The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-17
THE GATE CITY,
KEOKUK:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY II.


CAMP AT LITTLE Rock. ARK,
Jan. "a, 1864.
DEAR GATE: All hail to Arkansas
I know you will join me in tho exultant
shout-all hail. to Arkansas, the first
Southern Free State
had the honor to witness the closing
ceremonies Of the Arkansas State Conven-
ton held here, and allow me to assure you
that = bright.day is yet to dawn for this
State. What was remarkable about the
Convention was the fact that all, without
distinction. denounced Slavery ~ the
prime cause of this accursed rebellion
and al their woes; and a. consequence
they fastened to acknowledge that fact
by adopting Article Five of the new Con-
stitu,ion, which says:
"Neither Slavery nor involuntary SER
vitude shall hereafter exist in this State
otherwise than for the punishment of
crime, whereof the party shall have been
convicted by due process of law" &c.
Now, this smacks of Freedom, of In
alienable Rights, and carries the mind
back to the pure days of our Republic.
The earnestness and determination of the
members Of the Convention were evinced
throughout the session, and the ides of
March, 1864, will::show us the State Of
Arkansas "regenerated and disenthralled."
send you herewith one copy Of "The
Unconditional Union" which is conduct
ed by two Ire Arkansasans, Messrs. Ton
ley d Fishback. and reflects the spirit
and vigor of the Convention.
The people are moving, and nothing less
than the humiliation of Slavery will ap-
pease them. Over two-thirds Of the
counties of the State were regularly rep
resented In the Convention, and the ut
most harmony prevailed in their councils.
\ 1t was most interesting scene to witness
the ceremony of administering the oath
OF office to the Provisional Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of
State, by the President of the Convention
In the old Senate Chamber of the State
House, where less than three years ago
treason was plotted and the rebellion in
augurated. Judge Murphy, the Pro-
visional Governor elect, was member of
the Convention which precipitated the
State into revolution, and the only man
In that Convention who refused to bend
before the storm of secession and treason.
His age alone protected him from personal
assault at the time, and subsequently he
was compelled to leave his home and State
on account of his devotion to the old
Union of our fathers. He has been with
our army for more than one year past,
and came to Little Rock with our invading
forces. Little did he dream three wears
ago, when driven from the State House.
that he should return to it and take the
oath OF office as Governor of Arkansas
oy the unanimous voice of the Union
men OF the State who would rally to the
old flag at the capital.
The delegation from this State will soon
De 10 Washington and the gratifying fact
will be abundantly proved that Arkansas
Will soon by her own choice be Free
ota'e. The only drawback upon their
complete success will be that accursed
Gamble-Scbo6eld Conservative policy
which is feared by some. When rebels |
get rent for houses and pay for supplies,
oy order of Commanding General, it is
no wonder that true Union men de.n.;,
men who have been hunted from their
MONIES, while bon6res of their houses have
lighted them to the mountains c.n N
stand BY and see those who hunted them
ana those who crushed them find a homo
and very friend of Federal Genar.,
You would from your heart pity them
as they tell you with fearful eyes and
'nroooing hearts that Mr.. A. or Mr.. B.
VINO seem 50 much at home at ''headquar
'e's OF the army" were the very men
VINO drove them from their homes and
uu'n' 'neir houses, or perhaps assisted in
Inc .ne hanging of friend, son or brother.
,on' SIR they will exclam, I'VE little
thought that it would come to this when
our OLD nag came back to us-that our
own friends would turn against us. Per.
maps 1T is all right, but we did NOT SO m.
arstand our Government. We knov
'"ey are more wealthy than We are and
.''se' line carriages and live in fine bonse.
"s were taught to hope that the Gov.
"'n'a' OF the United States would base
erty." NV upon prop
II 'sa gloomy future for tho .,,o
hearteu patriots of Arta