Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-01-17
Good Speech by General Sherman.

A convention Of delegates from all the
counties IN Arkansas met at Little Rock
on the llth, to take into consideration the
political affairs Of the State. Major Gen
w L. Sherman, who was visiting that de-
partment, was invited to attend, aud ac-
cepted the invitation He Was received
by DR.. I. L, Gibson, the President, who.
In bis address, made certain complaints oa
behalf OF the citizens Of Arkansas. the
principle o2e being the test oath adopted
by the existing State authorities, and asked
the Generai to aid them to a full reaiiza
tion Of their civil rights without delay
General Sherman responded with a sound
speech-one of the best we have read on
reconstruction-as follows:
Gentlemen You are fully informed Of
the reason why | am here, which is by
special invitation Of your committee.
am a military man and as such it IS not ex,
pected or desired that | shall engage in
any political discussion, or give you any
advice politically. We military men dis
like 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 care;
for the citizens of any neighborhood, coun
ty or State, have right to meet together
and consult as to the best mode OF promot
ing the interests Of the 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. | know the
people of the South, and | know the
southern gentleman would not willingly or
Intentionally represent himself to be what
he is not. Bur | understand you are citi-
zens OF Arkansas, aud delegates OF the
people, therefore you have a right TO he
here to discuss matters OF interest to your
selves to consider your grievances, if you
have any, and to peti ion the President or
Congress for redress, and | believe they
will do you justice.
But you have a more important work.
1t Is not political Your State needs at
tention in other directions | come here
from a distance, and tell you | find you
far behind all other parts OF the country
give your immediate attention to those
things which will make you, State inviting
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 inter-
nal 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 arc entitled to; you now
have more rights and privileges under ex
lsting circumstances than you would have
in any civilized country except America
Had you done as you did in this land, un-
der the bloody flag of Great Britain, or
the trl color OF France, many of you would
not be here, and you would not have been
permitted TO assemble as you are now as
sembIed, and talk over political questions
and rights. Is not the meeting of this
convention the best evidence that YOU have
q good deal of liberty. AS to the meas
ure of your rights 1 cannot inform you.
What is right and wrong | do not pro-
less to know, and | do not think YOU