Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-07-18
To the peonle of Missouri

1t Is due to you, as well as to mysel, III the present iuncture of our affairs, that the motives should be announced which have induced my temporary absence from our i State.
 1 Believing that our true interests demand ed open, immediate and vigorous war upon i the authors and abettors, from Mr. Lincoln down, of the rebellion against our State sovereignty on the 10th of May last, and confident, from the judgment of competent military men, tbat Missouri was then bet ter prepared to resist, than the Lincoln in surgents were to carry out their plans of annuling our State rights, 1 dissanted, though in friendly spirit, from the policy of our Governor in making concessions te them in his earnest desire to preserve peace within our borders. Awah that some ar rancement with that view was about to be made. and entertaining the firm belief, since fully justified by events, that as truce would be onergetically used by our enemies in completing their arrangements to war on ns. no time should be lost in making up for previous neglect in preparing ourselves for the inevitable conflict, left our capital on the 10th of that month. Reaching Ar kansas, by rapid travelling, on the third day thereafter, | was fortunate in meeting Gen. McCo olloch immediately on his arrl- val at Fort Smith Since then, in Arkan- sas. Tennessee and Virginia, my efforts have been directed unceasingly to the best of my limited ability, to the promotion of our interests, indissolubly connected with the yindication of our liberties and our speedy union with the Confederate States. In view of Gov. Jackson's declarations Tn his proclamation of the 12th ultimo, 1t is due to him that 1 should mention the fact that I have at no time had, and have not now, any agency of any kind from him; it is due to myself to add that since that proclamation, have cordially exerted myself to procure him support in the stand he has taken against our foes.
 Rest assured of the profound sympathy with which the people of the Southern Confederacy regard our condition; though engaged in war against powerful foe, they would not hesitate still further to tax their energies and resources, at the proper time and on proper occasion, in aid of Missouri. The avowed and decided policy of the Confederate States is to add her to their number as soon as her sovereign peo- ple desire the connection. That desire being unquestionable by any one acquainted with their real sentiments, her union with her southern sisters is merely q question of time and the opportunity which the course 4 I'll or latar tal in | V afford.
 You will not expect me to be more eX- plicit; nor would the silence 1 have hitherto observed be now broken, had not several patriotic Mssourians advised this address, with the hope that it might contribute to- wards confirming your determination to free yourselves from the despotlsm now seemingly triumphant in our State.
 rejoice to learn from various sources that even amid the present gloom, you re- main confident of final success. We arc draining to the dregs the bitter cup of fe- deral usurpation; but the medicine was needed to cure the diseases of the body polite. The military advantages lately obtained by our oppressors are not surprls- ing, for your perilous uprising at the call of our Governor was made without that previous concert with your natural allies which was almost indispensable for success. But the fortune of war is prone to change; be ready to take advantage of 1t. Do nothing weak, nothing rash. Wherever favorable opportunity occurs, rally to the standard of your Governor, or those CO., operating with him; but partial uprisings, in defenceless positions or without due con- cert of action, are worse than useless.- Watch the opportunity to strike with effect. Meanwhile let each one of you quietly pre- pare; nearly all of you are doubtless now aware that your ordinary rifles and shot guns with Minnie balls are equal to the wea- ponG Of your foes, and in your prectised hands will rarely fail of their mark.
 Be not impatient of delay. Success in war depends greatly on proper combina- tion of preparation, precaution and daring; on blows surely given at the right time and place. You have this inestimable advan tage; if the hopes given you, by me now or by others, of effective aid, should incite the enemy to increase his forces in Missoui, he but weakens himself elsewhere and has tens in Virginia his own defeat, which Is your victory; if he remains inactive, he but shOrtens the time of your captivity Be of good cheer; be but true to yourselves, invoking the aid of the Almighty who has so visibly favored the southern cause, and sooner or later, the day of your deliver ancc will surely come.
 With the limited information obtainable here concerning recent events in Missouri, it is difficult to form a judgment about our immediate future But as our enemies claim that they are about to capture Gov. Jackson, you will, 1 trust, not consider 1t ostentation in me to give you this public assurance that, to the best of my ability, endeavoring to mingle prudence with ener- gy and firmness, though with painful con sciousness of the difficulty and responsi- bility of the charge, shall, in humble re- liance on the guidance and support of Almighty God, unhestatingly undertake any constitutional duty events may impose upon me. And should, unfortunately, any vacancy in the executive office occur, which under our constitution authorizes new election for Governor, l earnestly hope that no State officer or authority, exercising or claiming the power of Governor in my absence. will order an election until, by the expulsion of the enemy, the choice of the voters can be rendered perfectly free.
 The difficulty of speedy communication with Missouri being great, 1 respectfully request the newspapers friendly to our cause in adjoining States to publish this address, and thus give it surer opportunity of reaching our own journals.
 THOM As c. REYNOLDS,
 Lieutenant-G Governor of Mo.
 Nashville, July s, 1861.
 GE~ Extract from letter to the editor from a gentleman in Pope county, dated IT. 1Qc1