The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-08
An Anti-Slnvery Constitution for
Arkansas.

The Union is great watch. Until within
the last three years, it has always kept time.
The handspring is not broken, but somehow
or other the wheels are out of order. Our
patent-lcyer is not what it used to be. 1t
never will he again, because it will be some
thing better, something still more noble,
costly, and enduring The man who is to
put it right will do so very speedily. The
news from all quarters of the South is argu
mcntative in the cause of Unionism. Mr..
LINCOLN, who for three years has been ex-
ecuting the noblest ideas ever conceived for
permanently assisting the cause which he
has sworn to uphold, has made two special
attempts which will tell throughout the flu
ture. His pardon and emancipation procla-
nations are the tw) to wiich we rcser.
Taking these into consideration, it is in
teresting to note tine progress of Unionism
in Arkansas. War has made progress in
that vicinity, and the natural results of that
war are now being evinced. The preamble
and resolutions adopted at meeting of the
iUnien Club of Little Rock, Arkansas, en- the
2Sth of December, testify conciusively to the
direction the onward sweep of loyal episodes
is taking. Lille Rock is a valuable witness
en- the stand, and testiles that it is becoming
the settled opinion of this country that this
great and terrible war, with all its attendant
train of sorrow and suffering, personal,
State, and national, was the result of the
existence of negro slavery, and that those
States which rebelled under the idea Of
protecting it, having fairly lost in the contest
shall give it uf, or be reduced to the condi-
ton of Territories, to be afterwards admitted
as free States, or not admitted at all. Little
Rock further goes on to say, that every feel
ing of interest, pride, patriotism, and hope
for the future, demand that Arkansas, so
long oppressed and down-trodden, should as
sumo its place in the National Government
at once. These, and various other whereases,
are the precursors for eleven resolutions
submitted by Hon. L. w. CAN'T. All these
resolutions are decidedly Union. The first
one is to the effect that when the people of a
State rebelious to the Union contemplate or
move a return, such as the people of Arkan-
of the return, upon their part, especially, is
inevitable, legitimate, AMI required by the
exigency of the times. Add to this the
sentiment that the adopting of a CONSTITUTE, n
prohibiting slavery forever is a short and
simple means of removing barriers in the
way of return to the Union, and is really
but surrendering the shadow of lost institu-
ton for substantial and priceless blessings I;
that the adopters of these res lu ions, as
matters now exist and in view Of the future
of their country, desire no other way of re-
turning otherwise than under FIRE Con-
stitution that they ally coop rate with
Union men all over the State, and that there
can be but one idea, on the part Of loyal men
upon the question of emancipation, and that
Is 10 recognize the fact that slavery is des-
t. yed and shape their course accordingly,
aud but one idea on the part of Disunionsts
and that is to resist this conclusion by armed
free or masked treason add to this first res
Olution, we say, this sentiment, with all the