The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-25
Gbe Nnion &5omrud.
Speech of Gen. E. W. CAN'T.

of Gen. CAN'T. of Arkansas, male before the
Union Club at Little Rock, Nov. z, 1853. Mr..
g. is one of the leading men OF his State, and
wields very extensive influence in his section
of the country. He had been elected to Con-
gress to succeed Rust, and would have taken
his seat in December. had not secession taken
place. He went with his State and entered the
rebel service. He was in command at New
Madrid (when Pope besiegcd that place) until
four days before its evacuation, and was second
in command at Island No. 10, when General
Mlackall surrendered that stronghold to Gen.
Pope, and afterwards went to Fort Warren
He has become convinced that the secession
movement is not only failure, but great
way and acknowledges his error, and urges the
people of Arkansas and the South to return to
their allegiance to the flag of the Union. He is
now working earnestly and zealously in behalf
OF the cause of freedom. The President has
granted pardon to him, reinstating him in all
his rights rs before the war, except as to his
slaves. The case of this man and the principles
he advocates, forms q striking commentary up.
on the feasibility of Mr.. Lincoln's plan of re-
construction:
NEGRO SLAVERY.
AS seccssionists, VIC supposed we were out of
the Union. We went out to protect sLdrcry.-
We failed. We now come back. For what
purpose! To protect SiCrcry? The absurdity
is too monstrOus TO tolerate for moment. We
went out to protect the negro. We come back
to protect the lChlte man. We regard the ne.
gro question as definitely settled by the last
source of appeal, and we say there let 1t rest. =
But we of Arkansas must dispose OF what is
left of this question for ourselves. We can't
dodge it. In our settling ii, we are not dgiiat-
ing the slavery question. Can you agitaie the
dead! Is not slavery dead in our State! Did
il not GO down in the vortex ot secession and
civil war! But though dead. its remains must
be disposed of. It's dead carcass is all that lies
between us and perfect restoration OF our for
mer relations with the Government a con-
ventiOn of the people should meet and bury 1t.
The question of abolition aud its converse can't
be made in our midst. We are not like Mis-
souri, With US the question is, What shall wc
do with that which is already abolished? To
this there can be but one answer amend the
constitution aud put it beyond the hope Of res
direction. We OF the North and South, know
inc that slavery was the only disturbing ele-
ment in our Government. after many "SeHie-
TreBts," each one deemed "fnai," resOrted to
the last arbitrament-the sword. We who own
slaves have lost, fairly lost. and we must abide
the decision. The people of Arkansas are there
fore the proper ones 10 act on its tnal cxtins-
ton in our midst. The sooner we do 1t the bet
ter for us and the country. To many this truth
is unpaatablc, but we can't blink II, 1t must
be met, let US do 50 like men.
There is large and growing party in the
North that is disposed to reduce the seeded
States To the condition ot Territories. The Gen.
tral idea of this party is to get rid of slavery,
rs the source of all our calanities. ltwOuld be
unbecOming in us, as well as waste Of time,
10 get up aud argue the abstract question with
them as 10 their right to do this Let us an
ticipate them. and cut under them at once, by
meeting in convention, ut the earliest day that
we can be empowered so to do. and extirpate
forever the last vcstige of slavery in our midst,
and bury out of sight this source of all our Ca
lamitics, personal, State, and National. by
thus formally glring up what is already lost,
We will have secured to us oil our rights rs
equal States in the Union. Ii we do not do so,
give it as my opinion, that, right or wrong,
we will be reduced To the condition ot Terri
tory, and so remain until we do pass upon this
question, definitely, at once and forever. You
u
ready reached, or who is not closely approxi-
mating the conclusion, that his health, happi-
ness, and life have been exposed and leopard
lied because of negro slavery, aud who does not
feel, and who will not insist, that, after all his
toll and hardshps, this question, which diplo.
macy and craftsmanship could not settle. being
settled by the sword, should he put at rest tor-
ever. Aud this is independent of any opinion
he may have held before we rendered him the
issue OF q settlement by the sword. | am no
politician. Would not receive an Office from
President ar people, and can therefore speak
plainly. And do say, in candor and sinceri-
~, TO those few Arkansas politicians who think
they are striking the popular current by their
efforts to renstate slavery here, they will be
borne down by tide rs irresistible and power
tul, rs 1t will be overwhelming and annihilatiye
of all their hopes and aspirations. The people
Of Arkansas are determined to 90 back to the
Union, as they nor .fnf hemseires, and they
are not to be frightened from their purpose by
having the words Consistency" or "Aboltion-
ist' thrown Mt them. FhdiRg sidrsry de-
strOyed they can 50 pass upon IL, aud be nei-
ther "in,onsistcnt" nor "Abolitionists.
INCREASING LOYALTY or THE PEOPLE or ARKAy-
Upon this point, among other things, he said:
The people of Arkansas are ready TO return
10 their allegiance to the Government, and 10
renew their devotion, which shall know hercaf.
ter neither change nor decay. The LOYALTY 10
Jeff. Davis in Arkansas does not extend prncti-
cally beyond the shadow of his army, while
the hatred Of him Is as widespread as il Is in
tense The Union sentiment is manifestiny it.
self IN all sides, and by every indcatiou-in
Union mectinys-in des.rtons from the Con.