The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-12-01
A Remarkable Speech.

Hon. N. w. CAN'T, Of Arkansas. on Recon,truc-
tion-He Advises his State to return TO the Union
He Declares against Siarery.
One of the most remarkable speeches that
we have met with since the breaking out OF
the rebellion, has recently been delivered In
Little Rock, Arkansas, by Mr.. Il. w. CAN'T,
leading citizen of that State until lately
prominent secessionist, and as his speech
shows, man Of position, ability, culture and
influence. He considers the rebellion 10 be a
failure, declares that the south can have no
further hopes Of maintaining slavery. and must
give it up, and that Arkansas had better re.
turn to the Union at once and upon the best
terms she can.
The susciuc, and compendious narrative Of
rebel operations in that Stateis deeply interes
ting, and almost entirely new to Northern
readers. 1t exhibits reckless depravity and
deepotic cruelty that are without parallel. We
quote passage concerning Con. Hindmau's g
atrocities, which are almost Incredible;
"Woqld you believe, my fellow citizens,
that two or three lines from Hidman or one
Of his subordinstcs, have been all the com
mintmcut upon WHICH respectable citizsus,
with their heads shorn, have fingered yea'
10 the Peni,euliary, treated as ordinary con
victsi The records are in the City Of Little
Rock.
bot this j. not all. He plundered ouI
people most mercilessly. An anarchy aud des
potism We'd 10 their reign. His Commissary
Department was so miserable managed, tba
, ith an abundant country TO draw and collec
d supplies from, il vas go neglected, that au
n n told, in many instances, that he took bread
from The moutha Of helpless omen and chill
dren. whose only stay and support bad per
shed by disease or The bayonet. lie assumed
to regulate prices. By this arbitrary and ty
rauica means, be caused great suffering, an
offered increased facilities for the growth o
fraud and crime, while al honest men wer
we'll nigh impoyished. He ordered cotton I,
be burned in regions remote from navigation
T. and where an army will never tread, ant
., whore, if it should come, il could not NOR
: than transport supIl lies. much lees haul cotton
And be sent brutal rough men TO exeout
these orders. IL c'tizeu complained he wa
snabbed. plundered ,r imprisoned! Ohene
all Of these things. Of all Of these thing
JEFF. Davis was duly informed.
"Wben long absence and tales Of distress
}. coming from the plundered houses Of toll wor
soldiers, impeled them, from influences not
be despised, to force their way home, stop th
dries Of sufferog babes, and sooth the scrro
of heart broken wives, with the intention I
agsip returning to their commands, he b'
not waited their rcturn, but treaed thom I
dsserters; bad them hun ed With negro dogs
8 and, when caught, executed with fendisbne'
gs ike cruel end shocking to humanity
" "He has. ] am told, appointed Militar
Commissions, ~bich should keep no records
and IRON their midnight recess spoken AVA
the lives Of The citiz,n soldier. In one ins,anc
T. this mysterious and worse than Jesutical tril
unal condepned to six months imprisoomen
: . citizen Of our Si.ts. With shake Of b
pen be raised the penalty TO capital pupisl
# ment. aud the victim was accordingly executed
s What the supposed offender did; what
was accused Of doing. there isno written reco'
: left. voltairs says, that 10 Africa, tyn'