Des Arc citizen., 1866-06-02
DEs ARC. ARKANSAS, JUNE ?, 1866.

had established their independence on firm basis, Patrick Henry, so remembered tor the bold and active part he took Tn effecting this revolution, was the first to forget all previous animosties, and to hold out the hand of reconciliation and peace Hear the patriot "I acknowledge, indeed, sir, that I have many personal In- iuries of which to complain. This ques- tion is national one, and in deciding 1t, if you act wisely, you will regard nothing but the interests of the nation On the altar of my country's good am wiling to sacrifice all personal resentment, all prI- vate wrongs; and am sure should most absurdly fatter myself, if l thought that ] was the only person i'll this House capable of making such a sacrifice" Again he says, "Encourage emigration the husbandmen, tho mechanics, the mer- chants of the Ozd World, to come and settle in this world of promise--make 1t the home of the skillfnl, the industrious and happy, as we'll as the asylum of the distressed"
 Mir. Henry's proposition was carried, and every succeeding year proves that his anticipations were we'll founded America soon experienced the policy of his counsels, and tide after tide of emigration has ever since continued to roll wealth and inn provement over her provinces. Thus we see that in the earliest efforts of the gov ernment, such men as Patrick Henry could lay aside prejudice, and even anl- mostly for his country's good, and public ly and boldly advocate the breaking down partition walls of jealouses and cankering prejudices, and invite even them but re- gently in arms against him, to come and help to build up mighty nation. Nor was Patrick Henry alone in his liberal and enlightened views of public policy, touch ing the expediency of encouraging foreign emigration to our country; Adams, Mad ison and Gallatin, urged upon the country the importance of inviting emigration to America, to enable her the sooner to devel- op her latent resources. Such has been the true policy of every enlightened gov ernment, and such is the true policy of the South to-day-now the war is hushed to silence-we find thousands of acres Of fer tile lands unoccuped and untitled. The negroes are free, but not equal to the An glo.Saxen race, the Civil Rights bill to the contrary notwithstanding, we as South ern people can never recognize the negro equality doctrine claimed by the fanatics of New England. Congress may legislate on the subject for q thousand years, and still the African race will remain inferior socially, morally and intellectually and if we are to make the laboring class or opera tives our equals, let us have at least a white race.
 But the feelings of animosity engen- dered by the recent sectional strife, has in the minds and feelings of many ripened into deep-seated prejudice against all persons hailing from beyond Mason's and Dixon's line We have country vast in extent, and embracing every variety of soil and productions and the most appa- rent desideratum is the settling of our un- occupied lands. If our people of the South cannot or will not turn our forests into blooming fields, and our waste places into gardens and orchards let us as an en- frightened, patriotic people, lay aside the sectional prejudices so long indulged to no public benefit or practical good, and solicit farmers, planters, mechanics and artists, from abroad, to come and help us to build again the mighty empire of the South.
 We are fer the immediate development, growth and prosperity of the South, and have but little patience with those who are ready on all occasions to oppose the build ing of railroads, school houses, and other public improvements that have for their object the happiness and prosperity of this part of the North American Union. We are sometimes told that if we build school houses, that Yankees will come and oceu- py them as teachers; five build railroads, the country will De settled up with Yan- kees. Those who believe such whimsical statements have but little confidence in themselves, or in the energy, enterprise and intelligence of the Southern people. Competition is the very life of business, and those who dread an honest competi- ton in the varied pursuits of life, distrust in their own abilities and those of their neighbors But rivalry is the life of bus