The Van Buren press., 1867-04-12


insurrcctionary government and they use@
the power thus usurpcd over the Lives, liberty
and property of the people, To coercc them to
Join I'm their treason and rebellion. and wick
cdly and wantonly protracted the struggle
until one-third OF their victims were In their
graves, and the property of all impressed.
wasted away or destroyed.
Nv. Failing To destroy the Republic and
rob the people OF their liberty by force OF
arms, they returned and at once demanded to
be restored 10 the offices and control of the
State. and speedily possessed themselves Of
the Legislative department. the supreme
Court and other important offices.
Again I'm power In the State. they renewed
the atrocious system of plumber and oppres-
sion. The brief respite enjoyed by the pco-
pie Of the State from the dcspotic control Of
these political vampires, who fled the State
In 1863, to avoid Just punishment for their
crimes, had enabled loyal provisional Gov
ernment BY an honest and economical admin
istration to accumulate In the treasury OF the
State over Slj0,000 In cash.
The treasury Is at once plundercd by these
men. of this hard earned money of the people
-extravaoancc. corruption, iavortism and
oppression mark their every act-the loyal
men of the State are wronged and oppressed
and denied redress, treason Is made Il virtue,
and loyalty crime, the Constitution of the
| State Is set ut defiance. and the pretended
/ laws and decree Of the defunct rebel govern
mcnt declared to be in full force, and binding
on loyal people, living under the Constitution
of the United states rhc obligations ard
evidence of Indebtedness of the rebel State
. Government which these men issued To them
selves, and obtained fraudulcntly and without
consideration. and of which the most un-
scrupuous OF these men hold large amounts,
are declared to he binding on a loyal State
and a loyal peope-they refuse to take the
necessary. reasonable and just steps 30 restore
the State To the Union and representation in
Congrcss-and contcmptuously reject terms
of settlement, the most magnanimous and
/ liberal ever offered. to men in their position,
and up to the present moment continue to
present an attitude of hostility to the Nation
i al Government, its authority and supporters,
bordering on open rebellion, and dangerous
alike to the peace of the National state, and
/ the safety of loyalty and law abiding men,
/ And Congress wisely and Justly judged that
reconstruction was impossible willie such
constitutional and chronic traitors plumber
ers OF the public treasury and oppresSors of
the people were permitted To exercise the
political power of the state. which they
usurped and have so long held by fraud, de-
ceit and expressions.
g. That we recognize the power and right
of the National Government to determine The
! method and apply the means of reconstruct
I ing the rebel States, and of providing lawful
! governments for the same; and do willingly
I abide by and heartily accept the measures
adopted or which may hereafter be neccessa-
4 rily prescribed by Congress, for full per-
I feet and final reconstruction of said States;
! and to the end that the State may be admit
ted to its wonted position in the Union. and
representation in Congress. That the liberty
( NJ riubts a ritiypn Ip Sppurpl
and sacredly guarded and protected under an
/ honest competent and loyal State govern
ment-that the credit of the State may be re-
! stored and economy in the public eXpendi-
( lures secured, that the construction of rail-
/ roads and other internal improvements so
necessary to the prosperity of the State, may
/ be commenced and vigorously prosecuted: {:
that an enlightened and iudicious system Of
| free common schools, providing for the cdu-
cation OF all the children of the State. may be
! inaugurated; that immigration and capital
from every quarter may be invited and in
duced to enter our State and that peace, Sc
curity and prosperity may be restored to the
State and all its people. We declare that we
are in favor of immediate action under and in
conformity to the acts of Congress, and we
hereby tender to the Major General command
/ ing this District our hearty and cordial sup
port and corporation in the honest and faith
full execution of the same. f0
4. That we denounce the guilty authors of
the late rebellion who refuse to acquiesce in
In the necessary and legitimate and Just re-
suits of their own folly and crime. and who
are now counselling people to continued OPP
position and resistance to the legitimate and
/ lawful authority of the National Government,
as enemies of the Union and all the dearest
and best interests of the State and her people,
and they deserve and should receive the scorn
of every honest citizen, who desires to see law
! and order and peace security and prosperity
secured to the State.
). That the most dangerous enemies of the
nation and State are the disloyal newspapers
and political demagogucs who while they de-
nounce the late action of Congress as Illegal,
unconstitutional and dcspotic nevertheless
declare it to be their purpose to control ifthcy
cam all action hereunder with the declared
! purpose rs soon rs representation i'm Congress
IS secured, of Immediately rcpudiating their
compact with the National Government. and
by change of the Constitution of the State
distranchse the RECENTLY cnfranchiscd citizens
of the State; prohibit the education of their
children, and adopt other rcactionary and
revolutionary measures.
G. That the Congress the Nation is SOL
emnly pledged not to recognize any State
! Government made by, and in the hands of
open and declared enemies of the great prin-
ciplcs ofliberty and Justice embraced in the
measures DEMONSTRATION and more espc-
cally will Congress refuse to recognize gov
ernment in the hands of men who ayow it to
be their purpose to overthrow these great
principles, the moment they obtain Congress
Sional recognition, of their dishonest and
.lhypocritical action: and we warn every good
citizen Of the State, who fayors reconstruction
and wishes to enjoy the blessings and bcne-
fits to be derived from our early restoration
to the Union, against the criminal folly ofen-
! trusting the work to such hands. ....
1 Z. That we heartily endorse all meetings
and conventions heretofore held In this State,
Which had in view the reconstruction of the
State. in harmony with the will of Congress.
s. That State taxation shall be equal and
uniform and that no discrimination should be
made in favor of one species Of property, at
the expense of another dl 77a 4"
I 0. That all the citizens in every county in
! the State, who approve of the declaration OF
principles and purposes here announced. are
earnestly urged to meet In their respective
counties, and organize and report their organ
ization to the Chairman of the State Central
Committee, at Little Rock. in order that a
united and harmonious effort may be made to