Year: 1865

The Governor of Arkansas has issued the
following address to the people of that State


TO THE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS.


EXECUTIVE OFFICE,


LITTLE Rock, Ark, May 10, 1865.
Feli01 citizens:


We trust that the war is over that pre-
cious, cherished peace is at hand that soon
all good men can go to their several homes,
and live with their families in security, un-
der the protecting power of law faithfully
executed.


Organized armies have ceased to contend.
Our deuded and harassed fellow-citizens
who nave been warning against their own
Government, are returning home as paroled
prisoners.


They have suffered much from the tyranny
of their leaders. Led into the rebellion by
fraud, falsehood, force, and cruelty, they
have been kept in arms by the same means.


The Government of the United States has
offered them forgiveness, and all good citi-
zens will now sustain that Government by
uphOlding its laws.


Prisoners, on complying with the terms OF
the amnesty, are in law loyal citizens of the
United States and of this State, and are en-
titled to full protection, until the right to 1t
is forfeited by crime.


They should be so treated as not to furnish
them with an excuse for renewed aggression,
and nothing now is wanted to restore to Ar
kansas the security and happiness of we'll
ordered society but unity, harmony and the
full exercise of the civil functions of the
State.


The enforcement of law by courts and ju-
ries will soon repress violence. Let us all,
then, try to forget the past, and energetically
press on to the restoration Of our former
peace, happiness and prosperity. Let us, one
and all, earnestly go TO work to build up
what this wicked rebellion has pulled down,
striving to make the desolate and waste
places glad, and to heal the CHASTITY wounds
of this terrible war.


We have all done wrong. No one can say
that his heart is altogether clean and his
hands pure. Then, as we wish TO be for
given, let us forgive those who have sinned
against us and ours.


The land is stepped in blood-innocent
blood-and defiled with crime. Let us wash
it out with tears of sorrow and repentance,
works Of love, kindness, and charity, that
peace, good will, and confidence may return
and dwell among us.


10 the emu, InerelOTe, tnat tne good cltl-
zen may be protected in all his rights and
privileges, it is necessary that the several
counties Of the State should be fully organ
lied, and civil offices filed by capable and
trusty men. To effect this, most earnestly
request the citizens of the counties that have
not organized under the New Constitution,
to meet and consult together, and recon-
mend to the Governor OF the State, such men
as they wish to fill the several Dunty offices,
that Commissions may be forwarded at an
early day.


The sooner this is done the better it will
be for all, and it is further proposed that
those who are able will go to work energeti-
cally to raise food and provide clothing,
that the suffering now so prevalent may be
relieved.


That war and its progeny, theft, robbery,
desoation and murder, are neither pleasant
nor profitable, it is hardly necessary to af-
firm and now when the armies of the re-
belliOn are disbanded and disbanding, and
the ruin that the wrath OF man can produce
is apparent, | doubt not that the citizen
and soldier, the young and old, will unite in
harmonious effort for the restoration of the
security and the blessings of the past.


Let our last conquest be the conquest of
the hearts Of our enemies by kindness-then
peace will be lasting.


ISAAC MURPHY, Governor.