The Van Buren press., 1867-07-12
The Future of Van Buren-True Recon.
N.fIN structi0n,


The political world, so far rs the old Repub-
lie Of the United States Is concerned, may be
pronounced 10 be In a state Of complete an
archy. The South lies prostratc, bound hand
and foot, by the chains Of military dcspotism.
She can do little, save move on at the beck and
nod OF the satraps who control her destiny, or
doggcdly refuse 70 move and be forever ruin
ed. In this condition it Is the part of wisdom
for MS to look about us, and paying little heed
to the politics of the country, try to recon
struct the dilapidatcd fortunes of the people.
So far as national prosperity is concerned 1t
makes very little difference whether one rules
or many rule, so long as the people are not op-
pressed. Each State In the South for itself
and each community of each State for itself,
should strain every nerve to make themselves
new fortunes, by cultiyating the numberless
resources presented by their respective corn
tries. There Is too much lethargy manifested
by the people of the South. They seem to be
absolutely nerveleSs and wholly indifler-
ent to the national future, five may so speak.
The reconstruction which the South most
needs, Is not political in its nature, but mate
rial. A readmission into Congress, that
"ayiary of filthy birds" will not be the Pana-
cea that many seem to think. What benefit
is representation, when it is of poverty alone
If wealth and power is not here to be repre-
sented, what Use will it be to us? Who de-
sires to see himself among the members from
the powerful and wealthy North, the repre-
sentative of poor, nerveless, unprogressivc
State. And yet the States Of the South, and
alas. more especially our own seem 10 coyet
the name of supineness and inactivity-Ar-
kansas seems still, sounG asleep. although she
has slumbered, already, longer than Rip Van
Winklc.
Sonth-West Arkansas has 10 money, why |?
She has as much money as she has enterprise.
To come nearer home. Van Buren, is deter
mined not to be behind in sluggshness. Her
sister city of Fort Smith, seems to be awake
ming and is making stir in the sluggish blood
If they do no good. We believe however. that
they will succeed in their present enterprise !:
the building of Steam Ferry Boat and opc-
ming road through the Indian country to
Evansville. Ifshe does Van Buren, s.9s suffer
What is Van Buren, doing to counteract all
this? Nothing, absolutely nothing allowing
the trade to be taken from her without even
a protest or even a FAINT struggle. How it is
aud why it is monopoly" can perhaps an
swer. Shall Van Buren,, allow these things
to continue until she is completely starved out,
or will she help herself.
1t is proposed by some to establish ferry
from the Gibson landing to the old wharf be-
low town. and put on Steam Ferry Boat to
be owned by Joint Stock Company. If this
can be done we will completely checkmate
the Fort Smith road to Evansville, as the de-
lay at the crossing Of the river at this point Is
the only impedment to travel on this route.
a boat we are informed can be put aioat here
for S50O0-the boat for Fort Smith, (alreadv
ordered we understand) costs about that sum.
1t would be much better if the old ferry, now
i'm operation here could be abolished by its
owner, and good Steam Ferry Boat put on,
to be under the charge of the indomitable Can't.
TOT ENGLAND. He has run a Steam Ferry
Doat, wen toO ana can run another. but ifthe
owner of that ferry chooses to lie still and al
low the travel to be turned from us, Others
equally and as deeply interested must move
In the matter. Improvements of this kind
make true reconstruction, and will make all
hands feel better live easier If we never cet
into the Union. We are so completely whip
ped that almost any one could rule us-and in
almost any way. So let us all join in and
build up the country and let the shoulder
straps run the governmental machine. five
grow rich we will grow proud and wont be SO
easily ruled by men appointed over us. We
will get high-headed and begin to institute
a search for the Constitution framed by the
revolutionary patriots and rebels; but let us
get strength and wealth first, and perhaps, by
that time, everything may be "fixed'
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