Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-05-02
Public Meeting in Lawrence County.

A large number of the citizens of Law renee county assembled in the town o
 Smithville, on the Doth day of April, 1861 in expectation of hearing speech from Major T. B. Flournoy, not knowing that he had withdrawn his appointments, and also to take into consideration the perilous condition of the country. The meeting was organized by calling Judge c. s. Wainwright to the chair, and ap- pointing John H. Harper, secretary.
 On motion, the chair appointed Hon. z. P. McAlexander, H. c. Adams, Jesse Groff, A. D. Hillhsuse, and $. Mason as a committee to express in appropriate reso- lutions, the object of the meeting.
 During the absence of the committee, P. S. Christian, C. s. Wainwright and H. R. Hall, eSHs., being called for, in eloquent speeches, advocated southern rights, the equality of the States, and the necessity of immediate secession upon the part of Ar kansas; after which, the committee, through their chairmain, z. P. McAlexander, re- ported the following resolutions, which were adopted without dissenting voice: We, portion of the citizens of Lawrence county, | composed of different political parties, and many of us hitherto Union men, being in public meeting assembled for the purpose of considering the de- plorable condition of our national atfars-of the alarming dissensons existing between the northern | and southern sections of our once prosperous country, do hereby adopt the grievances set forth i'll the Thomson resolutions, in sthe late State convention, and declare them to be just cause of complaint on the part of the people of the southern States. against the people of the northern or non slaveholding States, viz:
 lst. The people of the northern States having organized political party purely sectional in it's character, the central and controlling idea of which is hostility to the institution of African slavery as it exists in the southern States and that party has elected President and Vice President of the United States, pledged to administer the government upon principles inconsistent with the rights and subversive of the interests of the peo- pie of the southern States.
 End. They have denied to the people of the southern States the right to an equal participation in the benefits of the common territories of the Union, by refusing the same protection to the slave property therein that is afforded to other property and by declaring that no more slave States shall be admitted into the Union.
 3rd. They have declared that Congress posses. ses, znder the constitution, and ought to exercise the power to abolish slavery in the territories in the District of Columbia, and in forts, arsenals and dock yards of the United States within the limits of the slaveholding States.
 4th. They have, in disregard of the consttu- tOnal obligation, obstructed the faithful execution of the fugitive slave law by enactmcnts of their State legislatures.
 9th. They have denied to citizens of southern States the right of transit through -slavehod- ing States with their slaves, and the right to hold them while etemporariay sojourning therein
 tL bav hara q .IoJ placing them upon all equality with the negro at the ballot box
 Resoleed, 1. That owing to the fact that hostili ties have already commenced between the United States government and the Confederate States, We consider it too late to adopt the amendments pro- posed in the said Thomson resolutions to the constitution of the United States; and the con- tinued aggressive acts of the Lincoln government upon the ights of the South, render it superuous and inimical to our rights, honor and safety to rely upon a national convention to redress the grievances of which we complain.
 Resoloed, 2. That our honor, and the maintain ance of our rights require the State of Arkansas to secede immediately from the Federal Union, and for veal or woe, unite her destiny with the Con federate States.
 ResOlued, 3. That the Hon. David Walker be requested to convene the State convention as early practicable, and that said convention, when as senbed, be requested to pass an ordinance i'm mediately dlssolvng the compact existing between the United States government and the State of Arkansas, and thereby declaring the State to be free, sovereign and independent, and to take such steps as will unite our State to the government of the Confederate States.
 ReSolred, 1. That this meeting approve and in dorse the act of our delegates, Samuel Robinson and W. D. Baber, in casting their votes for the secession ordinance in the State convention.
 I-aIt fl,to. -zI- ties of affection, politically, socially and otherwise are intimately connected and united with our brethren of the Confederate States
 ResGtoed, 6. That is with exultant shouts md joy, that we receive the news that victory has perched upon the flag of the southern confederacy in the recent engagement at Fort Sumter-that it is bright omeE of the future prowess of its arms successful maintainance of it's rights, and a solv ing of the great problem |" that man is capable of sef-gOvernment."
 Resolced, '. That the Lincoln government should be resisted at all hazards, and that it meets with our unqualified condemnation, and that it should be handed down to future generations amid it's own infamy and the just execration of the civilized world.
 The following resolutions were then pro- posed by J. N. Hillhousc, esq.,, and unani. mously adopted:
 iteeUocu, HdL ls IS the duty Of all good naLrOta to lay aside all preudices occasioned from former different political opinions, and unite heart and hand in the advocacy and enforcement of southern rights
 2. That we will condemn and abhor any southern citizen who would enlist under the recent call of Abraham Lincoln.
 3. That we are for Jeff. Davis and against Abra- ham Lincoln.
 P. L. Oh 'istian, esq, offered the follow ing, which was also adopted:
 Resoloed. That copies of the proceedinrs of this meeting be forwarded to the President of our State convention, David Walker, and to the Pocahontas Advertiser and Herald, Batesville Balance and True Democrat for publication.
 The Hon. Z. P. McAlexander being Ioudly called for responded in one of his most hapnv of. forts, painting in figures of diamond brightness. the future glory and reward that await the south ern coniederacy. His heart is fired with that goal which should characterize every patriot when em barking in just cause, placing his reliance in the God of Justice,' he fears no evil.
 On motion, the meeting then adjourned to meet again on the Sth day of May, 1861.
 c. $. WAINWRIGHT, Prest.
 JoHN H. HARPER, .Secy.
 Public Meeting in Arkansas Countv.