The Van Buren press., 1866-11-02
For the prss.
"What the Legislature ought tO do"


commcndablc and jndicions. Among
other things they have talked of the cleo
ton of United States Senator, and men
toned names as favoritcs who may be cx-
spectcd TO appear before this Legislature
as candidates. These names mentioned
are all good ones, but which one will be
selected is not yet recorded. The North
west is eminently entitled to Senator
She has never had one, and she is nOw
as Of yore, the most populous. Her claims
ought not to be overlooked nor sighted
The Legislature ought to select man
who is known, whose capacity is sulli
cient, who can take the test oath, who
has heretofore done good deeds for Ar
kansas and her citizens, and who is unex-
ccptionable as man, citizen and gentle
man. Whether they will do so remains
to be seen. Doubtless they will-for the
pIcscul HcIlDClS VI tuc l.cSlsliluTc are
sensible and intelligent men, and will act
accordingly
But in the work suggested by these
journalists, they have omitted, so far as
my reading goes, two very important
points, objects not only essential but Wit
al to the prosperity and well being of the
State These are, the education Of our
our youth, and the development of our
mineral resources H.tJsfs ..t
There are thousands of our youth, of
both sexes, whom the misfortunes of war
have placed in almost utter need To
procure food and rament for their bodies
is their sole and pressing aim. In ac-
complishing this they do all they can ;
and some even fall short of it. They are,
therefore, utterly powerless to do any
thing for education or social needs. The
State mast care for them or they will be
left waste. By them the future of our
State will be directed and controlled for
their votes will rule How necessary.
then, that they should receive the lights
Of education, that schools be established,
and soon, for their training. The Legisla-
tnre cannot overestimate the importance of
this subject, nor do too much for schools
1t will not do to depend upon private
enterprise only for this accomplishment.
The State must act, for private energy
cannot and will not reach the evil and
apply the remedy. The State must, like
other States have laudably done before,
do its duty in effort to establish schools,
or suffer an ignorant and needless gener,
alton to grow up upon us. and into whose
hands the destiny Of the State will assur-
edly fall Some system whereby these
youth can reach facilities for education,
and whereby they wW receive instruction,
must be devised by the Legislature
Otherwise, and there is no use dodging
the fact, we shall have an ignorant gener-
alton in ma jority in the State, with all
the evils and ills concomitant. This evil
is one which demands the speedy and Sc
rious attention Of the State To the de-
liberations of the Assembly is this matter
to be left, but / would hint, for the hon
or and advantage Of the mhHe race. our
State should not be left behind their In
dian brethren and neighbors. who hare
By tsr, provided literally for the educa
ton of their youth; nor should it be
shamed, in it's provisions for it's mhne
children, by those neerophilists among
and around US who are devsing schemes
for the education of the negro.
Another thing which the Legislature
ought to do and to which I have, as
yet seen no attention directed, but which
is OF exceeding Importance to our State
and its future prosperity, is an appropri
alton of an adequate sum of money to.
wards thorough Typographical and geo
logical exploration of our State. Zinc,
lead, iron, silver, tin and other valuable
metals and minerals abound in this State
more so, perhaps, than in any other
State IN the Union. The State, through
her Legislature, ought Immediately and
vigorously to organize complete, ener-
getlc, capable, reputable and candid corps
Of geologsts, metallingists and chemists.
whose duty it shall be to visit, ransack
and explore the entire State so as to de-
velope, or rather disclose to capital, the
pery extraordinary riches which lie bur
led in the earths and hills Of Arkansas.
When such work is done the wealth Of
Arkansas, in her sole and in her rocks
and hills, will astound even the old min
ers of Lake Superior, Santa Fe and Cali
fornla. And forty thousand dollars, even
for so impoverished a State as Arkansas,
were a small sum to secure this survey
for millions upon millions will grow
therefrom.
1t behoovcs the members Of this, one
Nif fsltv .xs,N ,.~A.