The Forrest City times., 1907-03-01
NO. 24.


 ond session conditions had so changed that the convention of seventy mem- bers voted sixty-nine to one for the ordinance of secession. and Governor Rector in reply to the call of Secre- tary Cameron for troops to aid in putting down the rebellion, said, "In answer to your demand for troops from Arkansas to subjugate the Southern States, have to say that none will be furnished. The demand Is only adding insult to injury" Then came the dark days of war. when the peaceful work of years was undone and the progress made by the new state was laid waste.
 In 1864, delegates met at the State House and remodeled the constitu- tion which was ratified by the people by an overwhelming majority Repre- sentatives were elected and in April the legislature once more assembled and was recognized by the govern. ment.
 General Isaac Murphy was the first governor after the stormy days of war. He took his place with the state. under military law and two armies in the field. His rule was, however. wise and just. He established con fidence and won friendship, and under his administration the knitting to- gether of the old ties was begun The legislature of 1866 was q notable body of men who came together determined to take up the broken thread of the states development, forget animosi and work for the good of the people Powell Clayton was elected in 1868. During his time much important legis. lation was accomplished Arkansas law makers established the Deaf Mute Institute. removed the School for the Blind from Philadelphia to Little Rock, and greatly improved 1t, pledged state aid to railroads. improved and extended the public school system, and established the University of Ar kansas.
 From this time on the development of the state was not to stop. There were incidents and settlements, such as the Brooks and Baxter difficulty, but the people knew the value of peace as a forerunner of prosperity, and the prosperity of the state and welfare of its people was now of chief importance
 Among the wise and able men who l occupied the place of chief execu- tive following this time, was Augustus H. Garland. During his administra- tion, Arkansas made her bow to the world at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. At this her first expo sition, Arkansas won a number of awards. one for her building and oth. CTS for her cotton and corn No better work was ever done for Ar kansas than was done by the legisla- ture in making this appropriation.
 Governors Churchill. Miller, Hughes, Eagle, Fishback, Clark and Jones, with the legislatures of their terms were active in securing for Arkansas the best in the way of material. educa- tional and moral advancement One of the leading acts of 1851 was an ap- propriation of $150,000 for state in sane asylum. One of the important acts of the legislature in Gov. Berry's term was the appropriation of sum for an Arkansas exhibit at the Cotton Centennial at New Orleans. At this fair, Arkansas won over twenty awards for apples, thus brought to the notice of the outside world for the first time. During the term of Simon J. Hughes, one of Arkansas best governors, a considerable sum of money was re- covered from the railroads as the re- ! 1f k- During James P. Eagles time, Arkan- sas was a feature at the Columbian 1 Exposition in Chicago and gave the state wide hearing. The exhibit made there. was the best ever at tempted. Women were on the board and for the first time were recognized as jurors.
 Under the administrations of Cover nors Clark, Fishback and Jones, a number of constitutional amendments were adopted, temperance laws were extended. other expositions were held, the formation of local banks was be. 1 gun, educational work was extended and in many ways long strides were made, marking better era for great but undeyeloped state.
 Gov Jeff Davis, without a pre-. cedent, held the office of chief execu- tive three terms, after which he was elected to the United States Senate, being succeeded as governor by Hon. John s. Little.
 Probably no state in the Union has furnished a longer list of statesmen | than has Arkansas Among them are ], the names of Albert Pike, soldier, poet and statesman; Augustus H. Garland who entered President Cleyeland's cabinet in 1885. as attorney-g general; Powell Clayton, Ambassador to Mexi co; Clifton R. Breckenridge, Ambas sador to Russia; and Judge U. NJ Rose, easily the most distinguished man in the state today, because of his place on the Hague Peace Com. mission.
 | There is now talk of a new eOnsti.