The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-27
USEFUL SPEECH.

some person to report that Major Gen.
eral Sherman was crazy. The story was
circulated throughout the country, and
it was generally believed. The FOL
lowing address, does not sound much
like the utterance Of man whose mind
was deranged. Indeed, it is the es-
sence of good sense and plain truth. 1t
onpears that convention of delegates
from all the counties in Arkansas met
at Little Rock on the 18th, to take into
consideration the political affairs of the
state. Major General Sherman, who
was visiting that department, was in
vited to attend. He was received by DIR.
T. L. Gibson, the president, who, in his
address, made complaints on behalf of
the citizens of Arkansas, the principal
one being the test oath adopted by the
existing state authorities, and asked the
General TO aid them to full realization
of their civil rights without delay. Gen.
'eral Sherman responded as follows:
GENTLEMEN: You are fully informed
of the reasons why an here, which is
by special invitation of your committee.
] am a military man, and as such it Is
not expected or desired that shall Ell.
gage in any political discussion, or give
you any advice politically. We mil,
itary men dislike to mingle In political
movements. We are sworn to obey the
Constitution and laws, and in this coun-
try the laws govern.
I have not stopped to inquire by what
authority you come together, nor do l
care; for citizens of any neighborhood,
county or state, have a right to meet to-
gether and consult as to the best mode
of promoting the interests of the COM
munity; but be sure you represent the
sentiments of the people. l think you
ought to be very careful that you reflect
the opinion of the whole people of Ar
kansas. 1 know the people of the
South, and l know no southern gentle
man would willingly or Intentionally
represent himself to be what he is not.
But I understand you are citizens OF
Arkansas, and delegates of the people
therefore, you have right to be here to
discuss matters of interest to yourselves;
to consider your grievances, If you have
any, to petition the President or Con.
gress for redress, and believe they will
do you justice.
But you have more important work.
It is not political. Your State needs at.
tention in other directions. / come here
from distance, and tell you l find
you behind all other parts of the
country. Give your immediate atten-
ton TO those things which will make
your State inviting to the stranger t.
come and settle among you. You have
not fifty miles of good roads in Arkansas.
Improve these; make travelling more
easy from point to point. You are be-
hind your sister States because you have
not adopted any system of internal i'm
provement or developed any of your vast
resources. H2
Youare welcomed back into the Union,
which is to-day stronger than ever, and
| the United States is now more highly
honored abroad than heretofore, and be.
loved at home. But you think you have
not all the rights you are entitled to, We,
| you have more rights and privileges
| under existing circumstances than you
| would have in any civilized country ex-
| cept America. Had you done as you die
| in this land under the bloody flag O.
| Great Britain or the tri-color Of France
| many of you would not be here, and you
would not have been permitted to as
| semble as you are now assembled, and
| talk over political questions and rights,
Is not the meeting of this convention
| the hest evidence that you have good
deal of liberty? AS to the measure OF
your rights,1 cannot inform you. What
is right and wrong do not profess to
know, and / do not think you know,
but we can all understand what is law.
Inquire as to what is lawful-that is
plain and simple. Act lawfully and you
will do right. There are large numbers
Of lawyers within the sound of my voice
| who can tell you what is lawful. Con-
| fess to the laws. This is all we, as mill
| tary men, can sanction. Law is our
guide.
l take the liberty of suggesting to you
the propriety of every citizen helping
his neghbors. The country is poor, and
you all can do somthing toward building
il up and restoring it to prosperity. Cul-
tivate the soil; set your plantation in or
der; make every possible Improvement;
get your local and county affairs in
good shape. Such work will be far
more important and beneficial than
whether you shall vote this year or next
or not until two or three years hence.
llcre Heeu Ue HO hurry dDOuC tuiS pOllJ-
zeal organization; bide your time; help
buildup the country, and never mind
! about voting for the present. / believe
all will work out right in few years.
What you want in this State il work
"elbow grease" You have minerals
and other resources; develope those and
let the matter of voting alone for
| awhile.
With one million of acres of good soil,
fine rivers, yet your population is thin
1 ner than i'm South Carolina, that you
have been taught to call uncivilized and
barbarous. You are partially response
BILE for this. Improve your roads, and
| do all you can to make your State at
tractive to immigrant. You are behind
in all this. Now go to work earnestly
in these directions, and then invite i'm.
migration. Fully as favored as Missou-
ri in climate and resources, you can in
wife people hither, and many will come
and settle among you. / think / am
not overstating when say that from
fifty to eighty thousand persons will
have come into Missouri within the
year, who will pay into the treasury
| from five to fifty dollars each as taxes.
With proper efforts, Arkansas can re.
ceive large addition to her population
and tax-paying citizens.
With reference to the particular thing
which brings you together, have MOTH
ing to say. Yet if you need advice con-
corning your interests, as military men,
we cannot give any, but as one gentle
man to another we can. Gen. Reynolds
IN q. I, I,,t MI III I,o Al,