The Van Buren press., 1861-02-08

heart when tflectric current conveyed 10
MS thu tidini of the national calamity.
| This alarm Ting possession of the south
ern r,ind r.h out the best talent in the
land. On tlassembling of Congress the
most conseryive and union loving men OF
our country, Jet in solemn council 10 ae:
wise som. ,ohs to avert the danger and
ruin which threatened to pull down the
pillars Of b Constitution, ana Involve
our once hay and glorious confederacy IN
bloodsbed Al civil war. Crittenden, Rust,
Bigler and oers. whose patriotism shines
out amidst ) dark cloud of treason which
surround TIN, like the glitteripg pole star
which guild. the shipwrecked mariner 10
the harbor safety. put forth their utmost
power of loquence and persuasion. A
slimmeriphope was still cherished by
the great uss of the people. Resolutions
were tended BY these patriots which they
and we beIved could not be objected to by
any northn man who was disposed to
grant equ rights to all he States OF the
Union his olive branch of peace was re-
fused by lie men of the north. By SO re-
fusing. thy extinsuished the last spark OF
hope tbs burned upon the altar of patriot
ism. q d non,trated to the SOnth and tho
world ~ black Rspublicanism intended to
carry outns programme of treason hereto
fo,e put feth by their leaders. Both House.
Senate. Cbinet, President, and Supreme
Court Of teir own stamp. they are deter
mined to ut in effective operation the ag-
g.essive pdcy which they have preached io'
years past. The friends of those resolu-
tions. howeer. wavered not. but continued
strenu ,uslyto urge their adoption. Sick
at heart. br faithful to the last. they are
laboring viii faint hope that they may
bring aboutsome amendment or revision o.
,he Constitution So as to preserve our coun
try from nnihilation. God grant then
success. Although they still strive. the aw
full and notifying result comes to us thai
they. too. hive but little hope of affecting
an aliustmnt. That the storm is fully up
on us and that the slave holding State
should go b work aud prepare the grounc
for reconstruction. there can be no doubt
This reconstruction to embrace the entir
South, andas many Of the more conserva
tive Northern States as may deem it to thei
interest to Join us. Already six of tn
slaveholdinx States have seeded. and man,
have held AL are holding conventions 70
this purpose. In view. therefore. fellow
citizens, of these facts, am asked wha
will be my further course. if elected.
am in favor of Convention OF course
If am Delegate to that Conventi"-., q,
no brighter prospect presc'-nts ,,se,f tba
ho" e".''S. s.sli vote most decidedly ths
/ Arkansas secede. and determine her come,
| tion with a Government under which ST.
can no longer enjoy her just and equ;
rights. In my votes on other matter
which may arise. cannot obligate myscl
as have no knowledpe of what charsct,
they may be.
to referring the action of that Coz
vention to the people for their ratification
! or rejection, remark that unless some a,
parent injury might result to the intcres
of Arkansas by delay, shall vote on
resolution to refer. in the affirmative.
could not. of course. refuse to endorse ar
action which assists in coming at the re
wish of the people, unless that actie
would be productive of great injury to Il
cause of that people. Fellow citizens ha
at no moment sought my, present positio
| | have been in no instance before candi,
ate for Office of importance, nor am look il
to future elevation. If | represent y,
shall stand up for what in my hnmb
Judgment deem to he your rights and II
own. your interest and your honor. Aft
shall lave performed my duty as dell
gate. shall return to my home with a hea
q. peace, and homes: hope that my actie
will prove beneficial to my country.
Should you prefer another. shall ha
no reason to complain.
| uENpV wuCOy