The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04

Hoping for favorable reply, we beg leave to sub
scribe ourselves with consideration of the highest
gard your Obedient servants,
w. M. FIsHBAOK, T. ID. w. YoNLRY,
ISAAC MURPHY, f. BAXTER
Z. w. CRowI, f. w. CAN'T
JOHN KIRKwOOp w. F. HoLTzMAN,
K. WALLACE G. V. MEAD0R;
and many others.
HEADQUARTERS, Posr OF LITTLE Rock, ARK,
November 10, 1863.
". NJ Fishback, ESQ.,, T. d. w. Yorley Esq, and
others:
the 9th, inviting to address the Union Club next
Saturday =. M. l will venture to promise to be on
hand for that purpose.
Though distrust my power to do any good talk
ing, do not feel at bertv to decline the Invitation
OF such citizens of Arkansas as have signed the note.
C. C. ANDREWS,
Colonel Sd Mimi Commanding Post.
Col. ANDREWS commenced by saying that
words and speeches at the present time were
of but little moment. The most decisive ar
guments now are tho most decisive blows in
the field. He was glad to believe majority of
the people of Arkansas were passively friendly
to US, and were only restrained from throwing
up their caps for the Union by the fear that
Prices army would come back and wreak
terrible vengeance upon them, but it was his
opinion that the federal flag will hencsforward
continue to float at Little Rock, the Capital of
Arkansas, as long and as constantly as 1t shall
float on Bunker Hill. He spoke of the noble
courage of many of the citizens of Arkansas
who had remained true to the Union and said
the historian will rescue their names one by
one from Obscurity and record them on the
brightest page of the heroic annals of these
times He showed the absurdity of the pre-
texts of the rebel leaders for bringing on the
war; the dwelling madness of the peace talk
until there was complete submission to the
government of the Union; that the federal
cause would inevitably succeed. &c. The
above is a brief synopsis of the body of his
speech, which we should be glad to publish
entire If space permitted. We give entire the
concluding topics:
FREE SCHOOLS NECESSARY TO SUCCESS OF
POPULAR GOVERNMENT.
l beg your attention to a most important
topic. 1t is that our troubles are greatly owing
to the want of free schools in the South, I
would not depreciate the culture of the South.
She has had her noble colleges and schools 1
recollect visiting as fine schools in Mobile as
can be found on the continent But am
speaking of the laboring country people who
do not enjoy such schools In order to have q
popular government successful the people must
be educated. Because the masses were not
enlightened the republics of Greece and Rome
relapsed into anarchy or tyranny. The same
common people who had climbed up to towers
and roofs-aye: to chimney tops, to see Great
Pompey pass the streets Of Rome, and shook
the Tyber with Gheir shouts when they saw his
chariot approach, afterwards strewed flowers
In the way of Caesar when he came in triumph
over Pompeys blood. When the light of anti
guilty seemed again to dawn on the world in
the glory of Venice Genoa and Florence, we
see it was but transient fame. Its rays after
o while began to glimmer and expire, because
the torch Of liberty can only be Kept trimmed
and burning by the eternal vigilance of intelli-
gent people. "Remember that the learning of
the few is despotism; the learning of the null
titude is liberty, and that intelligent and prin-
cipled liberty is fame, wisdom and power"
Let me tell you that if you want to preserve
popular representative government; if you
want this country to live and be great you must
keep the people the great mass of the people
-enlightened. knowledge elevates and cult.
Yates human nature. 1t enarges our ideas.
moderatcs our judgment quickens our sympa-
thies and affections and while it teaches pro-
per dependence also inspires proper resolution
and heroism. Aristotle was employed to in
his day it was an admitted truth that those who
rule should be educated Under popular gov
ernments the people are rulers, and they ought
therefore to be educated.
Now in my opinion the rebel leaders never
could have precipitated the South into such an
extensive and outrageous revolution if the la
boring white people of the South-the masses
had enjoyed the benefits OF free schools. In
the little experience l have had since the war
commenced have seen many soldiers in the
Confederate army who could neither read nor
write; and have seen poor white men in the
South who harbOred the strange delusion that
the constitution Of the United States expressly
authorizes States to secede! 1t is a fact that
the rebellion derived its start and compulsjve
force from falsehOod. And such gross false.
hood as was used never could have exerted 40
potent an influence among educated and reflect.
ing people. Had the poor white people of the
South been in ''the elevated temples OF the wise.
well fortified by tranquil learning" they could
have resisted the sway of false leaders. But a
bold, blatant knave of some talent can lead
doz n men who are without the moral resources
of defence or attack which are afforded by edu.
cation The citizen who cannot read can moor
ly confute the errors OF his nsighbor. He goes
to the ballot box timid. If unable to fortify
his judgment by facts and reasons he is too
easily awed into acts which his conscience
condemns 1t was thus in great measure that
in some instances political scoundrels, and in
other instances able and sincere fanatics raised
such storm in the South.
FREE SCHOOLS AND FREE LABOR IN PLACE
OF SLAVERY.
Here, then in this rebellion, we have seen
one remarkable instance of the want of success
under a popular government; for the want of
education among the masses. Peru, Mexico,
and the Central American States have also.
furnished similar instances. What is it that
has deprived the poor white men of the South
of the advantages of free schools. You re.
member an early Coloniol Governor of Virginia
wrote home to the mother country that he
thanked God they had not been cursed with
such an evil as free schools in Virginia.
Slavery tends to keep such sentiments alive.
We have found slavery destructive element
10 popular government; and, principally, be-
cause it tends to keep the masses ignorant.
nm. therefore, heartily glad to see it expiring.
IL must and will 70 uader. The war has de
monstrated one fact. at any rate, that the blacks
prefer liberty TO slavery. I have sympathy fol
the many humane slavehelders who will suffer