Year: 1868

Address of the Democratic State

 s ss Central Committee.

 RooMs OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL CoMMITTEE, { Uttle Rock, Ark, Dec. g, lS6L )

 To the People of Arkansas;

 It has been made the duty of this Committee to take steps to place in communication with each other. by means of thorough organization, all the opponents of negro supremacy in the State.

 It has been thought proper, there- fore, to issue an address to you in ex- plantation of our action thus far, and of the means adopted to place this move ment on foot.

 The meeting In the city of Little Rock, which appointed this Committee, was composed of gentlemen from diff ferent parts of the State, who hap- pcned to be in the city at the time, without regard to former party affilia- tion, and with the single qualification that they were opposed to negro suf- frage. That meeting was unwilling to assume more authority than was abso- lutely necessary to institute move- ment looking towards organization and 8 concentration of. our strength. It was deemed improper to do anything further than that, but, under the cir- cumstsnccs, perfectly legitimate to do that much.

 The impossibility having State Convention in time to accomplish any good was apparent to all. According ly the meeting appointed this Commit tee subject to ratification by county conventions throughout the Statc, aud made 1t our duty in the meantime to proceed with the work of organization. We have accepted the trust, and now appeal to the opponents of negro sui frage everywhere in the State to per- feet their county and township organi- xations at once, and place themselves, through those organizations, in com munication with this Committee.

 There should be Democratic club in every township, and s county Exec utive Committee at every county scat. The enemy has his forces disciplined and well in hand, and we must not ex- pect success except that we strive for it in sn energetic manner, and with per- feet concord and harmony in our, own ranks. That harmony of feeling and the unity of action, now more neces- sary thau is ordinarily requisite in political campaign, can only be secured by perfect organization. Under the peculiar circumstances surrounding us, it must be SO that each opponent Of negro supremacy may, through the committees of his party, know exactly what policy will be adopted by those who sympathize with him in distant portions of the State; so that one of our number in Benton county, for in- stance, may act in unison with his pc litical friend in Chicot, without the'risk' of differing with him in his line of pol- icy. when between them thereis aunity of sentiment. @

 That very largo majority of the reg istered voters of the State are opposed to the adoption of Constitution which confers the elective franchise upon class of persons who have just emerged from slavery, and are in every respect unfit to be entrusted with so high a privilege, and the practical operation of which would have the effect to give the control of the State government to that class, no truthful man will deny. That such majority will vote against Constitution embracing a provision of that kind, if they vote at all, is equally certain. That the people of this whole country-those whose fathers estab- lished the Government and have made tho American name respectable and re- spected everywhere--havs determined that this shall be white mans Govern ment, will not be questioned, in view of the astonishing results. of the recent elections in different portions of the Union.

 The voices of the Democratic and Conservative masses of the North call upon us now to assist in defeating the attempt of Radicalism to destroy our old constitutional Government and set up in its place one in which others than white men shall have the controlling influence. We must heartily respond to that call.

 To accomplish the purpose we must be e united in the line of policy to be pursued as we are in sentiment and opinion upon the main question itself. Former divisions and differences must be ignored, and all bickerings hushed, until we shall have won the battle for which the common enemy is now making such admirable aprepara- tion.

 Each county should at once hold a convention and adopt resolutions ex- pressive of the sentiments of the peo- pie, and suggesting the better mode ot defeating negro suffrage, whether by calling out our full strength and voting down the new Constitution, or by re- maining away from the polls and there by making the election failure under the act of Congress. In due time, when tho opinioas of the party throughout

 the State upon this point shall have