Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-01-20
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF GENERAL E.
". CAN'T, DELIVERED BEFORE THE UNION
CLUB AT LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. NoyEN-
BKR Z, 1865.
NEGRO SLAVERY.

BkR {, lSO0.
NEGRO SLAVERY.
As secessiOnists, We supposed we were
out of the Union. We went out TO pro-
back. For what purposeg To protect Sla-
reTW The absurdity is too monstrous to
tolerate for a moment. We went out to
protect the negro. We come back to pro
teet the tekite men. We regard the negro
question as definitely settled by the last
source of appeal, and we say there let il
rest.
But we of Arkansas must dispose of
what is left of this question for ourselves.
We can't dodge it. In our settling it, we
are not agitating the slavery question:
Can you agitate the dead? Is not slavery
dead in our State? Did it not go down
in the vortex of secession and civil war
But though dead, its remains may be dis
posed of. Its dead carcass is all that lies
between us and a perfect restoration of
our former relations with the Govern
ment. A convention of the people should
meet and bury it, The question of abo-
lition and its converse can't be made in
our midst. We are not like Missouri
With US the question is, What shall we
do with that which is already abofShsdY
To this there can be but one answer;
amend the constitution and put it be-
yond the hope of resurrection. We of
the North and South, knowing that sla-
very was the only disturbing element in
our Government, after many Settlements
each one deemed '..hnd{, " resorted TO the
last arbitrament-th sword. We who
own slaves have lost, fairly lost, and We
must abide the decision. The people of
Arkansas are therefore the proper ones TO
act on its extinction in our midst The
sooner we do it the better for US and the
country. To many this truth is unpal-
atable, but we can't blink it, il must be
met, let US do so like men.
There is large and growing party in
the north that is disposed TO reduce the
seeded States to the condition of Terri
tories. The central idea of this party is
to get rid of slavery, as the source Of all
ealaDities. Ii would be unbecoming in
us, as well as a waste of time, to get up
and argue the abstract question with them
as to their right to do this. Let us antici-
pate them, and cut under them at once,
by meeting in convention, st the earliest
day that We can be empowered so 10 do,
and extirpste forever the last vestige of
slavery in our midst, and bury out of
sight this source of all our calamities, per
sonal, State, and National. BY thus
formally giving up what is already lost,
we will have secured to us all our rights
as equal States in the Union. If We do
not do so, give it as my opinion, that,
right or wrong, we will be reduced to the
condition of Territory, and so remain
until we do pass upon this question, deti-
nitely, at once and forever. You can't
find a soldier in the army who has not
already reached, or who is not closely APP
proximating the conclusion, that his
health, happiness, and life have been ex-
posed and jeopardized because of negro
slavery, and who does not feel, and who
will not insist, that, after all his toll and
hardships, this question, which diploma
cy and craftsmanship could not settle,
being settled by the sword, should be put
at rest forever. And this is independent
of any opinion he may have held before
we rendered him the issue of settle
ment by the sword. | am no politician.
Would not receive an Office from Presi-
dent or people, and can therefore speak
pldlull- anu uO say III Cd4luOi ailu SIN
cerity, to these few Arkansas politicians
who think they are striking the popular
current by their efforts to reinstate sla-
very here, that they will be borne down
by tide as irresistible and powerful, as
it will be overwhelming and annihilative
of all their hopes and aspirations The
The people of Arkansas are determined
TO, go back TO the Union, as they now find
themselves, and they are not to be fright
ened from their purpose by having the
words consistency" or "Abolitionists"
thrown at them. Finding slavery des-
troyed they can so pass upon it, and be
neither Inconsistent" nor Abolition
lists"
INCREASING LOYALTY OF THE PEOPLE OF Ak
KANSAS.
Upon this point, among other things,
he said:
| The people of Arkansas are ready TO re-
/ turn to their allegiance to the Govern
ment. and to renew their devotion, which
shall know hereafter neither change nor
decay. The loyalty to JEFF. Davis in Ar
kansas does not extend practically be-
yond the shadow of his army, while the
hatred of him is as widespread as it is
intense. The Union sentiment is mani
Testing itself on all sides and by every in
dication-in Union meetings-in deser-
tions from the Confederate army-in TAX
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