The Van Buren press., 1867-07-05
rEACKLIN COUNTY.
oz,pK. Apks.. june Goth. lsG7.


from any place, in this day Of irregular and
semi-occasional stages, | fear the world would
forget there is such a place II your CORE
spOndcntS, were not Kind enough to notify
the world, through the columns ofthe "Press"
that Ozark is still, living reality, and can,
boast few entcrprising men, and sufficient
number Of pretty girls. and lovely widows, to
stock a respectable sized city, rs well as dogs
and cats enough for Chinese watering place,
and a saint Louis sausage factory. Improve
ments are going on quite rapidly and Ozark
bids fair to soon he respectable sized town.
Indeed, from its great natural advantages,
see no cause why ii may not soon rank rs one
of the first towns In Western Arkansas. We
but II did but little damage, except to blow
down Col. BOonc's new building which is now
up again, and rapidly progressing towards
completion. Owing to the wet and. cold
weather, crops are very backward and, l fear,
cotton is seriously injured. Some farmers
have plowed their cotton up and planted corn.
Registers have been appointed for this coun-
ty and presume the work of registering, and
converting the ignorant negro into an intelli-
gent, enlightened voter, with capacity to
supercede the white man, in the control ofthc
government. Radicaiism proposes to annul
natures DEGREES, as it has already ignored
common sense, the constitution of the coun-
try, and justice, and principle of patriotism
and the rights of the most respectable portion
of southern white men, in their attempt to at
once, place their beloved and fraternal Afri-
can Saints, in political and social position
which they can never reasonably aspire to,
unless nature shall annul her organic laws
and give them new mental and moral organi-
zation. / know Of no white men, who are
opposed to treating the negro with kindness
and grant protection to his person and prop
see their own liberties, and the utter demoli-
ton of repubicanism, blindly, wickedly, Civ
en- as the price Of negro equality. We all be-
lieve that negro is fully as good as the men
who contend for his social and political equal
ity, and we have no objection to their fratern-
izing, as men are likely to associate with
those of congenial tastes, habits and feelings.
But fthe negro is as good, noble, intelligent,
and pure he should be taught that "evil COM
muncations corrupt good manners" and be
careful how he associates with his new found
admirers and associates, lest suspicion should
attach to his good name. This sycophantic
fauning upon the negro is, perfectly disgust
ing to any man who has one spark of honor
able manhood about him, and is INDUCED in
only by low demagogues, who seek office, and
as they know they can not obtain it, upon
their merits they try to secure it by securing
the negro votes. If the negro has half the in
telligence that he is credited for, he will des-
pise the base hypocritical miscreants, and not
be duped into giving their votes to such mis-
cradle wrctches. AZ the negro is now recog-
nized as a citizen, he is interested in selecting
the best men for offices and should be careful
how he casts his vote. Those who now so
loudly proclaim their love for the freedmen,
have never evnced it by their actions. They
are generally, miserable trash, floating on the
waves of popular commotion, and not able
even if willing, to benefit the negro They
can never give him employment or subsist-
ence. They must obtain these from the men
whom they are told to hate, and who could
by Withdrawing employment from them re-
duce them and their families to want and star
vation. These things must be known, and
will be looked to by all intelligent freedmen,
and they, will despise the miserable, worthless
demagogues, who try to array them against
their best friends so that they may obtain Of
fees which they are both incompetent, and
unworthy to fill. Howhave these men proven
their friendship for the negro? Have they
done it by trying to elevate his social position !?
If so they have taken the worst possible way
to do it. By associating with him on terms
of familiar intercourse. they cause good men
to lose confidence in him, as they naturally
suppose he is worthless, from the company
he keeps. Have they given him employment
to enable him to make an honest living !?
Have they when they had chance given him
political rights? Did their Legislature of
1864, give him the right to vote, give evidence
bring suits, hold property or do any other act
of a freeman? Did the convention that franz
ed the present Constitution, do any thing
Tor them! certainly not. But the "ReDel'
Legislature was the first body of men
in Arkansas, that gave him personal and legal
rights. Yet these miserable demagogues tell
the negros that they are their only friends !.
They want Office and think to get it by delud-
ing the negro voters. Honorable white men
viii not stoop to deception, falschood and
fraud to obtain votes and may for time fail
to get those of the freedmen. But the time
will come when the negro will recognize his
true friend and spurn those political vaga-
bonds who now seek to elevate themselves to
position upon the ruins of their country. IL
is the duty of every man to register and vote,
and thus keep the government from passing
into the hands of men who seek to rule or
ruin. Look at Tennessee, and Missouri, where
the so-called" loyal men are in power. Two
thirds Of the best citizens are disfranchised-
freedom of speech and Of the press Is destroy
ed, and despotism far more intolerant and
cruel than can be found in Russian absolutism
or Austrian autocracy, oppresses the people,
and paralyzes the powers ofmaterial advance
ment. Let no man fail TO register and rote.
| see from the Fort Smith Standard that the
loyal men of Franklin county. held meeting
at Ozark on the 25th of May, and passed reso-
lutlons. 1t must have been a grand affair as
had not heard OF it till saw it published.-
| have asked several citizens about 1t, but