Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-01-12
J. A. HIcKs, .Sec'y.
Letter from Mai. Flournoy.

hettef rom MaJ. flournoy.
 EDlroRs OF THE TRUE DEMocRAT:--Gentlcmen:-- In your valuable paper yon solicit an expression of opinion touching the political troubles that environ us, but join contributors condensation avail myself of the first and promise the last.
 assume then postuate, that no southern State can under any circumstance demand, or take less than the full measure of it's constitutional rights !" Ii the bond requires the pound of fesh,'' 1t cannot in justice and without dishonor take less. Under the bond we certainly have the right to demand the faithful execution of the fugitive slave law. Under the bond we have the right to demand the rendition of the fugitive from justice, when he has stolen our negro and escaped into free State.
 These requirements of the bond in the first in. stance, have been openly denied the South, and that by solemn acts of the Legislatures of several of the free States. In the second, their Governors have efused to surrender fugtves from justice, on the demand of the Governors of the slavo States, on the openly avowed plea, that there is property in a slave. These are, but as a drop in the bucket, compared to our accumulated wrongs. But if these were all, so radical and antagonstic the positions of the two sections, | that unredressed, further continuance of the Union is rendered wholly mpractcabe, consistent. 1 ly with the principles of honor and justice On these vital points of grievance, the masses of tho North seem doggetly fixed, at least they havc made no manifestations of character to justify a reasonable hope that they will tender the slightest concession. Hes public sentiment forced any Gov. ernor to call together the Legislature to consider of the repeal of the Personal Liberty laws? Has the Governor of Ohio consented to surrender tho negro thief? Ii not, would not the South be efiec. tually dsgraced and h6peessly ruined, bes ond re. demption, il she recedes one step, standing she does with her feet planted on the constitutions SAe cannot l repeat compromise one inch of ground. To her relross Of grievances should be q "sne q4e non;' a condition precedent to even the entertainment of tie proposition of her further continuance in the Union, and under existing cir cumstances before would see the South commit so di4graceful and suicidal act as to lecede one inch from her position, would if she were Il vast magazine, myself apply the torch and blow hernto thousand fragments, invoking one general ruin | to swallow all.
 Secession then being inevitable and fixed fact, regard the condition of the slave States as that of France immediately alter the battle of Water- loo. When the great Emperor, hurrying from the field of battle to his Chamber of Deputies found | sion, with an airof impatence he excl.imeI '.Wll the Deputies of France waste most precious and indispensable time in disreputable discussions, | when the safety of the country demands instant action not talk-to hesitate and France is lost .' | The result attested his forecast. The cowardly | Deputies did hestate-France was lost When the presumption is, had the Deputies not hestated, but met the danger promptly, their great Emperor | had never seen that rock ribbed sle-a Bourbon had not been forced on an unwilling France
 Then my idea is, in the words of Napoleon "to hesitate is ruin." We must act-we must takc position, and on the instant-now. Let no further precious time be wasted in nglorious discussion and dishonorable hesitation. Let not, beg of our rulers, that which should be done at once, the 4th of March should find undone. Beware the "Ides of March !'' Let not Arkansas commit tho folly, the madness of awaiting overt acts. 'Twoud be suicidal, enough has already been done In the election of Lincoln the South has lost all chance of a redress of grievances, in the Union; besides to await for overt acts, would he for tho South to place herself in the wrong position. It would be to transfer the to Lincoln and his Cabinet, when it has no quarrel with them. With the South, their acts should have no more weight or consideration, either one way the other, than if they hadnot acted at all As understand it, we war not upon the throne, but upon the power be- hind the throne. .greater than the throne itsel and which brought Lincoln into power-l mean the abolition sentiment of the North.
 The time is past when by convention of tho slave States, concentration of effort and of pur- pose could have been effected, coincded in by all, else might have preferred that, as it held out tho hope of a union of the southern States before tho old one destroyed.
 But it matters not now what fears we may enter. tain on the subject of producing a union of the southern or slave States on the separate State SC. cession policy. still that policy is already adopted and of Arkansas cannot go behind that, and must look at things as they are. 1 am then for q State convention early as practicable, with the avowed purposes of declaring ourselves out of the Union by the adoption of the ordn,nce of secession; and secondly, to recommend the convection of d tho slave states in convention (both these that had seeded and those that had not, if there were any sach) and let it enter at tine work of f 1m- , ing new government. To that government am ready to swear allegiance, and with my adop ed State to follow it's fortunes through sun shine and storin ready to a2lfoprate tO its success all that
 have oi energy, fortune. life, and ready to act any patti it's establishment that may be imposed upon mel by my country, from d fourth cor1oral to a brgadier general In regard to aimin4 the militia of the State, content myself with an ndorst ment of the Governors late special message.
 lhtve now condensed, Mir. Editors, into as short aspace possible, what felt il my duty to say, emitting tor the sake Of breyity, somtings wished to have said. Most Respectfully,
 T. B. FLOURNOY. , LAcoNIA, ARK, Dee. 2ath, 1860.