Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-12-08


 Inspector R. F. and A. Lands, endorsed by Brevet Maj. Gen. c. H. Smith, Con- manding Department of Arkansas, ask ing the Legislature to take some action whereby the aid that freedmen are now receiving through the Bureau in locat- ing on U. s. public lands may be con- tinued to them by the State, when the Bureau ends, January 1st, 1869.
 Report of Hon. John Wassell, Presi- dent of the Arkansas Deaf Mute Insti- tute.
 Report of Hon. Henry Page, State Treasurer.
 MILITIA.
 In carrying into effect the Militia Law, many obstacles have presented themselves. Chief among which has been the inability of the Executive to provide arms and equipments. When your body adjourned, we had every as- surance that the Government of the United States would supply this de- ficiency; but the act which was pend- ing before Congress at that time, failed to become law, and that body ad- journed without making any provision for the defense of the State. It became apparent. that in order to enforce the law and give protection to the people, some other steps must be at once taken by which arms could be obtained. No appropriations having been made by your body for the purchase of the same, and the necessity being imperative, I proceeded by the authority vested in me as commander-in-chi to open negotiations with parties in this city for the use of private funds for their purchase, expecting that your honora- ble body would sanction what might do in that direction. These negotia- tions led to an arrangement with Messrs. Hodges X Weeks, who agreed to furnish the necessary funds, with the understanding that myself and oth- CTS should become personally responsi- ble in case the Legislature failed to re- imburse them. l appointed MT. Hod- ges agent of tine State, with directions to proceed North and make purchases of arms, on the best terms he could sc- cure. The result of his mission is set forth in the accompanying, report, which is herewith submitted. He pur- chased 1000 stands of arms, which were shipped to Little Rock, but were stopped at Memphis by combination on the part of the transportation com panies.
 On the 18th of October l chartered the steamer Hesper, commanded by Capt. $. Houston, and directed him to proceed to Memphis and transport the arms to this place. Capt. Houston left here on the l2th, and left Memphis with the arms on the 15th of October. When about twenty miles below the city, an armed band of men, disguised, upon the steam tug Nettie Jones, boarded the Hespcr and destroyed and carried away the arms belonging to the State :; for the particulars of which you are re- ferred to the accompanying report of Capt. Houston, upon his return.
 This piratical party was fitted out at Memphis, and as the offense was com mitted upon the waters of the U. s., over which this State had no jurisdic- tion, you are respectfully recommended to memorialize the Congress of the United States, for the amount expend- ed, for the prosperity of this State, which was destroyed.
 The loss of these arms, and the ina bility of the Executive to procure oth- CTS, rendered it impossible for me to give such protection to the peaccablc and law abiding citizens of our State as the insurrectionary condition of af- fairs demand.
 I earnestly recommend that Legisla- tive action be had authorizing the pur- chase of arms, as also to make appro- priation for the necessary expense of the militia. have been very much gratificd with the prompt response made by the militia to my call for troops; and am assured that many who are willing to assist cannot do so, for want of arms.
 IMMIGRATION.
 Lis of vital importance to the growth and development of our State that every encouragement be given to the introduction of settlers from abroad and this can only be accomplished by securing entire protection and perfect freedom of thought and action to all who may desire to come among us Our past record of murders and out rages, and absence of law and order is, it is true, bringing us very consider able immigration from Texas, Louisi- ana, and other places, and will continue to do so as long as these evils exist; but it is an influx of desperadoes and outlaws, who are seeking an asylum here on account of their crimes, and to find locality congenial to their man. ncr of life and adapted to the further ance of their designs in the future. It depends upon us whether we shall make our State the hiding place and home of the assassin from the other States as well as from our own, and the settlement of the question depends upon the restoration all over the State of law and order.
 Good citizens will not come here to seek homes for themselves and their families, where they are subjected to all theeo neriis uulese fhev surrpuder