The Van Buren press., 1867-11-29
TIE COMMUNION

Ncnliun. IN Il Ignorant uUigttrTvd and spite
hhnegnocs viii for the frs, time iu our an
nals III IN mn Arkansas Political Body, These
degraded he!nrS wiil assist IN training OF vot-
ing fora Constitution. Their hatred lor Cur
rsce 6v,0t. nurIun0 aud iyd by vile white
mcu, viii ,ur,ly b. displayed in this iustru-
mcnt; aud tlis-h hatr,d is aud viii be very
pleasing 10 hite Radicals. Think of Il, fel-
low white men. Conservative, Of the state.
Negroes framing constitution To govern the
policy Of this State and shape the laws by
which yourselves, your wives and children
are to bc affected and your property control
led It Is enough to start the ashes -four
Father. from their graves.
This Convention ~ in be an extraordinary
one; an anomaly ia history, where an inferior,
ignorant gnohlc and landlcss race is put TO
make laws for a superior. intelligent, noble
and iand-owning race OF men. IL is not
Convention called by consent. II springs
from force; which when withdrawn viii of
itself i'm its acts and supporters fall. For the
elements of political power and government
reside, and OF right ought to. in the white
race and all the force and argument of fladi-
Gals cannot perpctuate it; cannot make the
negro the equal OF a white man. Nature has
made tine former unnltorably an inferior be-
ing, the link between the brute and man But
this Convention viii make aud submit Con-
stitution. 1t will endorse negro equality and
cngraft within the instrument the franchise
of the negro. Then il will come before the
people for ratification. Should they ratify il,
then it goes to Congress for approval-mak-
ing the people oi the state nothing but the
serfs OF Congress. Ifthe Constitution is such
that thereby Arkansas votes shall be given to
the Radicals and their power supported, aud
their nefrnouS and plundering schemes
strengthened, then il will be approved and
Arkansas admitted as "loya" State. If
Otherwise This Constitution should read then
Congress will declare il to be not republican
In form aud the State will be left out of the
tni1n BE sure The Radicals will frame this
Constitution u suit their Congress.
lt B. lettto the option of the registeredvoters
ofthc State whether this Constitution shall be
confirmed or rejected. A large majority of
them are Conservative and unchangably op-
posed to and abhor negro equality and sut-
fraec. Then choose, and at the polls signify,
every man. your choice. VIII you elect to he
governed by negroes and low unprincipled
white men? IL is impossible. VIII you de
scent 70 that deep abysn Of degradation and
acknowledge negro equality and suffrage, and
place yourselves, your wives and children
under the niggcr and your property at his
VIII II il impossible. Or viii YOU rather
continue under military rule which at least is
administered by white men, until the change
which is now going on so rapidly IN the North
shall elect "a new Congress, which shall restore
You TO all your rights now in abeyancc
Surely tits a question of choice at which
no true white man will tor moment stagger.
He will emphatically vote against Constitu-
tion containing provision for negro equality
and franchise; he will unquestionably elect
TO be rather governed by the white military
hnd he win not long have to wait to be re-
lievod from that. Patience, quiet and firm
ness will surely bring us To all our old rights
and that speedily. Let us, then. all guard jeal-
ously our birthright, and not In a fit of de-
spondency, despair, or through apathy, throw
II away. Remember what is the force of your
your refraining from the vote, will be felt by
your posterity, and you be revercd, or bitter
ly, bitterly reproached by them; remember
that your peace, happiness and liberty are in
volved. and that ifyou, for any cause, weakly
bow downto this Dagon, you crush yourselves
and put the negro and his ovil-minded Radi-
cal prompter above you and make them your
master. hss rI
Citizens of Arkansas, are You prepared to
thisy Then rally to the rescue and save your
selves, your wives and children, your homes
and possessions from the terrible and hideous
horrors ofnegro rule.
Suppose that you are suphe, Indifferent
that you stay away from the polls, that there
by there are votes enough cast, or so decided
to carry the Constitution. What do you bring
upon yourselves? Future horrors, that now
we will not specify. But we will mention
some of the minor evils and prosecutions
which viii certainly overtake ruined and
harried people Have you ever thought of
themg If not, think now. You will be dis
franchsed, your lands will be confiscated,
even after three years cessation of war; you
will perhaps be left enough to enable you to
make taxes. You will be under the watch
and espionage of secret detccterS, and under
the tyrannous rule of a hireing militia. You
viii have thousands upon thousands of dol
lars to pay in taxes the expenses of the Con-
yention; the per diem ofits members at eight
or ten dollars day each; the fat salaries of
its officers; the fat salaries of numerous use
less State officers created to perpetuate negro
rule, perhaps some lazy, sweet-smclling mig
ger one OF them; the fat salaries OF militia Of
Ulcers and the support OF that militia; you will
have thousands to pay TO enable some con-
tractor or banker to make fortune, or TO en-
rich some unserum.lous stock company; or
You may have to pay, at the rate of ten dol
lars month, all the negroes OF the State,
their wagcs" rs the Aboltlonists call IT.
~. 4 n IN,