Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-05
Arkansas Moving.

The great Democratic Whites Mems
Convention of Arkansas has just closed
its two days session at Little Rock, and
was one of the ablest bodies ever con-
vened in the State. II has adopted the
following resolutions:
Resolred, That we are in favor of a
WHITE MANS government in a WHITE
MANS country.
Resolped, That as the capacity Of the
negro for self government has not been
proved by his past history in any part
Of the world, 80 il is disproved by his
actual condition here at the present
time.
Resolped, That laws which affect the
social relations of a people are only to
be ventured on with caution, and are
attended with danger; and that forced
equality Of races involves calamity to
the black race no less than degradation
TO the white.
Resolped, That no organized govern
ment can continue to exist without llmi-
tations on its power, and that suos ..s1i'
tations as have heretofore been placed on
the right of suffrage, while it leaves ne
groos in no worse condition than minors,
Indians, women and foreigners, are
proper and Just; that while bad rulers
may die or be displaced, the prostitution
of the ballot and the pollution of the
source Of popular government is, In
republic, the crown OF evils and calam-
ity which admits Of no civil remedy
Resolued, That we are in faver of the
equality of the negro before the law, but
not of his power over the law, of his right
to acquire, possess, enjoy, convey and
transmit property, to sue and be sued,
to testify in courts of justice, to be in all
things protected in his rights OF person
and properly by the most careful provi-
sions of the law, and that he have in
short all rights and guarantees, except
that of equal participation in making the
laws, for which he is manifestly incom-
petent and except the rights and privi-
ieges of social equality.
Resolped, That whereas the present
State constitution was devised and adop.
ted under the auspices and the instruc-
tions of the late Abraham Lincoln, Pres
ident of the United States, in Federal
camp, by men approved as loyal at a
time when the most rigorous tests of
loyalty were applied; and whereas, the
same is not only republican in form, but
in fact, and has met with the appreciation
of the great majority of the white men
of the State, therefore, we are opposed
at present to any organic change in our
State government.
Resolped, That we consider those who
are attempting by disfranchisement of
whites and enfranchisement of negroes
to accomplish the Africanization Of the
State, and the surrender of the govern
ment to negroes, to be the enemies Of the
country.
Resolred, That whereas the people of
Arkansas who were recently engaged in
the war against The United States, sub
mitted at the close of the same by sur
render in good faith to the authority of
the Federal Government, and swore to
support the same as we'll as the constitu
ton Of Arkansas, formed as stated in the
sixth resolution, with sincere and hon
est intention, consistently adhered tos of
being and remaining true TO both, with
the conviction that the State was then to
resume her former status in the Union,
in the opinion of this convention she is
entitled to her rights and privileges as
one of the United States under her pre-
sent constitution.
Resolped, That it is the sense of this
convention that the Constitution of the
United States is binding upon the Gov
ernment as well as the people, in time of
war as well as in peace; and that it is
the supreme law at all times, in all places
and under all circumstances.
Resolued, That we will support the
regular nominees of the National Demo
cratic or Conservative Convention for
President and Vice President of the
United States; and that we leave it to
the discretion of our delegates to that
Convention to make such choice in their
votes in the election of such candidates
as may at the time seem to them most
advisable, not believing it to be proper
at this time to trammel them with in
structions in reference thereto.
Resolred, That the Central Demo-
cratic State Committee of Arkansas be
and they are hereby charged with the
pewer to take care of and do all the acts
deemed necessary by them to the trium-
phant success of the great white man s
party. The power we now give them is
general and universal for the good, the
greatness, glorifcation of the great
L. .frv