The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-28

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Our cause, by Thee defended,
O God we trust to Thee,
That peace and freedom blended,
May reign FROM SEA TO SEA.
-Neao YORK Tribune.
Movement for Arkansas to return
to the Union.
BROWNSVILLE, Ark, Nov. IA move
ment is now on foot for bringing the State
of Arkansas back to the Union. The prom
inent leaders are moving in the matter,
and the people are ready to act on the thing
direct. A reference to this matter may
call to your mind the course which the ma
tives Of Louisiana or Tennessee have taken
to get those States back. There is this diff
ference between the movements there and
here. All the efforts in those localities have
been for a return with slavery, and they
have been very persistent. Here the desire
is to come in as free State, and take rank
as such from the date of the new constitu-
ton of the State. All honor to Arkansas.
this benighted region the first to move for
Freedom. Before the war Arkansas was
looked upon as the darkest and most I'M
taught Of all the States. She was firmly
rooted TO the institution" and it seems
hopeless to believe that she would ever drop
her superstition. In many localities a
man hailing from New England would
alone. Just before the wara man was
hung at Napoleon for reading the New
York Tri6uae-whether for peprsing that
paper or simply from the fact that he could
read, has never been decided. This is
chan ged now. A new light has dawned
upon the people. They are waking up
from their superstition and taking ground
far in advance of Missouri, or that petted
and spoiled State of Kentucky.
When the war first broke out, there was
strong loyal sentiment in the State, but twas
soon crushed out in the whirl of secession
excitement Though stifed, it was not
completely destroyed, but existed along as
best it could. 1t was not SO much an I'M
conditional loyal sentiment as it was a
felt that war would cause them much dis
comfort for the time being, however it
might result. This feeling gradually grew
into one OF unconditional loyalty as time
rolled on, and the expressions of the Con-
federate Government began to press hard.
The rebels did not select the military COM
manders Of Arkansas with any degree of
Judgment. The worst and most worthless
general officers We're sent there as quite
good enough for Arkansas. Hindman was
one of the first, and his name is nowhere
mentioned except in terms Of execration.-
Even his secession friends have no good
words to waste upon him. His treatment
| Oh DOtN irleUuS anu eueHlIeS was
brutal, except to his particular favOrltes.-
To them every attention was shown, with
only the effect to disgust outsiders. This
course made enemies of many persons who
! would have been friendly to himself and
| the cause he represented.
| Hindnlan was followed by Holmes, who
ruled with equal tyranny and bad judg
| inent rebel leaders, and thus estranged
| them from the cause. Albert Pike was
one of the first to come under his ban, and
| he was arrested upon some trumped-up
charge, and brought from the Indian Ter
ritory under guard to Little Rock. The
arrest was for the sole purpose Of placing
an indignity upon him, and in this effort
| it was perfectly successful. A man OF
Pixies pride could i'll endure such an insult,
and he retired from the rebel SERVICE
| With his retirement the rebel power over
| the Indians ceased almost entirely, Pike
being the only man in the country who
possessed unbounded influence over them.
Pike is now in retirement somewhere in
| Western Arkansas, and is engaged in the
production of book on the war. He is
particularly severe upon the rebel journals
who have controlled Arkansas, and upon
| the Confederacy generally. The friends Of
this man say he is satisfied that he made a
great mistake, but his pride will not allow
him to come back to the Union.
Other prominent men We're treated in the
same manner. This course had its effect
to rouse q bitter feeling among the citizens,
which could eliminate only in return to
a thoroughly loyal sentiment. Oppressed
on every hand, the people opened their
eyes. They saw themselves fighting in a
cause in which they were less interested
than those who We're leading them. It be-
came proverb that it was a rich mans
war and poor mans fight. Those who
owned slaves could remain at home, in ac
cordance with law of the State, while
those who had none were compelled to go
to the war. An antagonistic feeling was
thus created between the slaveholding and
the non slaveholding classes.
| This feuo Of classes and caste, gradually
grew into an adherence of slavery on the
part of nearly all those who We're not in
terested in the concern. Thus has sprung
up the abolitionism Of Arkansas, an abo-
litionism that is as earnest as unlocked for.
Time will increase instead of diminishing
it, and we shall soon see decided NANTES
tations of its existence.
| The waters are being moved for return
of the State to the Union. The circum-
stances by which Arkansas is surrounded
make it peculiarly favorable for the accom-
plishment Of the desired purpose.
AT the time the State seeded the old con-
stitution was overthrown and a new one
adopted. This new constitution was made
Confederacy, and nearly every clause is in
direct conflict with the constitution as it
is" Before the State can come back, it
will be necessary to hold a convention of
the people and adopt another constitution
that shall be in accordance with that of the
United States. 1t is proposed to make this
convention the occasion of the full discus
sion of the slavery question. The MAORI
ty of the leaders of the people are in favor
Of the adoption of new constitution, in
which slavery shall be left out altogether.
{, The election will not be held until the
guerillas are made quiet, and there can be
q full and free expression of the will of the
people. Slavery must 60 under.
d y gentleman residing in little Rock tells
me that the sentiment of the masses is SO
bitter, that they would not hesitate long
{ at the most extreme measures for putting
down the Shareholders, in case any of the
latter should make more than fair opposi.
. ton to the movement. This is not likely tc
: occur, IS many OF the shareholders them.
Z selves, admit that the institution is gone
beyond their power to save it. But few o.
the owners consider the slaves of much
value to them, and the few that have no.
/ been carried to Texas or run to our lines