Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1862-09-17
FoEr McCrLLocH, CmocrAw NATION, \
July . IS5g 4

JuiN ., l0p--
SiK--As private citizen Of Arkan.as hay
ing wife and children in Little Rock, though
myself happily beyond the reach of the Pro
vost Marshal, who holds the liberty and lives
of citizens in the hollow of his hau1i. ! invoke
the attention of the Chief Magistrate OF the
Confedcracy, sulemn'v sworn 10 PRESERVE. rno-
rECr and DEFEND the Constitution aud the
laws, to the orders which | enclose. OF Major
General Hnimau, commanding the Trans
Mississippi District might well de 80 in NV
military capacity. since have some time been
in command of the Indian country created
military department in November last. but now
part of that district because | may well ap-
prehcnd that the absolute despotism establish
ed over the town Of Littl. Rock, the county of
Pulaski, and other parts OF the State NAV be
attempted to be extended to the Indian coun-
try. and the dilemma be presented to me of en-
forcing such orders here or rcfu sing to obey
unlawful orders; and because, Indeed it is al
ready announced in General Orlers" that
on the recommendation of a Provost Marshal
enthroned ut Little Rock, Marshal law will be
declared IN any portion of the Trans Missis-
sppi District; and by a proclamation of that
novel Magistrate, Tariff of prices is estab-
lished throughout its whole extent.
! prefer, nevertheless to do il in my char
acter ofcitizen; because it is chiefly the rights
OF the citizen that are thus rudely invaded
But still, and because it makes the state of
things IN Arkansas, and, in some respects,
elsewhere. more astounding, ] so far remem-
Der that am in the military service, as to
mark tie incredible strides that usurpation
has made within few months, by placing be.
fore the eyes of the Chief Magistrate. Gencr-
al Order, issued 10y me on the 9th of Februl
~, of the present year. occasioned by an in
| reference in the Chickasaw Nation of Indians.
4I. - ~ Al.
vice OF the Confederate States, with the pre-
negatives of the civil authorities and tribunals
Of that Indian tribe, and by the compulsory
enlistment. by the same officer, Of certain in
dIviduals, in our service.
| then declared to the Chckasaw people, that
it was the pride and boast of the Confederate
States. that no where within their limits 81 nee
the present revolution commenced, had the
laws been suspended, the sttings of the courts
of justice interrupted or the military power
placed above the civil authorities.
And that was then true.
And therefore declared, that if this had IN
co lsiderately been done, any where within the
department of Indian territory, it was disap
proved, and would not be permitted again to
occur.
1t is nothing to me as citizen, that Major
General Hindman usurps the power of appoint
ment and promotion to military office and rank,
which belongs to the President alone. 1t is
nothing to me as citizen, that he, without
color of law or shadow of authority cashiers
officers, duly elected in accordance with law,
and in as full legal possession of their rank as
hels, when he is pleased to deem them incom-
petent; or that, denying the men the legal right
oil election, he, in the plentitude of his power.
appoints their officers
But, as simple citizen, bring to the notice
OF the President the orders which I enclose
and especially those passages and features Of
them, TO which | shall specially advert, rs OF
singular and uncomfortable enormity.
thousand thousand citizens of the Confel
crate States engaged in the present bitter and
bloody controversy. not in the interest of slave
ry, but because the Northern States, by inte,
ierIng with it,were subverting the original frame
OF the government, an d destroying the theory
on which our liberties rested, that the Consti-
tuition wss the fruit and evidence of a compact
made between the States, AMI to which the
States alone were parties. BY the Constitu-