The Van Buren press., 1869-11-09
VAN BUKES, Oct. 30th, 1869.

To THE EpIroRs OF LITTLE Rock GAZETTE -
have seen In your daily of the 18th inst,
an account of the proceedings of the "Liber-
al so-callcd-Repubican Convention at
that time In session at Little Rock. with my
name as one of the delegates thereto. ln your
remarks upon the same, you speak disparas-
ing,y Of tie delegates aHd say that yoa have
"some knowledge" of some of them, (you do
not say how many or whom, and that some
of tbem' have>been on AL sides OF great po-
litical questions that admitted Of 10 compro-
misses"
do not imagine lhat | am referred to, or
that any part OF your remarks were intended
for myself, but If have weakness fol any
thing 1t is for my own political consistency
and while it is true that have at all times
been equal to every party necessity, as radi-
cal republican, none but those who know me
intimately can acquit me of the charge you
make. and would respectfully ask an excep-
ton in my favor, or at all events the publica-
ton Of this note.
| ! must avail myself of this occasion to say
| that was not accredited to that Convention
and, that was not in the secrets (if they had
any of those gentlemen who were, and be
yond appearing there on the second day of
the session as a private citizen, representing
| ny self alone, i had nothing Whatever to do
with it, and took no part in its deliberations I;
but | embraced the occasion to declare my
conviction that their platform of principles
was right and ought to be sustained. Not
only did say SO, but intend to labour in
| that behalf.
1t is objected to by many republicans that
| il the elective franchise be restored the party
in Arkansas cannot sustain itself in point Of
numbers, for future elections Be i, so. The
tice to all men, does not deserve success
and will rarely win it.
As southern, and as a national man,-an
old citizen of the State,-loyal to the General
Government during the war.-in sentiment at
least,--l cannot help sympathizing with
southern men and with southern interests.
My feelinge in this respect admit ofno doubt
nor does loyalty or patriotism forbid the dec
laration here make. My own interests, as
well as the interests of every man, depend for
success upon quiet, fraternal and reciprocal
feeling in the community and throughout the
State. In his speech at Little Rock on 10Th
instant, Governor Clayton himself declared
for liberal and an enfranehiSng policy, and
will be honored for it. rs believe. by every
true and liberal republican in the State.
Not to transcend the limit due me in your
paper for this explanation, l will name one
reason only in favor of universal suffrage in
Arkansas. It's this: A large portion Of the
republicans of Arkansas, old citizens rs well
as very many of our new ones,-carpet-bag
gers, as they are sometimes called, were, be-
fore the war, democrats,-mcmbcrs ofthe par
| ty that was responsible for, and precipitatcd
the rebellion, and were those WHO adhered to
their party TO the very verge of secession,
while a large majority ofthose now disfran-
chiscd and treated as aliens to the Govern
ment, being old citizens Of the State, were
more patriotic than ourselves and fought the
secession idea with all their might, but who,
when the war became fully inauGurated,
chose to unite their destinies with their
brethren Of the south; and it must be admit
ted that the opposite kind of patriotism and
self-abnegation was not the most natural
thing in the world, as it was ofrarc indlvldu-
al occurrence
The old preccpt, "to do unto others as we
would that they should do unto us" is good
rule OF action and one that has lost none ofts
intrinsic force or merit, nor will the republi-
can party have performed its mission if it
fails to restore every man not guilty of crime
to equal rights and privileges throughout the
land. Let it do this and "let ushave pcacc"
Respectfully,
LUTHER G. WHITE.