American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-30
The Progress Of Reconstruction.

The Progress Of Reconstruction,
We have intelligence from Arkansas
giving the result of the late election in
that State The election was ordered by
Gen Steele at the request of alargc num-
ber'of the people Of the State, and was
for the purpose Of choosing State officers
and members of Congress, and adopting
the new State Constitution, abalishing sla-
very, which was formed by Convention
of loyal citizens some weeks ago. The
result was complete triumph Of the Free
State party. The new Governor is Mr..
Isaac Murphey, the only member Of the
State Convention in 1861 who resisted to
the last the attempt to drag Arkansas ont
of the Union. Arkansas is now Free
State IN the Union by the voluntary ac-
tion Of its own citizens and through the
terms of the Presidents Amnesty Proc
lamation. Although Louisiana preceded
her in returning to the Union, Arkansas
is nevertheless tho first Of the seeding
States to adopt a Free State Constitution.
The Legislature willmcct in April toclcet
two Z. s. Senator'S.
On the 11th instant, General Banks
issued au order providing for an election
throughout Louisianaou Monday, The 2Sth
inst, for the choice Of delegates to a Con
vcution to be held for the revision and
amendment Of the Constitution of the State
the Convention to meet in New Orleans
ON the 9th day of April, This action Of
course forcshadows the abolition Of s]a-
very in Louisiana by the vote Of the 10y
al people of the State. The Convention
will consist Of ono hundred and fifty del
cgates. of which New Orleans will have
sixtGthree
An election for county officers through
out the State of Tennessee, ordered by
Military Governor Andrew johnson, has
also taken place this month. The Nash
vile correspondence the New York Times
says the result "may be declared tri-
umphant victory of the anti-slavery senti
ment of the State" He adds; You
have no idea of the great Importance of
the result--it is the grcatpolitical achieve
ment of the day, and is worth as much as
one of Grants magnificent victories" 1t
will not be long until Tennessee will also
adopt new Constitution doing away with
slavery In the meantime the people Of
Eastern Tennessee are agitating the pro
jcct Of cutting loose from the Middloand
Western portions and forminga new State.
They are tired of the pro-slavory arro-
gancc and reasonable proclivities Of those
with whom they have so long been compel
led to associate politically They have
been treated just as the people Of West
Virginia have been troated-liko an inte-
rior race
But the most gratifying item Of intel
ligence which has lately reached Us from
the seeding States is that which comes
from Huntsville, Alabama. 1t is known
to our readers that for some time the Union
forces have been in possession of this
place, General Logan being the command
Ing officer The town is said to be one of
the most beautiful in the whole State and
before the war was opposed to secession.
The county of Madison, in which it issit-
uatcd, gave 1900 majority against going
out of the Union. lHs fact, the whole
northern portion of Alabama was oppos-
cd to disunion On the 18th inst, large
meeting of citizens Of Madison county
and Huntsville met in the Court House,
its ayowed object being the restoration of
civil government and areturn to the Union.
Speeches warmly advocating submission to
the Federal authority were delivered by
Hon. Jcro Clemens, once Z. S, Senator
from Alabama and Judge ID. G. llumph-
reys, one of the ablest members of the
Southern Barand adelogate to the Charles
ton Convention in 1860. Resolutions were
adopted recommending the calling Of a
State Convention on the first Monday in
June I" that it may provide some mode for
the restoration of peace" and requesting
the Governor to convene the Legislature
that it may authorize the calling of this
Convention. 1t is presumed that the
Governor will pay no attention to the re-
quest, but there is no doubt that, if he
does not, the people of Madison and 9th
er counties will hold Convention Of then
own. The Huntsville meeting may be
regarded as the initial step in the work
of restoring Alabama to the Union
The following passage from the speech
of Jere Clemens tells the whole story o.
the Rebellion in few words -
"Falsehood, fraud and crime took US out