The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-05
The President's INSTRUCTIONS to Gen.
steele Of Arkansas.
ALL LAWS OF THE STATE RECOGNIZING sLA.
VERY DECLARED TO BE NULL AND VOID.

VERY DECLARED TO BE NULL AND VOID.
The President, in response to the petit
ton of the delegation of Union men of Ar
kansas, has given letter of instructions
to Gen. STEELE, Military Commandant of
that State, ordering an election of loyal
State officers to be held On the 18th of
March next The President instructs Gen.
STEELE as follows:
mat 1t be assumed at said election and
.hence forward, that the constitution and
laws OF the State, IS before the rebellion. are.
~ iuia force, except that the constitution is so,
nloulneu as TO declare that There shall be,
nelther slavery nor involuntary servitude ey-
cept IN the punishment of crime wbnreof tho
party snail have been duly convicted ;" but
the General Assembly may make such nroyis.
ions tor the freed people as shall recognize
| their permanent freedom and provide for their
educatlon, ana which may yet be considered as
temporary arrangement, with their present
condition as laborng, landless, and homeless
class. Even also all laws now existing, eycep.
ting laws relating to slavery. which are IN
operative and void.
The said election shall be held on the 28tb Of
March, 1864 at all the usual places of the State.
or all such as voters may attend for that burmese
morning of said day may choose judges and
clerks of election for that purpose
That all persons qualified by said constitution
and laws, and taking the oath presented in the
Presidents proclamation of December 8, 1863
either before or at the election. and none
others, may be voters. That each set of judges
and clerks may make return directly to you, on
or before the - day of next -. That. in all
other respects, the election may be conducted
according to said modified constitution and
| laws.
That on receipt of said returns, you count
said votes, and ascertain all who shall thereby
appear to have been elected.
That on the - day of - all persons so
appearing to have been elected, who shall APP
pear before you, at Little Rock, have several
ly administered to them an oath to support
the constitution of the United States and said
| modified constitution Of the State Of Arkansas
and be declared by YOU qualified and empow-
cred to Immediately enter upon the duties of
the office to which they shall have been res
pectively elected.
You will please order an election to take
| place on the 18th of March, 1861, and returns
to be made in fifteen days thereafter.
Late advices from Little Rock state
that the State Convention which assem-
bled on the 9Th instant, had about COM
pleted its labors. Much the greater por-
ton of the State was represented. No
deliberatve body ever before assembled in
the State, comprising more solid worth
and intelligence than did this convention.
An article forever prohibiting slavery
was adopted with but one dissenting vote.
The constitution is to be submitted to a
vote of the people On the second Monday
of March, at which time State officers and
legislature will be elected. Legislature
is to meet on the third Monday in April.
The action Of the convention was uni
versally satisfactory to loyal men. The
qualification of voters was made that pre-
scrbed by the Presidents proclamation
Loyal citizens say they will be able to poll
twenty thousand votes for the new cOnsti-
tuition. The convention would recommend
a suitable person tor provisional governor
! Judge MURPHY was spoken Of in this con-
nectiOn.