Year: 1861

me military ConbroI oI AIAaA&as dIr' ing tLe Var.

 | It Is said that the Military Doari has ds7 tel mined to turn over the military control and movements of the State to the Presi dent of the Confederate States for the pur- pose of being used as a part of our national army during the present war. This Is a move in the right direction, and indeed the only thing which can be done in conformity with either good policy CT aw. The Pie- sident Of the Coutederacy Is commander in- chief of the confederate army and navy, and as State of the Conledcracy 1t IS due both to the Coniederacy and 10 Arkansas that her troops should be male a part of the forces under the only legal anl recognized commander in chief of the forces of the country. For, otherwise, acting in an in dependent capacity, the commander of Ar kansas troops, not knowing the plans of the President for carrying on the war, might not only fail to corporate with his forces, but actually work against and frustrate them. Besides, the carrying on a war on the sole account of the State would involve us in an expenditure of millions upon mil lions which would bankrupt and defeat our forces before an army of sufficient sIength could be got into the field; and, finally. the Confederate States come to OFT assistance and save us from subjugation and annihila- ton, 1t would leave Us weighed down with a burden of debt which would hang upon the State like an incubus for generations. The debt thus incurred would not be aS- snmed and paid by the Confederacy, for the reason that 1t was incurred on the sole responsibility of the State, and not as part of the plan of the war carried or by the Confederate against the old United States. Meanwhile, though, the opera tions of law would compel Arkansas to pay her share of the expense of the war of the Confederacy.

 Another consideration which ought not, and we hope, will not be overlooked, is that the State has no constitutional power to make war, and the army she may call into the field can only be made available, under her authority, on her own soil, for the purpose of suppressing insnrection, repelling invasion, or such other purpose as State troops may legally be called upon to effect within the limits and jurisdiction of State Not having the war making power, the authority of the State and her officers would cease, and there would be 4lso way of compelling discipline or obedience to orders after the troops crossed the boun- dary of the State and were thus placed be- yond the sphere and jurisdiction of her laws,

 The convention, understanding the con stitution of the Confederate States. and looking to the best interests of Arkansas, very properly limited the authority of the Military Board to the time that Arkansas should be admitted as member of the Confederacy. After defining its duties and powers the second section of the ordinance creating the Military Board, concludes in this wise:

 'sIn all things, Tthe Military Board shall take charge of and be responsible for the safety and protection of Arkansas, until such time as the au thority of the Confederate States of America shall be extended over it; after which. 1t shall act in aid of and auxiliary to said Confederate authority'

 Showing conelusively that the conven- tion never contemplated separate State ac- ton, nor plan of separate military ope- ratons, after the admittance of Arkansas as member of the Confederate States This ordinance was passed on the 10th day of last May.

 Five days later, on the 20th day of May, the convention passed an ordinance, creat- ing the office of MajorGeneral; and to guard against him, or the Military Board, or any other State authority usurping pow CT, and calling State troops into the field for the purpose of carrying on war which the State had not the constitutional right or power to make or carry on, the 18th section of the ordinance is as follows:

 Nothing in this ordinance, or in any other ordinance passed by this convention, or i'll any law the constitution of this state, shall authorize the employment of an armei force in the actual ser vice of this state unless shall be to meet an emer