The Van Buren press., 1867-07-19
Raaioal .,pu,Y 10 Rho Negro.v =

Radical Duty to the Negro
Whenever n iircry and unscrupulous Radi-
cal Is attacked on the score Of his want OF pro-
priety and decency in lvSgins the unsophis-
iicaied Negro into secret concayes, the cry l.,
II feel 1t my duty" How long has the tenn
poral welfare of the negro been the special
object OF these fellows dutyg Let us look
Tor a moment nj the course pursued ly some
of these afectionatc creatures. See the year
Of Grace cha full assembly of these precious
nn,rtals met at Little Rock to frame Consti-
tuition, under which they and the dear negro
lamation of AXaham Lincolns, these wise
Constitution-makers were compelled to en-
gran provision upon the new Constition.
declaring slavery or involuntary seryitude,
except for crimes, forever abolished. This
much they were forced TO do for the negro.
How much more did they dog Did they
throw down the barriers of prejudice and in
yite the negroes to come and make home
among us? Did they treat the negro rs an
equal or a. having all the natural rights that
follow condition of freedom? Read the fol-
lowing ordinance of this LOYAL Convention |:
Re it ordained, That on and after the notili-
cation OF this Constitution, no person, save
under the authority ofthe military arm of the
Federal Government, shall be permitted to
bring within the limits of this state any in
dentired or freed negro orm llstto; nor ShdH
dag asJre Or aaiGtto, not noe IA ne State, erer
Lo peralliei n reside pifhia its limits, sdUe by
aaihuiig VI tie Gocerameat 9f The United States
or mder some proclamation q The President"
There it is a precious morsel for these fell
lows to put forth tor negro voters TO nibble
at. These fellows were determined, that the
negro should not have the same freedom of
locomolion as white men: should not come 10
tbs State, unless the Majesty of the Federal
Government, ordered 1t otherwise. Many a
negro now in Crawford county, if this Loyal
ordinance OF that Loyal Convention could be
enforced, would be driven from the State. All
those who came into the State after the noti-
lcation of the present Constitution, lin 1861
are now here in violation of this Loyal ordi-
nance. This was the friendship these men
had for the negro in 1864. Why is it they
have changed? Is 1t because the negro has
been invested with the right of suffrage? We
have abundant reason to think SO. The Rad
icals, (and Luther c. Whites name stands at
the head Of the list ofmenibers from Crawford
county,) could have dons much more for the
negro than they did. If they really desired
to advance tho African ia tho ,ooiv of I,viit
ical being, they could have taken the lead
and have invested him with the right of suf-
frage, or at all events could have given him
the right to defend himself and his property
in the courts Of the country. But no; they
went only SO far a. I.incoln's proclamation
forced them TO 90. The negro remained, a free
man, with the privilege of acquiring property
but no earthly means of protecting 1t in the
courts of the country. And even this plain
and simple duty was left to be performed by
the elast Legislature, which body, White and
his silly cOnfferes, pronounced full of bitter
ness against the negro. But now that the
ballot Is put into the hands of the negro by
Congress, these fellows make haste to organ
lie them into leagues, falsely called Loyal"
for the avowed purpose of securing these
votes-lnd pretend to be all love and sweet
ness to the negro noc. In 1861 these men,
did not want the negro to have the right Co
even come into the State, much less rote in it.
Now, as they found they may get into Office
by means of the negro votes, they take them
10 their bosoms and cry out, I've alsraysloved
the poor negro" Cuify, there's u cat in the
meal tub"-look out. At your next reunion,
at the Loyal League room, ask DR.. White why
he did not want any negro to come to Arkan-
sas and why he didn't give you the right to
sue and testify In court, and why he didn't
give You the right to cote, too. -.