The Van Buren press., 1867-11-08
For Delegate TO Constitutional Convention
CRAWFORD COUNTY.
James Greig, Esq,
LEES CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Salvation or Ruin

State Is to decide the important question,
shall the State of Arkansas be African.
izedW We are called upon to determine
whether we will turn our State govern
ment over to adventures and negroes, OF
maintain our honor and the integrity OF
our State. We fear the people do not
fully realize the Importance of the crisis
now full upon them. If they fully ap-
preciated the momentous questions at is
sue, we do not believe there could be
found ten white men in Crawford county
who would vote the Radical ticket and
for Convention. The proposition now
presented to the registered voters OF
Crawford is plainly, absolute "negro
equality" 1t is proposed to place the
affairs Of the State under the control of a
race, inferior IN the scale Of being, and
who have but recently been liberated,
and changed life of slavery, for one OF
freedom. The institution of slavery was
one by no means calculated to teach re
publican notions to those who were its
subjects. The master was and from ne
cessity was compelled to be, sDespot
His will and word was and of necessity
compelled to be, the absolute law
From his fiat there was no appeal. The
will of the slave was not, and from ne
cessity could not, be consulted All this
is in direct antagonism to republican no
tions. This was poor school in which
to learn the glorious precepts and princi
Piles that underlie our noble Constitution
Further, the negro in himself and ofhim.
self, has never been found capable ofpro.
ducing good results, in the world Of art
science, literature, religion or politics
Left to himself and deprived of contac,
with the white race, he has invariably
retrograded and finally fallen back into
his primitive barbarism. His tendencies
are all downward on the scale of being
never upward These chronological facts
are well known to those who proposed
this horrid scheme for the destruction o
the Southern States, yet they have delib
erately and wilfully done it and their ad
herents here, now threaten us with ever
"worse," if we dare to allow our stom
achs to revolt at the nauseous dose. Dc
the people understand that by voting tn,
Radical ticket, they are voting to give tc
the negro the control of their State, il
all its departments, for generations to
Gomez Such is the fact, and by doing
80, they leave the bitterest curse as
heritage for their children after them. 1
the people would permit reason and no
passion, to control their actions ant
opinions, they could not fail to see this
truth. Let all those who can vote and
who have not lost all respect for posteri
ty. and all pride of race, come forward
on Monday and enter their solemn pro.
test against this degradation Of our State
by voting AGAINST CONVENTION"
Our Constitution is good enough if the
tyrants of the Capitol will let us but live
quietly under it. 1t was made by men
whose loyalty was claimed and the claim
allowed. 1t was made under the auspices
Of Abraham Lincoln, who these fellows
pretend to venerate. 1t was made by q
body OF their own choosing, surrounded
by Federal bayonets, and wholly devoid
OF fear or cause Of fear. of rebel interfer
ence. That Constitution was ratified by
almost q unanimous vote, some two
hundred and upwards, only voting
against it. Yet they inform us this Con,
stitution must be destroyed, chaos be in.
augurated and new charter adopted by
Convention to be chosen by your for
mer slaves. What a commentary upon
their alteration Of the "late lamented."
They profess to adore and love him and
veneratc his memory; men were slain fol
rejoicing at his death enthusiasts Of his
party, assigned him place equal to the
divine Nazarene; justice and its forms
were polluted in order to take the life Of
men and women, suspected of connection
with his murder. And yet, in few shor,
and deeting months, they indirectly ac
cuse the same Abraham Lincoln with
reasonable practices, lie established
the present government Of Arkansas, and
Congress now by a single act has brand
ed his actions as usurpation on his part
and his policy as conspiracy with Rcb.
els. Union men of Crawford are YOU
prepared for negro supremacy? Are you
willing to brand Abraham Lincoln as o
traitor9 Are you prepared by single