The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1868-10-16

The appeal announced on Saturday
morning that several thousand stands Of
arms, with ammunition therefor, were on
the way down the river on the Belle Mem.
phis-arms raised by the radicals of the
northwest and sent to the loyal league Of
Arkansas to be distributed among the
negroes OF that State The scheme was
so atrocioas, the plan so deyilish, the
whole plot 90 cold blooded. and withal
so daring, that We could scarcely believe
the story ourselves. although it came to
US we'll sttested.
Yesterday morning about breakfast
time the Belle Aemphis GENE into port,
and the report was verified in every par
ticular, one hundred and sixty seven cases
of arms, marked" r. Exen," being put
out upon the deck IS portion of the
down freight Of that vessel. We are in
formed that two men, giving their names
as Hodges and Bennett, the latter an ex-
captain in the federal army, came down
on the steamer ia charge Of those cases,
and claim that they we're purchased for
the State Government Of Arkansas. "a 'tA
TWAS on this statement, we understand,
that the Memphis aud ST. Louis Packet
Company was induced to take the freight
They also promised that they had al
ready made arrangements with the White
River Packet Company TO send boat
along side Of the steamer - sooA - she
reacked Memphis. They, however, reck.
oncu :" w;thost their host" ~ Va under
stand that that company have 6atly refns-
cd. as has every other boat ia that trade.
to have anything to do with the affair.
We can only say that this Is very
,cise course Of action on their part. Mean.
while the cases are on the wharf. guard,
ed by the police. In this connection VIC
present the following extracts from apr.
vate letter to one Of the editors OF this
paper 1t will be seen that moro arms
are on the way. Good help poor Arkan-
sas.
lone hundred and sixty eight boxes
of muskets, to bs followed by five moro
car loads, were shipped from this city to-
day for Little Rock. These arms como
from Detroit, are taken by some process
from the government arscnal, and are for
distribution amsng the negroes The
whole number Of muskcts en- route for
Arkansas is above 5000. The purpose
Of Clayton and his associates is TO carry
the election in Arkansas by force. The
people should be advised Of the facts
IAempA1 Appeal. ta amt1
We take the greatest sort Of pleasure
in saying that IL the government will not
take care Of the peaceful citizens of Ar
kansas, they will be very likely 70 take
care Of themselves. The Appeal should
have put it alas Poor Claytenr' "alss !!
poor radicals r 1.-THE mountains Of Ar
kansas will not consent 10 fall on these
iniquitous plotters against the peace of .
peaceful community, We regret to say
they may be made TO serve other purposes.
The frontier country could never boast
Of population entirely free from the
lawless and the desperate, and there are
hundreds ofrestlcss spirits, who are spoil
ing for daring deeds and useful plumber.
II the loyal lesguc thus means declsra-
ton Of war, the result will doubtless, from
an irresistible current Of events, be visit
ed on the heads Of those who are st fault,
though other motives might chance to
actuatc the avengers. We have, and still
earnestly long Tor peace, but the "psrty
Of peace fails 10 close the gates Of the
temple Of janus.