The Van Buren press., 1868-01-17
MASS COUNTY CONVENTION.

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House. Hon. JsssE TURNER, was select
cd as President; and Gro NJ. MATLocK,
Esq. and Col. GEo, PETERS, Vice Presi-
dents; and Granville Wilcox, Esq,
Secretary Mr.. Turner, stated the object
of the meeting in an eloquent and earnest
manner calling upon all men-no matter
what their former opinion and difference
might have been to participate in its lie
liberations. ...
On motion Of B. j. BRowN, Esq,
committee was appointed to draft Reso
lutions expressive OF the views of the
meeting. The following Committee on
Resolutions were appointed;
b. J. Brown, Harvey Steward. James
Grcig, VI. T. Locke, j. c. Wright, james
Norwood, James Heard, J. b. Ogden,
James Sangster, John 5. Matlock.
In the absence of the Committee Col.
Locke, moved that GRANVILLE WILCOX
be called upon to address the meeting.
To which he responded. After the close
of Mr.. Wilcox's remarks, the Committee
on Resolutions not having returned, Hon.
HUGH T. THoMAsoN, was loudly called for
a speech. Mr. Thomson, spoke in his
usual eloquent and impressive manner,
creating intense enthusiasm throughout
the house.
Committee on Resolutions, now came
in and reported the following which after
some discussion and amendments were
adopted unanimously:
WHEREAS. The Radical party as represented
in Congress by the aid of the Military are en-
deavoring in order to perpetuate their power
by forcing negro suffrage on ten States of
the Union, trampling under foot the Constitu-
tion the foundation of our Republican Gov
ernment. And,
WHEREAS, The Democracy of the Northern
States are rallying to our assistance to enable
US to throw of this Radical yoke and rid our
selves Of negro rule, rejecting it themselves
In every instance.
Therefore. We, the people ofCrawford conn
First. That this Government was made on
white basis by white men, and should be ad-
ministered 10y white men and none Others
Second, That while we maintain that the
Ldw should protect the negro in person and
property equally with white men. Yet we
are unalterably Of the opinion they are not
qualified to be invested with right of suffrage;
this his history has already established.
Third. That the enfranchising of the igno-
rant and illiterate negroes and dsfranchisng
OF large portion of the most intelligent and
worthy men Of the ten Southern States has
been done for the sole purpose of perpetual
ing the power ofthe Radical party, which vir-
tuaily gives the control of these States to the
incompetent negro and low, mean designing
white men, which, is without parallel or
legal authority i, a disgrace to the country,
All insult to the intelligence OF these States, A
violation of the Constitution Of our Govern
mcnt, Il death blow. ifsuccessful, to our Re-
publican institutions, 4 burning curse upon
the originators of the scheme and should be
resisted by all good citizens of these States
without regard to previous political differ
ences; that the white men of this State should
use all legitimate means to defeat this delib-
erately plotted scheme for our utter ruin and
degradation.
Fourth. That this is a life and death struggle
for our liberties and the perpetuation or de-
struction of our Government; that it is the
duty of every man to act, to look into this
matter. to meet the issue, that those who now
fail to throw off their apathy and join the De-
mocracy in defeating the scheme for our en-
slavement and degradation should and will
have the curses Of the present and future gem
erations heaped upon them and deservedly so.
Fyth. That we approve of the action of the
late Convention at Little Rock. and the action
of the State Central Committee in calling
general Convention at the seat of Government
on the 9th inst
stcth That large majority of the qualified
voters of Crawford county, are opposed to
negro equality, both socially and politically.
for reasons affecting alike the best interests of
the two races and are desirOus of. cooperating
in the action of the Executive Committee Of
the Conservative Democracy of the State of
Arkansas, appointing the 9th instant for the
meeting of the delegates.
Sereah. That this Convention elect two
delegates to attend the State Convention call
ed at Little Rock on the 9th inst: and that
the President of this Convention be authorized
to appoint Others in lieu of these elected if
they from any cause should fail to attend said
Convention, as we earnestly desire to be rep
resented in said Convention.
Eighh That the white men of the several
townships OF this county organiZc,as speedily
as possible, Township Clubs to be styled The
Nhi.e Mans Club of Township"
having one President and two Vice Presidents
and one Secretary. The President of the sew
eral Townships to be cX-oilicio Vice-Prcsi-
dents of the County Club. The County Club
to be composed OF the President of Van Burcn
Township Clnb and the Nice-Presdents of the
several Townships, one Secretary. and one
corresponding Secretary.
Ninth. That this meeting appoint an Exccu-
tive Committee to be composed Of one from
each Township, to be styled the Crawford
County Central Executive Committee.
The next business was the election of
Delegates to the Democratic State Con
vcntion at Little Rock on the 9th of Jan.
uary For which Hon. JESSE TURNER
and b. j. BRowN Esq. were elected; and
JAMES GRElG and NJ. +. LOCKE Esos.
were elected altcrnates.
j. 5. DuNuAM, was elected President of
the Van Buren, Club.
The Executive Committee one from