The Van Buren press., 1900-04-28

on the occasion Of the anniversary OF
State Federation Day:
1t Is fortunate thing for any country wned ud
In a formnlative condition It's political anu
economic interests are in the keeping OF sage
nnre statesmen From traditional and written
history we can safely conclude thaI the lnltiai
lie OF Arkansas statehood was III go0u nanus.
Rv act of Congress, 1919, Arkansas Iertltory
was erected out of Missouri Territory, with the
scat of government al the Post OF Arkansas, on
the left bank of the Arkansas river, some thlrty
miles above It's confluence with the MISSISSIPPI,
The territorial legislature was composer oI u
Governor, Secretary and the three Judges 81 tne
Supreme Court all appointed by the President
of the United States, Gen, James Mil.cf, "a y,
New HAMPSHIRE was the first Governor, anu
Robt Crttenden, OF Kentucky, the nrst 3etlo 70,
tary. Gov. Miller had greatly disuhguishe,u =,
himself In the war of 1872 subsequently 70
being Governor OF Arkansas he was collector
Of the port of Salem, Mass When an effort was
made 10 oust him from this Office, when Jackson
came to be President word was sent 10 Mllles
that, for his gallant services III We soo1un ahin
as long as Andrew Jackson was the rresluent
Robt Crittenden was man of brilliant talents,
and was really the first Governor, ior Miller
absence from the Territory was almost e0n, con;
tnuous The provisional legislature was csi,Su leu
by Crttenden's proclamation, and most OF the
Acts Of the Assembly are signed by MN IN
The interim following the death OF George
lard. the second Territorial Governor, Crit-
tenden was again acting Governor
Crittenden was extremely handsomIe l,.I ,s, as r,s
portrait. now In the State House Will TESTIFY.
He was only twenty two when he nlled lhis
place in the first days OF our statehood, james
WoodsOn Bates was the nrst Terrltorlai Deie9ale
TO Congress The town OF BatesVllle ls named
after him. Every public Must ana every yh uuy NY
utmost fidelity He was well yersed IN the
classics and with the best authors OF English
and American literature. He was member OF
the convention which framed the first organic
law as State He died in Crawford county
universally esteemed. ,
Gen. George lizard was the second territorial
Governor was native OF south Cnrollna, u
man of learning and varied accompilsninenis
and gave the Territory wise ana goou az
ministration. One who knew MN says ms pr
sonal appearance was remarkably fine, being
near six feet In height, erect ana nhcly pro,
por,oned. In his manners he generally eVihcea
Il consciousness Of his commanding shuoii, anu
yet he was aflablc and agreeable: MS library
was rich in learned works IN the Lauh, Spanish ISL,
death, he had his grave dug ana walled up
We are told he had seven raIors naineu ior the
days OF the week, each engraved witil its naine
upon IT, His fine library was lost IN US transfer
to the East by the sinkng OF the poal upon
which 1t was being carried.
Another notable man was Jonn rope ,ol
Kentucky, who was appointed governor py
den Jackson In 1929, He was the third Governor
and the first TO bring with him his family
servants and household goods, He was brother.
in.iaw to John Quincy Adams, but was II strong
supporter of Gen Jackson and canvassed III
Jackson's behalf in 1879 with Pope Governor,
the first weekly mail was established on morse,
back between Memphis ana Little Rock, anu
one of the first recommendations To Congress
was for weekly mail service between l,ittlc
Rock, Memphis and New Orleans by river IheIe
were nine Territorial Legislatures, dating from
1919 to 1898. The last Territorial Legislature
win be ever memorable III the history OF oui
State by the Act calling Constitutional Con
ypntion on the ith of January, 1886, There were
many lawyers In that convention, notable among
whom were james Woodson Bates, Thomas j
Lacey, Sam &, Roane, Andrew scott William
Cummings, Absolam Fowler GRANDSON "
koyston, Townshend Dickenson ana p"V'o
Walker ,.,,,
The state was admitted on the 10th OF June
1886 The prennabe of the ACT OF ADMISSION
declares the State entitled 10 one representative
Archibold Yell was the first representative II
Congress. Gov William 5, Fulton ana Ambrose
II. Seyier were the first Senators In Congress
Thomas j. Lacy. rownshend Dickenson and
Daniel Ringo were, by the Legislature clectec
the iirst Judges Of the Supreme Court
Arkansas was now fairly launched as n STAT.
