The Van Buren press., 1867-03-01

tee. But being without any previous po
litical training or experience, and being
blessed with bur little common sense, he
will soon learn that he who led out his
school to stone union prisonsrs, cannot
drag the loyal men Of Arkansas, who
fought for their country most nobly, af-
ter one, who like him has arecord, which
convicts him of treachery to all parties
during the war, and wiM Aaviny failed to
fgM for either parry. His history is be-
ing written, Gin which every charge l have
made, will be established by proof which
when published, will consign him to a
political grave, so deep, that none need
apprehend his resurrection. The union
party of Arkansas" once rid of this incu-
bus, and united upon q platform, which
looks towards peace, insteaa Of diseord,
will arise Phoenix like from the ashes,
which this destructive agitator has east
around it, and become at once an organ
ization of tremendous power. loyalty
must be at a low ebb in Arkansas, if such
man is the head and front of (as he
claims) the only ioyal party, and editor OF
the only loyal paper, in the State, For
my own part, Idssire no leadership, bu
standing as / do, By and With the friends,
who gave proof as did, oftheir devotion
to the government of our fathers, by en-
during the hardships and dangers of war
for four long years, / will not stand in
silence and permit this creature to make
a division in the union ranks, which will
stani united as one man in favor of the
policy of the government in relation to
Arkansas, whenever one shall have been
definitely settled upon, after full aud
fair hearing of the true status of parties,
and the rae disposition aud spirit of the
people. In the intervening time, we do
not propose By our silence, to stand com
mitted to any line of policy, simply be-
cause it may, be the rage Of the hour
and dictated to Dell by partisan leaders
at Washington, and heralled to the coun-
try, for effect, by him, though his "pro-
nunciativcs," as "chairman of the Re-
publican State Central Committee" our
interests are too important and grave, to
be trusted in such hands. And whilst /
was opposed to holding the Fort Smith
convention Of Dec. 18th, fearing the mis-
chief which has grown out OF it l joined
in calling this, because it was absolutely
necessary to save us from the contumely
and contempt Of mankind, which will be
tie sure reward of all who hereafter fol.
low this flshy, spanning man, whose cour-
age never rose to the fighting point, till
the war was over, and lie had discovered
which was the strongest side.
\ third party, and perhaps the largest
one in the State, is that composed Of
moderate southern men, who were true
to the cause they espoused, until it failed /;
when they returned home, and are now
living among US in peace, throwing their
Influence on the side of law and order
That distinction should be made, have
not the slightest doubt. as between this
class of men and those composing the
fourth and last party, which | shall pro-
ceed to notice. This fourth party, thank
God, is not very strong in point Of num-
bers. In their nostrils, union man is a
stencil, and when they would utter their
worst malice they can think of no term,
which in their estimation, expresses
odium and disgrace so fully as federal
and in none Of the relations Of life, po-
litical, social or moral do they ever let
an opportunity pass, unimprovcd, to
demonstrate this sentiment, which in
them seems stronger than passion. Un-
fortunately for the South, the persistent
energy of this party has given it a mag
nitude to which it is not entitled, and
some members Of Congress, who / am
sure have no feelings of animosity to-
wards the South, fall into the grave er-
ror, that this ultra party represents a
majority Of the southern people. And
to cap the climax, some of our truest
union men, with less foresight than zeal,
have participated in movements, the
tendency of which is to give deeper root
to this error, and more prominence to
this extreme party; nor is this all, for
such movements are also eminently cal
culated to drive thousands Of reasonable
moderate southern men into the ranks OF
this fourth party, feeling themselves re.
pulsed, by our jealous friends whose
immaculate standard Of loyalty" for.
bids in their opinion even the friendly
co operation Of men whose supposed
duty to their States, (such was their
reasoning at the time) led them into a
participation in the rebellion. Would i,
not be well for some of our extremely
loyal friends, to ponder well upon the
following passage Of holy writ: lie,
him who is without sin among you, cas-,
the first stone" OF course there are
very many to whom this would have nc
application. On some future occasion
however if closely pressed for particu
lars, may indulge in the recitation oI
some passages from Arkansas history
quite little stock Of which, ! have or
hand, HF.t.
Sinking the partisan, in'the patriot. W,
have duty to perform which ! hope w,
will set about with adignity and earnest