The Van Buren press., 1866-12-21
DISUNION CONVENTION.
Grand Fizzle -25 Delegates Present =
Squabble in the Camp - Couldn't go
Negro Suffrage Wool Stuck to
their Teeth.
Fort SMITH, Dec IS, 1866.

Ohl phIiH l'tt 10, IOOU.
On Thursday last, the 18th inst, a so J
called Convention was held in this city,
by the Radical element, in accordance
with Instructions in widely diffused hand
bills, profusely scattered all over the
State. 1t was naturally expected from
the loud and frequent fulminations Of
their newspaper organ here, that immense
crowds would be in attendance; when
the fact was, there was not a sufficient
number assembled, to make even half
respectable gathering, till the afternoon
Of that day, when at call to order about
l20 men and boys helped to only half fill
the temporary court house OF all po.
litical gatherings that have ever attend
ed, this was the tamest and most soulless.
The meeting oaganized by electing DR..
Naylor to the chair and Rev Mr.. Powell
was called on for prayer, and he prayed
the Maker to bless the President and bless
the Congress, and for Peace throughout
the land and for good will towards all
men. The meeting silently acquesced in
these prayers and wishes, although every
thing around them was at a total variance
to the echo of the prayer for President
johnson and peace and good will to all
but it only exhibited the more plainly
what janus faced assembly the Reverend
gentleman was addressing.
A committee Of organization to con-
sist Of five members were then elected ::
Committee on Credentials was also elect.
ed
a motion was made that the delegates
from each county of the State show him
self to the meeting by standing up-this
move fell suddenly, for 'bakers dozen"
would have embraced all the standees.
This did not suit the junta of the meeting,
it showed their real weakness too con
spicuously, even for that crowd, not to
appreciate their rotten position in Arkan-
sas, and it was Immediately resolved that
the Committee on Credentials retire to
report on the same.
Lawyer Searle was then called on by
DR.. Naylor for a speech, to occupy and
amusc the audience during the absence of
the committee ; the gist Of his remarks
were THAT the State needed new organ
izaton, that union men were not secure
in life or property, and that no honor or
respect was accorded to them by the
rebels, that in the late elections the rebels
had elected men to almost every Office in
the State, to act for them and the States
interest, with whom they were well, and
had been long acquainted; that the rebels
should have voted into office Radicals
and men who had been in their midst but
short time, or that they well knew were
incapable or socially totally unfit to be
placed in any position of trust and honor
or profit; that a change must he made in
the State organization; that an Enabling
Act, given and carried out at all hazards
10y Congress. was the one thing needful
to change all their present fears and
troubles to joy and gladness, and o6ce,
and give the Radicals the full power to
crush out entirely the white rebels, and
place over him, and Oh equality with
the Radicals, the blackman--the negro"
The Credental Committee returned
and reported 80 delegates or proxies from
the different counties, 'Shicoa" was not
represented; a tangible smile went over
many countenance, when so delegates
were announced rs present, but the after
"dy PROXY remark, brought the curva-
lures of the face in line again, and the
report was silently received
Messrs. Stevenson and Searle, were ap-
pointed to conduct Lafayette Gregg of
Washington county, to the chairas Pres
idcn,, 0, % .nt meeting On taking the