The Van Buren press., 1873-06-17
AUSTIN, TExAs, May 30th, 1873.
o ARKANsAw:


o ARKANsAw.
should long prior to this have reminded
you of your ingratituds. Arkansaw what
have you done? How have you treated your
children? You once were without issue
You had an extensive territory with no one
to make laws. You had many varieties of
the most salubrous climes, and no one to in
hale your healthful breczes. You had large
fertile bottoms, and no one to cultivate your
soil. You had game in almost endless diversi-
ty, defantly bounding over your mountains,
and traversing your dense forests, with no
one for hunters. You solicited sons and
daughters Of other States to come TO you that
you might adopt them. Many heard your
cry and came, At the instance ofyour gen
erous proposals, they disclaimed their pa
rental homes and became your adopted sons
and daughters, Their brothers of other
States said many hard things about them,
because they chose you-a rough looking
creature-to be their parent. They became,
o Arkansaw, the subject of much calumny
for your sake. You know. Arkansaw, that
your people were much ridculed, for you had
an ordinary costume, and you were indeed 4
rough looking parent. But your children
learned to love you, l. Arkansaw was born
to you, l am your own boy. Twas taught
to love you. And when your nephews from
other States would revile you, and call you
reproachiul names like Rackensack, etc,
we even then boasted that we were your
sons. Soon your enemies almost permanent
ly changed your name, and called you Ar
kansaw instead Of Arkansas, this, we, too ac-
cepted for your sake.
After while-and when we were living
very quietly-a quarrel arose in your fathers
family. You assembled your wsest sons to
council, that you might pursue wise course
in this great family difficulty Finally you
told us to quit the old man-Cur grand
and have nothing more to do with him, and
for us to come, 90 with you, that you were
going to separate your family forever from
old Sam. That you would not live with him
any longer, neither would you recognize him
ever again as your father. You told us that
our grandfather sam had treated you. and
your southern brothers and sisters very bad
ly, and that if the old man followed MS to
bring us back, that we must fight him. That
if he persisted in following US, he would soon
be swallowed up like PharoaL. for our cause
was Just. Well, the old man came, and you
gave us guns and pistols and sabres, and told
US to go forth and fight the old man. Yea I.
fight till death ere we would consent to take
you-our father-back to the old family. We
went, and many ofus fought very hard, many
of our brothers died in the struggle, and oh !.
Arkansaw, what oceans Of blood we split
You blew your trumpet, and had your fair
htnuIfprA siuO pntbIsilstiC and
then YOU would cry aloud for us to .dght lard
en-. We fought until many wives were made
widows and until you, Arkansaw, lost many
sons. At last grandfather sam caught Us
and bound us, and took us back The old
man put his hand on our heads and told Us, if
we would reconstruct our old father that we
might enjoy the old home circle again. We
told you about the matter, ArkansaW. and
you willingly reconstructed. Our grandfather
sam soon enfranchised us, but you, Arkau-
saw you are a fraud. You turned against
your own children. You chastised them for
doing your own bidding You sent for some
of your sister Kansas children to write you
some new rules for the future government of
your family. In these. you disiranchiSed
your 0nR children You said we should not
be permitted to enjoy the right Of lreemcn.
because we had been disloyal. Yet why did
YOU tell Us to rebcl2 Oh, Arkansaw, yon are
a fraud. Your father sam partially torgives
us for rebellng; but you, Arkansaw, disin-
hertcd us for no cause, save we were always
dutful sons You send for your brothers
and sisters children Of the north to inherit
your estate. You treat Uncle Iowas children
better than you do your own. You have
given all your money away. Some to Aunt
Kansas boys, and some to our other northern
cousins, and some to your scalawag servants
that do your dirty work. You are causing
US to dislike home--y on are driving your sons
from the paternal roof by your cruelty and
very unkind treatment. /. Arkansaw. am at
the capital of your sister Texas. ! met her
sons here, whom she has chosen to iegiSIate,
and | meet warm reception. They have
heard of your ingratitudc and embrace me as
an orphan, and Texas is kind TO her boys and
it makes them noble hearted. She sympa-
thizes with her sister Louislanas' children,
and thinks our grandfather Sam, is indeed
cruel in placing heartless step mother over
the children. But what do you do. Arkansawf 7
Why, you laugh at your sisters calamities.
Arkansaw You are fraud.
| saw Governor Davis the other night.
though he's soon to have ear attached to the
front Of his name. Aunt Texas loves her
boys, and they declared in the Legislature
fews ago that they were going to have a gen
cral election in December next, and are going
home next Wednesday.
But y0u, Arkansaw y0u are fraud.-yo
are certainly crazy-you are sick~you have
taken poison-you are black in the face
you've taken too much Clay-tonic. We
thought IT, and tried to administer an anti
dote, but in your rage you upturned 1t. GU
turned over The box that contained the prepa-
ration. We've paid nearly all of our money
out to give your sisters children hospitality,
and we can't stand it. Something must be
done or YOU boys will have to ask to be adop-
ted into some other family. Arkansaw, you
are fraud.
Your son, IIuBERT PLuTARCH.