and many staunch and able men sprang 10 me-
deck and held her helm tactiuy so that, amiC
new conditions, the ship rode safely on tht
true current OF political life,
In those days, standing In bold relici, I'VE m.
the grand old Roman citizen, General Grandson
ID, ROyslon man Of refinement culture, winnin,
manners, and with n great history IN Arkansas
Judge David Walker that prince OF INTEGRITY
Hon, Chester Ashley Of whom ~ Is SAID Dy oh'
who knew him In his public and private re
lutions, that his atainments and powers wct'
such that 1t was not optional whether he shogl,
be u loader or not, II could not be otherwise
that among men he should lead, and that th'
| endcarments OF home were hall0wed 70 lhls ma
TO an unsurpassed degree william saw,
Fulton, IN early Territorial Governor, and early
senator, and whose Nilcctionale letters 10 M
wife from the capital show The loving dOnes
ticity Of the busy and able member from Arkall
sas, Being n great Jackson man. lhe message
to his wife. then living In Little Rock was !,
name that boy "Old Hickory" rot Andrew Jack
son ON There was q mighty phaInnx on an,
men In the early life Of Arkansas WilllaIn nn'
Ebcnezor Cumminss.- par fiatrum noolle hotnol.
mcn-hrm and undaunied IN any posiuon th.:
Absoam Fowler with his magnificent mora
courage and physical frame, handsome In MI II
lines, blessed with n wonderful saxon an
Jewish lineage. Judge George watkins,
student from the first law school esmplishen u
tho United states, NJ thirty three Attorney
| General of the state, resgning lhls once alle
| two years to make room for personal irich
who was without practice, dominated by 70
| fined and ethical sense, possessed 0l noble ~
generous nature It's douD,l0l y hm lnlcgfl,
| or sincerity was over questioned, lilg omen
| life was without . blcmish-his private life wa
| without n stain ,,u,,..
i'm the ranks ofcd tors stands foremost Wllliai
Woodruff, who came TO the Territory III lSlVhh
was appointed public printer, Inc Vehetn,G ~
pioneer of the press is known even by III
children of this latest generation, 80 long an
so ably did he WELD that weapon when
mightcr than the sword, "
Hut | must hurry on Limited 70 tllnc, ca
only select subjects among the mighty host +,
our eminent mon of Arkansas M typical OF thoi
worthy compeers, -..... ..r, =, ,..,
lust pride In knowing that ten, Albert Pik
first set foot IN Arkansas IN Crawford count!
| landing ut Fort Smith In 1872 We can cor
| gralulnte ourselves that Fort smith was lhen
| Crawford county. II has been truly said that
writer Is known by bis works So, win reycrnn
if feeble, pen, pause while he speaks 10 you J
locuiar sonnet ofthc "Finc old Arkansas Gentle
man." who was also, whilom Of Crnwr9r
county, CLOSE to the Choctaw Line" TIL
"fino old Arkansas Gentleman had strikingl
unique personality, the portrayal OF vine
would be delightful 10 hear, II Is not very man
years since he dwcll among us, almost th
latest oi n cotcrio who have stamped lhcmsolye
IN the history OF Arkansas Win some, thl
line old Arkansas gcnilcmaa Nigh bc dcrms
super'hOuosL IN The course OF MS career u
was selected 10 remove u body Of Indians iron
their Old domain to the Indian Territory. A lte
their removal was effected, there was M unpS
| pended sum Oi the congressional apprOprlaUo
which this "tnc old Arkansas gentleman
covered back Into the U, \, Treasury
| II 10 grand TO have an oppoftunlly 10 give sue
u tribute to the memory Of Col Elias Rector,
Madam President " seems impre1lycly mum
that this Arkaneas Day without Thought =
| Intent but In thp course OF Oul Regular pfOoep,
lngs should be holden III this old historic am
ansns home, built by nn early settler, b hlmself
man Of affairs, Of prominence Of usefulness, U
nnbOnndcd hospitality And II ! be true TIM
! the essence OfpursOnalty rests and aDides wher
| the material body once dwclt then are thes
walls indeed the precious casket of much b,
longing to u not insignificant past For jon
DrcnnUn was vice chairman Of the constitution
! nj convention VI 1896, and founder OF Van Burul