The Van Buren press., 1861-02-15

Rumors have been prevalent here for some
days. that the U. s. Arsenal. Al Little Rock
was to be attacked. but at the date of ou,
last issue. It was understood that the con-
templated attack had been abandoned. bu,
from the Little Rock papers rcceived by
Wednesdays mail. it appears that Cover.
no. Rector. TO prevent the effasion Of blood
hal demanded. in the name OF the State.
the evacuation Of the Arsenal. by the U
S. Troops. which vas compiled with las,
Saturday. Capt Totten. the caieer in
command of the Troops at the Arsenal. has
moved his men several miles below Little
Rock. where he will remain until he can
ge: means for their cmbarkation. We COPY
the following account Of the matter from
the True Denoerat
On Tuesday morning our city was
thrown into the highest state of excitement
by the unexpected arrival. ON the steamer
Frederick NOtete. Of bo.ly Of troops from
Helena. with the ayowei purpose OF taking
the United States Arsenal, at this place !:
and the arrival of additional troops, . few
hours later. from Jefferson county, ON tho
hey West. increased the excitement ten
fold. On Wednesday. more troops fron
Phillips. Monroe and Prairie counties. con-
timed to arrive. and by dusk there was q
force Of over four hundred men. we'll armed
with Minnie rifles, quarterel in the town.
'' AS our citizens were not aPprised of any
determination to take the Arsenal. and
were ignorant that ts0eps had been iequest-
cd from distance to take it. their un.x
pected arrival produced quite . sensation.-
The city council was called. aud ON .ppii-
cation to the Governor. was informed thar
the troops were not here by his orders Tn /.
troops, themselves, were Of different opin.
ion. and came here, Is they thought at his
command but, whether so or not, they
were here to take the Arsenal, an they de-
termined to accomplish that object before
leaving. The excitement conseq aently en-
tinuei to increase with every fresh arrival
of troops until the citizens of the town net
AMI made formal request Of the Governor
to assume the responsibility of the move
ment. anil. in the name of the State, to de-
mand the Arsenal of the Office: in com
mand Of it. 1t was believed that Captain
TOtten would surrender to the authoritie,
of the State. rather than have a collision
but would not 10 boly Of men ,iisxvowe.i
by the Governor. and acting in viol.,Ion oil
law. and that as the troops were deter Ia incl
on taking the Arsenal NJ all hazards, tnere
would, OF course, be collision. anil, prob
ably. much sacrifice of life Consequently
the Governor consented to act, AMI imme-
d:atciy made formal demand upon Can't
ro,ten. In the meantime. he ordered the
three regiments of this and Saline counties
to hold themselves in readiness tor an emer.
ycncy, and assembled and armed as many
OF them a. once as could be got together on
50 shor: notice. Yesterday evening oul
streets presented quite military APPEAR
ancs, about 1900 men being on para te an.
der arms.
10 the Governors demand for the sur
render of the Arsenal. Capt. Totten aske.i
until yesterday evening at thee o'clock tu
consider. which was agi eed to. AT tbs tim.
appointed. Capt. TOtten made known his
rea.liness to evscaate the Arsenal. aud alter
the details were agreed upon. il was finally
arranged that. at II o'clock to-day. the Ar
sensl should be delivered to the authorities
ot the State
There appears to have been some misun.
lierstandily among the troops which assem-
bled at Little Rock. they understanding they
were called ou: upon tn. Governors orders.
There was no earthly necessity. as we con
ceive, at the present time, in taking posses
sion of the Arsenal. and those who went To
Little Rock for that purpose. undoubtedly
actei under misapprehension in the matter ;
but after the arrival of the troops there, anil
their evident intention to attack and take
possession Of the Arsenal. undoubtedly the
Governor acted for the best in demanding
the evacuation Of the U. S. Troops from
the Arsenal it, no doubt. was the only
means to prevent bloodshed, aud allay til.
existing excitement.
The troop which went to Little Rock.
consisted Of four companies from Phil
lips county. besides companies from Prairie,
White. Saline. Hot Springs. Montgomery.
Monroe. and st. Francis counties, to the
number of from LOCO to 500 men. Afte,
their arrival. Ex-Gov. RoAxE was chosen
commander Of the entire forces and, final
y Brig. Gen. HoLr. of the ID Brigade, Is.
Division. assumed command of all the
troops.
1t is understood that the Governor will
ststion at the Arsenal, permanently, one ul
the companies from Phillips county.
The whole demonstration was untimely
and unealled for At the present time il
there had been . certainty. that the forces Of
the United States At the Arsenal were abou,
to be reinforced. or that an order had been
given for the removal Of the stores and ord
nance from the Arsenal. it might have been
p"litic and expeiient to have frustrated
both. But while such was not the fact we
cannot but look at the whole matter rs un-
timely and uncalled for. and deserves the
condemnation OF every well-wisher Of the
State.
Shocking Murder ut Fort Smith.