Year: 1868




This IN state with such population is fair margin
and gives a good looking majority; and were political
parties thus divided in any Northern state where the
the would not be doubtful but those who measure
Southern politics from Northern standpoint WIN be
latons. The Southern voter differs from the Northern
voter in hundred ways. The man Of the South is gno
ant he Of the North Is intelligent The southerner sol
dom newspaper the Northerner reads his daily as
regularly as he eats his breakfast The resident o DAe


Is swayed by the stump orator, and ms ohsraoer Is
nodded by him. the nhatant OF the old Free states acts
upon his own convictions ana works az nus own NIL NH
The Dixan, whatever may be his PATRIOTISM mas deep
and abiding prejudice against the negro ana IN tins he
does not differ widely from his Northern brother as


The effect OF THE condition of things is apparent The


leading men OF Arkansas, all through the South, are
opposed to negro suffrage They only accepted emanc
patton at the point OF the bayOnet, and tey VIII never
accept negro suffrage OH any other terms They know
their power among the people and they uy understand
what lever will move the loyal masses OF the Northwest
ern portion OF the State that lever Il negro equality
Once convince the hardy mOuntaineer that the de-
sign of the Republican party to establish negro
the patriots of that section from the of rcconsrnc
tOn and these orators once the adored leaders ot the
people, not only set up the cry OF negro equality Dut
added that Of negro supremacy and the result "a what
might have been expected; The new constitution


OF course these hardy mountaneers who seldom see
newspaper had means Of conradctng these charges
larnn" and either remained from the polls went up
and directly voted against the Constitution so that all
edy gone against restoration OF the state 10 Its former
relations to the National Government. AT least 1000


As was natural with the Freedmen Just released from


the most debasng bondage they all embraced the oppoL
avdity. They not only felt that suffrage was necessary
for their protection but surrounded with novelty
mere ANIMALS which the friends OF slavery contended
they There very few blacks in Arkansas over
of who failed TO register and HAD they been
let alone they would have voted IN sod phaanN for the
new constitution and carried despite the detection OF
Rom Rom that pursued toward the poor whites.
/
solid phalanx yet elsewhere ! hyae rated 1000
Of them with the Conseryatye Dut thls Thousand were
the especial pets OF their masters ana consequently now
under their control or were men so imDece as 10 nave
no minds OF their But with these classes AT
the disposal OF the Rebels doubt II 1000 Is not very
large e3t9ae Of the G3nseyaVg T an nero EotG and tne
their Intelligence and pstriotsm though they have but
emerged from a state Of the deepest degradatona
degradation which would weigh down any race ia the
world


have estimated the full number of Radical freedmen
at 2jOO but the actual Republican vote cast by them AT
the late election did exceed 1900. while perhaps some
5000 actually voted for the Conservative ticket. under
cOmpulsion-I mean practical compuson, although at
least so far have been able 20 learn the whip once
so potent in the hands OF the white man. was not aetu
ally applied TO the freedmens back The voters, how.
ever were taken 10 the polls bound in the strongest
shambles-the shamblcs Of hunger. Unlike the poor
whites. the freedmen not squatters on bO'cIlucul
land they are nearly all plantation labOrers and they
have little choce "Obey US say the planters or We
will discharge YOU. and you and your family WI staiVe


This threat Is never without its enect. All know the
mower OF the capitalist his emplOyC when hc desires
to exercise IL and Southern Rebel will ever feel
delcacy doing his best IN this respect especially when
his employees are freedmen. To exercise such power
the niger is reminder OF the GLORIOUS ga! oi
Slavery" is shadow al which he grasps III default Of the
substance he so long enjoyed.


The Rebels have been busy since the election In assert
ing that the Union people had been guilty Of the gross est
frauds and to prove this they have pointed 10 TWO Or
three counties in which more votes were pohed than
there were registered voters But Is this even prttud
Jdcid evidence this subJectt by no means. Ia the
rural districts far away from troops Bureau agents or
succOr OF ANY kind. the oppression OF the whe people s
great hundreds OF cOOred men, rather Than forego
the right of suffrage fed 10 the towns. where protection
was certain the holders Of certificates OF rcgstra-
ton were entitled 10 vote wherever they resided some
counties did show more ballots than registered voters;
but at the same time there l. corresponding deficit in
sections adjoining Was there anything unnatural or
fraudulent anything saved thc Constitution,
the policy winch offered protection To the voters
In one place. IL denied his rights IN another.


The Constitution may be saved hut the prospects are
decidedly the other way II lost u - by the Ddscst Oi
frauds and expressions. OF which those enumerated con
stitute but few. There Is hope. but II u ung one
indeed but II the honest sentiments Of the loyal people
of Arkansas could have been fairly expressed AZ the
polls the majority for the Constitution would have been
from 5000 To lOOOO This fact viii admit Of mo- denial:
and every attempt 10 contradict u ON the part ~ the
Rebels VIII only show the yllanco 0f the reconstructed
more clearly TO the public.