Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-02-28
The Border States Humbug.

The Border States Humbug. The political complexities of the present hour have precipitated themselves upon the people of. Arkansas, and 1t is only very recently that this State has been called t. think seriously of the policy and results of disunion. In consequence of this condition of things, many in the recent election were at loss how to vote, for, while they would spurn the thought of submission to black republican domination, the novelty of se- cession startled, and the sophisms of union shrieking demagogues deluded and puzzled them until at last they voted what they did1 not feel nor want-voted for base aban, donment of the rights of the South, and o the southern States which have gallantly vindcated those rights.
 First, among the mammoth delusioni invented by pitiful and craven office seek4 CTS to delude the honest masses, was ti}S silly and be-littling idea that Arkansasl should only act when the border States, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and MAy-l land, had acted. It was argued that thest States were the principal sufferers, andaha we should not move in advance of them The very idea of making Arkansas depen5 dent on a few semi-southern States, thea very idea of ignoring principle and placing all at the. disposal of others, whose dexel tion to the South has been frequently doubted, whether justly or unjustly, is itself a humiliating abandonment of the right of thinking and acting for ourselves, accord ingto what we deem the dictates of honor, prudence and statesmanship.
 The border States are not so vitally in- terested as we are, and those who assert that they are, either falsify facts, or become amenable to the charge of unpardonable obtusity. The border States have not slavery so intimately interwoven into the texture and frame work of their civilization { the basis of their wealth is not our peculag institution, and should slavery, for the. want of facilities for expansion through the cordon of black republican fires drawn around it, cease to be so profitable and de- sirable, the border States can easily eman- cipate, while the cotton States, in which category we are proud to place Arkansas, like pent-up Utica," must become the desolated Jamaica of psuedo- American philanthropy.
 The man who cannot see this is as igno- rant and stupid as he is presumptious and contemptible. He should be laughed at for his innocence of ordinary penetration, and when he aspires to become leader, across his forehead should be written in amiable irony-simplicay.
 But let us consider another phase of the folly of looking for beacon light to the border States. Delay and procrastination is what the abolitionists most of all desire. On this account they willingly embraced the idea of a peace conference when pro- posed by the border States.
 It was well known that nothing could be done unless the republicans would aban- don their platform, with all of its odious hercsies, and this they could not do, for it was political sef-destruction, and politi- clans will ruin country at any time to save themselves. Yet in the face of these facts, the border States sent delegates to peace congress, and the Syrenesong of ean- 
 ion caught up fresh inspiration from this plausible humbug and lulled Tennessee in to the sleep of death It delayed the action of Virginia, and has affected the result in Arkansas, though we hope not to suffi- cient degree to place the State under the heel of abolitonism Having accomplish ed its object, induced the humiliating sub mission of the border. States, and bound them to the triumphal car of black repub- licanism, the "peace congress" has ad- journed, and Lincoln with few hollow promises to the South, will assume the con trol of the federal army, and send his hired emissaries and office holders to poison our bright southern atmosphere with the upas shadow of federal patronage
 Can the people of Arkansas longer hesi- tate what course to pursue? The vote for a convention shows that a respectable majority of her people feel the necessity of doing something, and in this respect, at least, have spurned the example of Ten. nessee and the other border States. From present indications, there has been also majority of secessionists elected and we think, with the failure of the peace congress to do something towards an adjustment, the sentiment in favor of immediate seces. sion will be decidedly strong and predoh. inant. Let us at least have no more bor3er State humbugs, as silly as they are gusting.
 EB- MT. James F. Ritchie, land att5r- ney and State collector, has opened an of- flee on Markham street, opposite Lock- mans corner. When absent, J. H. Black