The Van Buren press., 1872-12-10
THE PEOPLE ALIVEl
Inauguration the Word.

The meeting was calted to order by
John Carnall, Esq, being appointed
chairman, and Frank J. Gallagher, John
Kennedy and Casper Reuszel were elected
secretaries
On motion committee on resolutions
was appointed, consisting of r. G.
Campbell, Thes.. AIarcum, DIR. w, Fl.
blanton, Joseph Smith and. Geo. Hinch
The committee on resolutions retired.
and Col. j. H. Clenienning being loudly
called for, responded in one of his usnal
forcible and telling speeches. He re-
viewed the actions of the Minstrel party
IN the different counties Of the State, aud
showed up the rsscslity, ballot box stuff
ing, and frauds practiced upon the pco.
pie; how minority, consisting of one.
nth, are to rule the balance of the people
of the st ate. and say who shall vote and
who shall not vote and on the question
of elections, to say that certain persons
we're elected aud others were not He
said that notwithstanding over $4,000
voters in the State were disfranchised
notwithstanding the count was made by
Minstrel judges and clerks, the whole
Reform State ticket was elected, and he
now appealed TO their manhood to know
If the men who voted Tor Joseph Brooks
and Reform, were not capable Of insu
gnratng the officers they had elected
He said the men who had assisted in
these frauds should open college for
the purpose Of teaching Tweed, Connel-
ly and Others Of the Tammany ring Of
New York, and he thought they could dc
justice to the subject In VIVID and
glowing manner. he showed up the
means used to cheat the people out Of
their legitimate rights, and prevent the
free expression Of their will at the ballot
box.
Col. b Il. DuVal thcr addressed the
meeting, and said that though the elec
ton returns had been doctored, vet we
dnd no detail Of the vote, but simply a
list Of manufactured majorities, showing
that Baxter had been elected.
He did not think that President Grant
would interfere in our local matters
That if he did. the sooner the Issue was
made, the better; that the sooner We
found out that our elcctions we're sfgaud
and we were to live under despotic gov
ernment, the better He though. there
woa)d be no resistance 10 The Inaugural
ton Of ;he officers, who had been elected
by the people.
Col. Wm. Class being called for, made
a few well timed remarks upon the Oh
ject Of the meeting That We were called
upon to rejoice over The election of our
ticket-thc people tickct--thougL every
effort IN the power Of the Minstrels had
been made to defeat US, and hopsd that
the people would sustain the officers they
had elected, and see that they were inau-
gnrated That we had suffered patiently
all the insults and eslumuies heaped upon
us; that ,bere vas a point beyond which
forbcarance ceased to be virtue; but it
should be remembered, that this outrage
was the last " straw
AT this time the committee on rcsolu-
lions signiiied that they were ready to
report, and submitted the following reso-
lutons 81"
WHnsEAs Tho people ofArkansas, without
~
record. were cislranchiscd BY the mere act Of
, corrupt Esagj OF Registrars and Board of
Review. in accordance with tEeir own COR
rupt will. and A. the insti J.. alton al even worse
masters, in order to perputuatC in power the
most rascaily set Of official thieves end plan
dersrs that ever dis.raced or outraged a peo
pie And
WmEHHAs, Notwithstanding the fraudulent
registration. Illegal scratching Of quaiiu.d
81 an, ,rS nd nall h,y N II h.. hnfn
that the Reform State ticket has
been nclccted by handsome majority. Be it.
therefore,
ResoIcea. That We the citizens Of Fort
Smith in mas. meeting assembled, expect OF
lion Joseph Brooks, and the officers elected
with him that they stand firm In therdemand
for the positions to which the people have
elected them; and further. we do pledge that
We wil stand by them in their efforts to Sc
cure their rights. and ours, to administer The
affairs IN this State according to the will OF
the majority fairly expressed at the ballot
box.
and be il further Resolced That we de-
nounce the corrupt ana rsscally Judges and
clerks Of election, the Board of Registrar
and Board Of Review. together with their
aiGers, abettors. supporters aud defenders.
who have eonspired together to rob the peO-
pie of this city and county Of the highest
the countcnance, respect or consideration Of
gentlemen, and deserving Of the scorn and
of all good men everywhere, on ac-
count Of their veil earned and ell-dcserted
infamy.
And be il f,uther Resolred That while we
have no desire to visit the rigors OF the law
upon those who have been ignorantly delud-
ed into crime in the late election. we pledge
ourselves to pursue to the extent Of the law
those vino have wiliully, knowingly and cor
ruptly. oppressed and outraged the people by
the unblushing outrages perpetrated upon
them on the 9th Of November ut the polls
Aad be il fulther Resolved That we believe
Il to be the duty ofeyery citizen Of this coun-
ty. and State. to gather and report all eri-
denccs OF fraud and crime perpctrated in con-
uectjon with the late election, In order that
the country may be informed Of the suferings
and wrongs which our people have endured
at the hands Of the corrupt officials who have
40 long held sway over Us and in order that
the legal con sequences Of their crimes may be
metpd out to them.
And be IL Jurther Resoired, That a commit
tee Of three .e appointed by the chair, whose
duty Il shall be To select some proper roonl'
and n snitable person or persons TO remain
in said room from q m" ulll p M" OF
each day, from the 4Lh until the 2lth DAY "i
December t. receive and make record OF tne
various frauds and crimes perrctratcd on tne
people of the county. IN connection WIN tne
late election. together with the names OF the
witnesses, by whom the same can he estsh-
li.hrd. that the said coMmittce be and are
hereby directed to give notice to the pcoiie
Of tLi, county throu gh the Herald ana lade-
psnde,,t and by such other means rs they may
tnd necessary, to fully advise the people or
tba time and place. and object contemplated