The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-09
Arkansas,

There-organized State government OF Ar
kansas has better claims upon the recogni-
ton of Congress than that Of any other State
which participated in the rebellion. A
statement of the steps that were taken, and
the things accomplished, in the work of her
reorganization, has been rece ntly prepared
by Gen. E. W. CAN'T, VINO furnishes the
same to the Washington Chronicle. In the
fall of 1863-the national forces then hold
ing Little Rock and more than half the
State-the first meetings were held looking
to Convention. In February 1864 Con-
vention was assembled. 1t adopted a State
constitution abolishing slavery, repudiating
the Confederate debt, and multiplying all the
acts done by the Confederate authorities, ex-
cept marriage certificates, acknowledgment
of deeds and few other minor things 1t
proceeded to organize provisional govern
ment by the appointment of Hon. Isaac
Murphy Governor, empowering him to Or
| der an election for permanent government.
and requiring him to submit to the people
the constitution for approval or rejection
The election was 50 ordered, and a perma-
nent government established, with his Ex-
cellency Isaac Murphy as Governor. The
constitution, as amended, was adopted by a
vote, in round numbers, oftweve thousand
for and two hundred against it. The vote
cast was near one-half the estimated voting
population Of the State little less than one
fourth of the vote of 1860, and but few
hundred less, if not equal, to the entire vote
cast fol secession in 1861.
These various steps were taken with the
approval of President Lincoln, who had been
early consulted upon the subject. The new
State Government was thus inaugurated, and
| a Legislature assembled in the spring of
1864, which enacted laws giving effect to
the reformed Constitution; and at a subse-
quent session ratified the Constitutional
| Amendment abolishing slavery. Since that
| time, and especially since the surrender of
the rebellion, the new State Government
has gained strength steadily. Its courts are
in operation in every county, and the ad-
ministration of law is as well respected as
in the most peaceful times of the past. An
election has just been held for three mem
bers of Congress, without disturbance and
with gratifying results. 1t must not be I'M
derstood, however, that all the people are
| cordial to the new Government but it is
nevertheless true that those who have lately
| ceased from rebellion, support it in good
faith as legitimate result of their own fail
ure If mistakes have been made; if too
much has been done in some things and too
little in others, these are all within the reach
of the courts and the Legislature. Arkansas
invites immigration, and her leading citi-
zens have adopted liberal and cornprehen-
sive scheme to encourage it. A citizen of
any portion Of the United States may travel
unattended, in safety, throughout her en-
tire borders. If the present structure of
State Government should not be recognized,
Gen. CAN'T thinks it might be rebuilt forty
times without attaining greater perfection
In this view of the case President johnson,
in despatch to Gov. Murphy, under date of
October 80 has pledged all his aid in restor-
ing Arkansas to its former relations.