The Van Buren press., 1868-01-24
Franklin County Wide Awake and Ready
for the coming Contest!

Pursuant to a call made, at the town
ship meeting in Ozark, Arkansas, on the
llth inst, for the assembling of County
Convention on the 18th, the good citizens
Of Franklin county came pouring in, from
all parts of the County, at an early hour
in such Numbers, that no building in
the town would contain the vast multi,
tude.
On motion, T. D. TURNER, Esq. was
called to the Chair, and W. j. MONTAGUE
was appointed Secretary
Onmotion of Col Boone, the Chair
man appointed committee Of five, 20
draft set of resolutions expressive or,hc
sense Of the meeting: ". ". Mansfield,
NJ. f. Fleman, w, d. Shores, Justin Re
neux and w. A. Carter, being appointed
to draft said resolutions, retired for that
purpose.
The house being too small to contain
so large a crowd, Col. Boone invited the
people TO assemble in open space, on the
Public Square, where all could have a
chance to hear the speech which he had
promised, TO deliver that day, at the
meeting on the llth January lie soon
became the centre ofa crowd of eager lis
tencrs; and, for the space of an hour,
during which time he set forth in strong
and forcible language the dangerous end
ruinous policy of the Radical party, in
enfranchising the ignorant negroes and
DISTINGUISHING the intelligent white men
Of the country. He seemed to be but
seeking the sentiment Of the vast crowd
there assembled. At the close of his re-
marks the committee returned and report
,d',he following preamble and resolu
tons:
WHEREAS, In tines of political excitement,
when the great and fundamental principles Of
Government on which the public safety de-
pends are involved and the propagation Of
correct principles and the eradication ofdan-
gerous ones are desired. it is no less the duty
than the right of the people. to peacefully IA.
semble and organize themselves into political
associations, for the overthrow of hercsy, for
the propagation oftruth. and for the admins
uation of those great principles which under
lie all Republican Governments ;but are often.
for a time, subyerted by wild and unscrupu-
lous fanaticism. And
WHEREAS. We believe the present Conserva-
tive, Democratic organizations is the only Ma
tonal, Constitutional Party now in the United
States and,
WHEREAS, We have reason to believe that
the 'so-called' Reconstruction ConyentiounOw
in session at Little Rock, will try. by disfran-
chising white men and assisting tie negroes
to entranchse themselves, and by allowing
said negroes to determine their own political
status. to force upon us the odious doctrine of
MICRO EQUALITY. by means unknown to Free
Governments and utterly Subyersiye of polit-
ical liberty in che States, Therefore,
Resoirea, lsi That we are firmly attached
to the Constitution OF the United States, and
ask, for ourselves and our children, only the
Government guaranteed by that instrument,
as it ,rNS interpreted by the Fathers otthe Re
public.
2ad, That this Government was made on the
1rhitc basis, by ,rkHe men, for He benefit of,chite
men and heir p0Sterttg tgreUcr. and should be
administered by EA{te mep and NONE OTHERS.
3yd That while we desire that the negroes
Of this state should be secured in their freed
ON and amply protected in every right of per-
son and property. we regard them a. being
utterly incapable Of exercising, in an inteli-
gent sense, the great and important duties Of
voters.
an, That we look upon the effort being
made to force upon us Negro Suffrage. which,
practically amounts to NEGRO EQUALITY. po-
litically and social as an attempt to insult and
degrade the white men Of the South: a. a vi0-
lation of the Constitutional rights of white
men; and. if not Mt once met and defeated, it
viii result in the pro>trltion of liberty, the
degradation and ruin OF the people.
5H, That we look with deep concern and
alarm, at the effort now being made to place
the state of Arkansas under Government
not ordained nor sanctioned by amajorily Of
her white citizens.
Gh. That while we are anxious for the res
tOratlOn of our former political relations to
the Federal Government. which we believe we
are deprived Of in open violation of the Com
stituliOn ofthc United states contrary to the
will OF n majority the people Of the North
eru states and in disregard Of the spirit of
Free Government; vet We are not willing TO
= -
rs prerequisite to such admission. to rrE-
tion to which we are entitled as co-equalS
With our Northern brethren, who refuse TO
submit 10 such degradation themselves: and
the acceptance Of which would prove us un-
worthy of the rights which we demand
IN, That we cordially invite all ciJilehs,
without regard to former political difference,
whoarc opposed to phHc disiranchsement and
Nero Suffrage, 10 unite with rs in our efforts
TO defeat the same, by all honorable means,
Sh, That we will not vote .torthc ratirica-
ton Of any Constitution dislIHnchi>ing White
muu, or cntranchi,ing negroes in thi, state:
nor will We give oar support, now or herea.r
ter to any man for any oIce who Will not 50
pledge himself
9b That we recommend, as plan for the
permanent organization of the Democracy OF
This County, that the Chairman Of this meeting
appoint an EXecutiye Committee for this
County, TO consist of u Chairman, Secretary
and one member from each township, whose
duty it shall be 10 correspond with the state