with us in the battle for
our just rights. We should act in concert
with such friends. promptly and with firm
ness but in the name of all that is sacred
let us not suffer demagoging politicians
(who would sacrifice the country to elevate
themselves nor fanatical abolitionists who
have cast aside the Hely Bible. and placed
on their pulpits the idfasoss Helper book
whoconstitutte passion umpire. BY their un-
holy means tear down in day the noblest
fabric ever erected by the wisdom of man.
Arkansas should not allow herself to be
dragged headlong into trouble by the Beech
ers, Summers, Stewards or Hales, of the
North nor by the Yanceys, Rhetts. Toombs
or Wigfalls of the South. We have men
enough in Arkansas capable of appreciating
our rights and understanding our wrongs
and who, knowing the right. dare pursue It.
l regret that our Legislature did not pass
the act calling Convention. earlier, 80 rs
that, in the event that that body pass an
ordinance of secession, it could have then
been referred back to the people for their
ratification or rejection. In this way, the
voice and deliberate decision of every man
in the State. could be had upon the eli im-
portant question now before the country. in
which all free men have An eou.i ;nts,est
And do firmly belisvss, that had this r!.o
been adopt~s IN those States that nave al.
10y seeded, they wsuid all have been yet
in the Union, In other words. that they
lave gone ont contrary to the will and wish
of . majority Of their citissns. Fellow.
citizens. we have time for sohsg second
thought. Let rs not be prscipitatsd. Iau
opposed to this wholesals muzsling III
mouths Of those whom unpriaciplsA danA'
lgogues call the dbar psor1s. (until thy g.
thsis Yotss) and it shoaid b sabmittsd =
no longer, ag.
Ihavs hoped. and still hops Southg,
| Co1ventioa will b agreed upon. whsril
| ths best and most tEus yusn q ths South
| (not now occupying Official positioa) g,
| anna unon and prenent "a TIA North = Mai