The Van Buren press., 1868-04-24
Letter 70 General Gillem.

ma the iUllONlng letter from the btiaecIAic
state Central Committee, a copy Of which has
been sent to Gen. GrIIr>i, at Nicksburg:
LITTLE Rock, ARL- April l3, SO.
GENERAL: In your telegram OF March Is, to
Col. +. \. Terry, you gave the assurance that
charges Of fraud" in the late election, pre-
ferrcd by either party" would be " impartial
Is investigated"
Relying on that pledge, and with a view to
afford basis for making IL effective, we. as
the Central Committee of the Democratic
Party of Arkansas. do now allege that, In
many Of the counties, If not in all, gross
WRONGS and frauds were perpetrated, in the
interest of the radical party making the elec-
tion a mOckery. and nullifymg the legally ex-
pressed will of large majority Of the regis
stitution was, in fact, overwhelmingly reject
ed, instead Of being adopted, as its advocates
falsely claim.
Among the acts fraudulent in themselves,or
used TO cover frauds, we specify the follow
ing:
|. That nearly all the registrars Of the elec
tion were bitter radical partisarnS. and were,
in many counties, candidates for Office, de-
pendent for success on the ratification Of the
Constitution-as in Pulaski, Jefferson, Lafay
ette, White, Little River, and others.
ii. That at the revision ofregistration lists,
sundry registrars, disregardipg the recon-
struction laws as well as orderg from district
headquarters Illegally and fraudulently eras-
ed the names ofcitizens entitled TO vote, reius-
ed certificates TO others similarly entitled, Land
granted certificates to persons having no
right of suffrage whatever-as in Yell, Car
roll, Crawford, Washington, lndepence, and
other counties.
Ill. That although the election began on
March Is, 1t was not concluded in counties
polling heavy negro vote, till after all the
counties having white majoritieS had voted
enabling the radicals to supply any number OF
votes needed to secure a fictitious majority
rs in Jefferson, where the polls were not clos
ed till March IS; and in Pulaski, where they
remained open till the 30th.
". That large numbers of ignorant ne
groes were forced by threats ofpunishment,or
bribed by promises of pecuniary rewards, to
vote for Constitution-as in Phillips. Saint
Francis, Crittenden, Chicot, Desha, Jefferson
Pulaski and elsewhere.
Y. That many tmid white men were de-
TERED from voting against the Constitution
by savage menaceS of members of the radical
party, backed by the appearance of military
support; as also by the tyrannical provision,
of the Constitution itself, dstranchsing all
persons voting against it, without regard tC
their personal or political antccedcntS.
VI That unj just determinations were made
against white men. and in favor of negroes by
allowing the latter to vote at any precinct il
the State, but restricting the former, if demo
cratS to the precincts oftheir actual residence
AS in Arkansas. White and other counties.
VII. That among the votes counted for til,
COnstitutin. (and far exceeding the majority
claimed for it, many were Illegally and fraud
Ill,
different precincts, or Stimulating dead or alb
sent voters, or being non-reSidents ofthe State
minors, women. or otherwise disqualified ;anC
many others were. in reality, not cast at all
but were corruptly placed in the ballot boxes
either in addition TO the votes actually cast,
else in lien Of them, these last being purloine(
and DESTROYED: : AL of which was DONE who'll,
or in part. in johnson. White Phillips, Jcffer
son. Pulaski, Cross. St Francis and othe
counties.
We beg you to believe, General, that thu
gas S2ra9asan} They are the ra mhSdas Nd
possible expression of the feelings and posi-
tive knowledge of the outraged white pcopl
of Arkansas, whO,-bent, but not yet crushed
by such monStrous frauds and yillainics-ap
peal. through us. to you. as of their own rae
and blood, to give them the opportunity to es
tablish the truth OF all that is herein alleged
This we offer to do, before an impartial com
mission of honorable officers, by clear tcsti
mony and in due form of law and. afte
making good this engagement. we further be,
| the privilege of confirming the proofs adduc
/ eb by our votes. at a free and fair election, 4
/ be held throughout the State on one and til
| same day. by judges and clerks taken equal,
| from both parties. and with ample notice t
! all the people. In that way the true senti
inent of the registered voters can be ascertain
! ed which Is the proteSScd aim of the recon
/ struction laws, and must be your object as
| soldier and gentleman.
/ Allow us to add the hope that your actor
on thiS-our solemn protest against injustic,
and fraud. and our humble petition for re
dress Of gricvances--wi not be long DELAYED
/ especially when it is considered that the radi
cal party, in contempt of all precedent ant
/ law, and as proclaimed by them before TN,
election, have already installed their pretend
ed Legislature, and usurped, by force, the gov
| ernment Of the State
/ We have the honor to be, General. youI
most obedient servants,
II. a. HOWARD.
FRANCIS \. TERRY.
Il. G. NEWTON.
ARNOLD SYBERG,
L. B. NASH.
{. b. MOORE,
Committee.
To Brevet Major General, Alvan c. Gillem
Commanding 18th Military District.