Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-12
ARKANSAS.
iis RssegFOss, GFanssgr and GrsstHess--lts
EagaiiCeHt Future.

E-sa---A-A N-At~s
The wealth Of Arkansas, and the
Emitless resources Of that State, car
hardly be estimated. Its products. in
proportion 10 population, are double
in value those Of any State. Its growth
in population is more rapid than that
of States and TerrittTies along the lines
OF the Pacific railways. The benei-
ceuce OF Providence has invested the
State with unequaled attractveness.
True enough, personal teuds were be-
gotten by wrongs done when the State
was Overrun by soldiers and bandits,
but these enmitles are cured by time,
the worst elements OF a frontier pOpU-
IauiOn are driven westward, and at this
time the social and political condition
OF Arkansas is as peaceful and
as thoroughly subOrdinated TO
law as that Of any Southern
OF Western community. And these
assertions are true, despite many ne
casariIy untOward and uufavOr6ble
consequences begOtten by unWise leg
islati0n. The laws in force defining
the voting classes were enacted not
for the purpose Of restoring peace, or
der and good government, but to in
vest with perpetual power a peculiar
governing class. 1t was sought, as in
Tennessee, TO exclude from the eEer-
else of the right Of suffrage the great
mass Of prOperty-hOlding citizens, and
substitute the absolute supremacy of
negroes and Of those who controlled
the negroes. So palpable Is the
wrong, SO viOlative Of the funda-
mental principles Of republican gov
eminent. and so grievOus are result
ing public evils, that even the authors
of these measures are constrained 10
assert the necessity for the thorough
liberalization OF codes defining
classes: one of which must obey,
and the other, mOnOpOliZe office and
COusIue and execute the laws.
None may question the truthfulness
Of Governor Clayton, who resOrted to
the harshe5t measures to repTess al
legged lsWIessness, when he declares.
IN an official paper, that the social
condition of Arkansas Is as praiseWOr-
thy as that Of any new State, growing
rapidly. full of vigorous enterprise,
and sell governing and selt-legisiaung
pioneers. Politicians here and else
where may still think it profitable TO
assert the existence Of a different con-
ditiau of facts from that here defined.
They asCTIDe every act Of violence,
wherever committed in the South, TO
the ''rebelliOus spirit Of the people,
while every citizen OF the South Is
conscious and every Northern gentle
man resident here, that crimes are
committed by q class Of people who
care for no government, North
eru or Southern, Federal or
q Confederate. If crime stalk abroad,
unWHipI OF Justice, 10 is because that
class UI Southern people most inter
esIeI In the maintenance OF law and
order are excluded from all share in
legislation. and from every executive
once. The Uulettered, the Incapable,
and those having the least possible
interest in the maintenance OF order
and good government, are they who
have shaped and enforced the laws
.lnder the present Constitution of Ar
kansas. Governor CLAYTON. by pro-
posing 20 reform this instrument and
IibaraLIE- the Code, as these affect the
right Of suffrage, COuiesses every as
sertigu Of TACT here made. Why, then,
with peace and order and civic rights
restored, may not Arkansas become
the richest, most pOpulOus and -four
ishiug Of States. The intelligence of
the dIsfrauchised is illustrated IN the
earuestness with which they devote
their fortunes 10 railway construction. I
Land owners of the State do not look |
10 the beuefactiOns of Federal power,
whose generosity is defined by paraI- /
IeIs of latitude, but convey rich do /
mains % railway corporations every /
where in the state. The road from I
Memphis, along the western shore Of /
the Mississippi 10 st. Louis, is thus 4
endowed with a million acres, Capa- 1
ble of the production of a million cot
ton bales. David Cross road, from
Heleua 10 Iron Mountain, is invested /
with even greater wealth. Every
county iu Arkansas, save one, pene-
trated by the proposed Memphis and
kansas City narrow gauge road, has
invested one hundred thousand col !
lars, OF more, ia this invaluable I
work. With facts like these bef0re /
the world, there can be no question as
70 the wisdom and Intelligence of the
people. and none as 10 their devotion
e.. q al-I1l- -ae-aNlAaaH a.LNl
Justice and wisdom San alone give
value 90 such property and success to
such enterprises. No ndrOltneSs of a
Butler or malevOleuc6 of a Morton
can combat OF successfully pervert
facts ike these. Arkansas is now
wanting nothing 90 insure uurivaled
prosperity. save the reform Of glariug 1
abuses incident % the IuvestitUre of
the most Incapable classes of pOpula-
ton with supreme power in the State. !
This end gained, the State viii be
peerless in its attTactiveuess as in |
Of wealth, and how
ever extraordinarily great the tide
Jf immigration TO Arkansas to-
iay, the achievement of re-
.Orms which we proposed TO effect,
by sending Clayton b the Senate as
ln unavoidable condition precedent |
.O legislative reforms contemplated. /
viii soon beget q degree OfprUsperity
density Of population and multiplicity
Of railways, which viii speedily |
make Arkansas first iu wealth and
obedience to law, as the m8tchless
state is nOW first iu capacity for pro- /
yress and unriv1led greatness.