Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-29
A SPEECH BY GEN. SHERMAN.
his Advice to the ArkansIans.

His Advice to the Arkansians.
A convention of delegates from all the
counties in Arkansas met at Little Rock
OF the 18th, to take into consideration the
political affairs of the State. Major Cen
eral Sherman, who was visiting that de-
partment, was invited to attend. He was
received by DR.. 7. L. Gibson, the Presi-
dent, 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 ask
ed the General TO aid them to a full reali-
cation of their civil rights without delay.
General Sherman responded as follows:
Gentlemen-YOu are fully informed of
the reasons why l am here, which is by
special invitation of your committee. L
am a military man, and as such, it is not
expected or desired that l should engage
in any political discussion, or give you
any advice politically. We military men
dislike to mingle in political movements.
We are sworn to obey the constitution
and laws, and in this country the laws
govern.
L have not stopped to inquire by what
authority you come together, nor do 1
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 ofthe community,
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 Arkansas. l know
the people of the South, and l know no
Southern gentleman would willingly or
Intentionally represent himself to be what
he is not. But L understand YOU are
citizens of Arkansas, and delegates of the
people, therefore, you have a right to be
mere to discuss matte of interest to your
selves; to consider your grievances, if you
have any; to petition the President or
Congress for redress, and I believe they
will do you justice.
But you have a more important work.
1t is not political. Your State needs at
~tentien in other directions. | come here
from a distance, and l tell you l lind you
far behind all other parts of the country.
Give your Immediate attention to those
things which will make your State invit-
ing to the stranger to 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 behind your sister States
because you have not adopted any system
of internal improvement, or developed any
of your vast resources.
You are welcomed back into the Union,
which is to-day stronger than ever, and
the United States is now more highly hon
ored abroad than heretofore, and beloved
at home. But you think you have not all
the rights you are entitled to, yet you have
more rights and privileges under existing
circumstances than you would have in any
civilized country except America. Had
you done as you did in this land under the
bloody flag of Great Britain, or the tri-
color of France, many of you would not
be here, and you would not have been per-
mitted to assemble as you are now assem-
bled, and talk over political questions and
rights.
is not the meeting of this convention
the best evidence that you have a good
deal of liberty As to the measure of
your rights, 1 cannot inform you. What
is right and wrong l do not profess to
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 what is right. There are large
numbers of lawyers within the sound of
my voice who can tell you what is lawful.
Confess to the laws. This is all we, as
military men, can sanction. Law is our
guide.
L take the liberty of suggesting to You
the propriety of every citizen helping his
neighbors. The country is poor, and you
can all do something toward building it
up and restoring it to prosperity. Guilt
vate the soil set your plantation in order;
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. There need be no hurry
about this political organization; bide
your time; help build up the country, and
1 believe all SRRapt xetiFpSgu for t the IRrGsfg&
years. What you want in this State is
work-"elbow grease" You lave min
erals and other resources; develop those,
and let the matter of voting alone for a
while.
With one million of acres of good soil,
fine rivers, yet your population is thinner
than in South Carolina, that you have
been taught 10 call uncivilized and barba-
rous. You are partially responsible for
this. Improve your roads, and do all you
can to make your State attractive to the
immigrant. You are behind in all this.
Now go to work earnestly in these direo-
tions, aud then invite immigration. Fully
as favored as Missouri in climate and re-
sources, you can invite people hither, and
many will come and settle among you. /
think l am not overstating when | say
that from fifty to eighty thousand persons
will have come into Missouri within the
WOO urho ,v1n ro,r NJ, +ha oar,r f,,D,
five to fifty dollars each as taxes. With
proper efforts Arkansas can receive a large
addition to her population and ~tax-paying
citizens.
With reference to the particular thing
which brings you together, l have moth
ing to say. Yet if you need advice con-
corning your interests as military men We
cannot give any, but as one gentleman to
another, we can. General Reynolds will,
us it is his duty and will be equally his
pleasure, cheerfully confer with any of
you and render you all the aid he can.
But you think you are oppressed by the
Government. The fact that you are
here to-day to talk concerning it, shows
that you are not suffering any Sc
we're oppression from it.
You want peace; the nation wants
peace; we all desire peace and I know
we will have it. Whether you want it or
you shall have it, for we have the
to enforce it.-[Loud cheers.
knights of the Road in California.
Isan Francisco Correspondence Chicago Times
The romantic days of Claude Duval,
Sixteen String Jack, Dick Turpin q Co.
being revived ON the Pacific coast, and
highway robbery is a thing of every day
occurrence. But a few days ago a stage
stopped about one mile from Virginia
City, Nevada, according to the old rules of
the road. An obstruction was placed on
the highway, and as the stage came up
the postillion received orders to "halt u
He did so, a cooked musket was pointed
at his head, and others of the gang made
the passengers get out in a row on the
wayside. Men kept guard over them with
loaded pistols, while others relieved them
of watches, money, and other valuables.
The thieves got about $4,000 in cash, be-