The Van Buren press., 1868-01-10
johnson County Mass Meeting.

posed TO Negro Suffrage, met al the Court
House in Johnson county, January lst,
1865, in mass assembly, whereat the fol-
lowing proceedings were had;
Upon motion ofCol. j. " May, Hon
ismAM 5. GREEN was chosen President,
and JoHS G.. CoNNIIIEY, Secretary.
Upon call made j. +. CRAvESs explain
ed the purpose of the Convention; after
which, upon motion, the following named
gentlemen were appointed a committee
to prepare resolutions expressive of the
sense of the Convention and retired for
that purpose namely; j. +. Cravcns,
NJ A. Kendall, John Shields, +. G.. Gil
breath, j. s. Price, James Gray, Moses
Carpenter, Alex. Scott, Robert White
and II. G, Butts. During the absence of
the committee, (the Court House being
insufficient to hold the audience, Col. j.
w. May addressed the vast assemblage
in the Court House yard. Afterwards the
committee, through their chairman, sub.
mittcd the following resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted separately.
WHEREAS. The question of Negro Suffrage
Is left To the people fthe Southern States, by
the Military Reconstruction Acts of Congress
by which they are at present governed;
Therefore, We, the people of johnson conn
ty, opposed to Negro Suffrage, i'm Convention
assembled do resolve
First, That it is the duty of white men every
where in Arkansas to lay aside all former diff
ferences and unite together, and with the Ma
tional Democracy, for the defeat of Negro
Suffrage.
Second That Arkansas was framed and
should continue to be white mans Govern
mcnt.
Third, That the law should protect the negro
In person and PROPERTY alike with the white
man, nut the heirloom OF our fathers the riJbt
10 cote belongs not to him, neither is he ouali-
fled to accept 1t rs 4 gratuity. lis his history
here and elsewhere has incontroyertiblc csta6-
liShcd.
Fourth That we believe it to be the purpose
OF the constitutional Convention, to be con-
Nencd on the 1th inst, to confer suffrage ,lpon
the negro and disiranchse that class of white
men disqualified from holding Office by the
proposed amendment to the Constitution, he
sides, perhaps others; and in anticipation of
tlat event wedeclare such action insulting to
the Intelligence OF the people of Arkansas and
are indignity to the white race.
FVth, That the negro question is upon Us
and Is paramount to all others. that longer
apathy upon the part OF the people is suicidal
therefore we pledge ourselves and coniurc our
ielloW-citlzenS everywhere, to use every law
ful effort at the hallot-boX and elsewhere TO
avert the deliberately plotted ruin of the State
Dy designing demagogues whose only thirst
Is power in the exercise of which they would
crush out the noble superiority of the white
man. give his heritage to the negro and maxi
MN ruler over him against their conviction OF
right, for further security in power and place
Sicth, That we ratify tie proceedings ofthc
meeting ield ut Little Rock appointing the
Democratic State Central Committee of Ar
kansas, and with one voice approve the senti-
ments expressed in their address to the pcopl,
OF Arkansas on the 9th ult.
Sereath, That the President of this Conyen-
tion do appoint a County Executive Commit
tee to consist Of ten members. whose duty il
shall be when appointed to organize clubs in
the several townships in the County, to effect
a complete and perfect organization of those
favorlng the Supremacy Of the White Race.
EighH. That the Convention do elect two
Delegates and two Alternates to attend the
Convention called at Little Rock on the 9th
inst, by the Democratic State Central Com
mittee.
Ninth, That the President of this Conven-
ton communicate its proceedings to the State
Central Committee and cause the same to be
published III the newspapers of the State fa-
yoring the Organization.
After the adoption Of the resolutions
the following named gentlemen were
elected Delegates and Alternates to the
Convention, to be held at Little Rock on
the 2Ith inst, viz: Col j. Z. Crravens
and lsham S, Green Delegates, and John
Shields and Robert Houston, alternates 4;
and by resolution the President was an.
thorlzed to appoint others should they
fail to attend The following named
gentlemen were appointed by the Presi-
dent County Executive Committee, viz
John n. Brown, Oren Wallace, John S.
Price, j. B. Wilson, Jasper N. Cox,
Frank Wilson, John w, May, Nathaniel
Dickerson,James c. Gray, John II. Grace,
Uriah Davis and John G.. Connelley.
Upon motion the Convention adjourn
ed subject to be called together again by
the Executive Committee.
ISHAM S. GREEN, Pres.
JOHN G. CoNSELLEy, Sec'y.
EE-At Gallatin, Tennessee. lust Thnrs.