^r6 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 647 876 1 
 
A STATEMENT 
 
 F 411 
 
 .P76 
 
 Copy 1 t-^ 
 
 HON. S: C. POMEROY, 
 
 Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, 
 
 UISriTEr) STATES SENATE. 
 
 THE OEIGm AND HISTORY OF THE EE-OEGANIZED 
 
 GOVERNMENT OF ARKANSAS, AND ATTESTED 
 
 BY CITIZEISS OF THAT STATE. 
 
 FEBRUARY 3, 1865. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 PRINTED BY LEMUEL TOWERS 
 1865. 
 

A STATEMENT 
 
 HON. S. C. POME ROY, 
 
 To the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary^ U. S. Senate, 
 
 in relation to the re organized Goverwinent in Arkansas^ 
 
 and the Exhihits referredto therein. 
 
 Washington, D. C, February 2, 1SG5. 
 Hon. Lyman Trumbull, 
 
 Chairman Committee on the Judiciary, TJ, S. /Senate, 
 
 Mr 
 
 I beg leave to present the following facts in support of the Joint 
 Kesolurion "Relating to Arkansas as a State in the Union," referred, 
 yesterday to your committee. 
 
 The Legislature of the State, by an act entitled "An act to pro- 
 vide for a State Convention," approved, January 15, 1861, made pro- 
 vision. for the issuance in the usual manner, of a proclamation order- 
 ing an election in all the Counties in the State, at wliich was to be 
 submitted to the people, the question of "Conventi<m " or "No Con- 
 vention," this election to be held on the 18th day of February, 18GL 
 
 The facilities for inter-communication in Arkansas, wei'e at that 
 time, quite limited, and the day fixed upon for this electiim was so 
 early, that the people were not given an adequate opportunity to 
 be made acquainted with the objects of those persons, who wei-e chief- 
 ly instrumental in procuring the passage of this act, still, when the 
 result of this election became known, it was ascertained that notwith- 
 standing the perpetration of numerous frauds, a large majorit}' of the 
 votes cast were for the maintenance of the Union, and that of the del- 
 egates elected to this Convention, which was to assetnble at Little 
 Rock, on the 4th day of March, 1861, a majority were in favor of the 
 Union. 
 
 For more full information upon this point, I call your attrntion to 
 ati extract from a letter recently addressed to the Hon. Thaddeus 
 Stevens, by T. M. Jacks, a member of Congress elect from Aikansas, 
 herewith submitted marked "A" and in which the j)olitical character 
 andconduct of the members of this Convention are specially presented. 
 
 On the said 4th day of March this convention met, and on the 
 20th of that month, having previously failed to pass an ordinance of 
 secession, adopted another ordinance, that provided for the submis- 
 sion to the people on Monday, the 5th day of August, 1861, of ihe 
 
qnestion of "co-operation" or "secession," this election to be held 
 and conducted in all respects in accordance with the laws of the 
 State then in force. 
 
 Bj this ordinance it was furtlier ordained, that if it should appear, 
 when tiie result of said election should he made known, that a ma- 
 jority of all the legal votes cast in the State, had been cast for "se- 
 cession" that then and in that event, such vote should i)e taken to be 
 an instruction to the convention to pass an act of immediate secession, 
 but if a majority of all the legal votes should be cast for "co-opera- 
 tion," that then the convention should immediately take such steps 
 as might be deemed jn-oper, to further cooperation with the Boi'der 
 or unseceded slave States, in the efl'ort to secure a permanent and 
 satisfactoiy adjustment of the sectional controversies disturbing the 
 country. 
 
 On the 21st of March the convention adjourned to the I'Jth of 
 August, 1861, adopting meantime however, an ordinance that author- 
 ized its president to at^semble the convention at any time prior to the 
 19th of August, if, in his opinion, an exigency should arise, but not 
 disturbing the previous action of the convention, in referring the 
 whole question to the people for final settlement. 
 
 The news of the full of Fort Sumter, and more especially the call 
 for 75, Oi men, determined the president of this convention to con- 
 vene it for the 6th of May. This in the latter part of April was 
 done, and so hastily, that it was impossible for the people generally, 
 to instruct their delegates before they were compelled to take their 
 departure for Little R(»ck. In some localities however, instructions 
 adverse to any action that contemplated a severence of the then ex- 
 isting relations between the State and the Federal Government were 
 voted, a type of which is herewith submitted marked " B," and in 
 which the declarations of hostility to any action of the State Conven- 
 tion that contemplated secession, or a union with the Southern 
 Confederacy so called, were earnest and explicit. 
 
 On the 6th of May this called session of the convention met, and 
 such, without entering into details, was the pressure brought to bear 
 upon the Union delegates of the March previous, that before night 
 an oi'dinance of secession was passed, making no pr()vision for a ref- 
 erence of the question to the people, for their action thereon. And 
 thus the State assumed to secede. The election ordered for the 15th 
 of August was not held, and neither prior nor subsequently to that 
 time, were the people of the State permitted to act on this question. 
 
 On the re-occupation of northwestern Arkansas by the Army of 
 the Frontier, in December, 1862, hu-ge and enthusiastic massmeeting^i 
 were held at Fayetteville and lluntsville, and the ptople were ear- 
 nestly desirous of a restoration of their old relations to the Union, 
 and particularly that the ban of rebellion, under whicli they had been 
 placed, might be removed. Efforts M-ere made to take that portion 
 of the State out of the proclamation of September 22, 1862, and a 
 very general re commital to the cause of the Union look place. 
 
 Not long afterwards similar meetings were held at Helena, in the 
 eastern portion of the State, and to go back a moment to the summer 
 of 1862, the march of General Curtis'e army, from Bea E.idge to the 
 
5 
 
 Mississippi was tlie occasion for uiarked demonstrations of loyalty, 
 especially at B.itfsville, in the northern central ])ortion of the State, 
 where hiindretls of her citizens filed into the Union ranks. 
 
 October 30. h, 18(53, the people moved again at Fort Smith, and in 
 a manner which will be best indicated by the j)ublished proceed! n<j:;s 
 of the convention, herewith snbinitted marked " C," and at which 
 loyal resolutions of tne most undoubted stamp were passed. The 
 viujorous prosecution of the war was urged; the course of the Ad- 
 ministration in their efforts to supjiress the existing rebellion ap- 
 proved ; the repeal of all laws sanctioning slavery proposed, and a 
 convention for the purpose of reorganizing the State government 
 recommended. 
 
 Colonel James M.Johnson, 1st Arkansas Infantry, was nominated 
 to represent western Arkansas in the Congress of the United States, 
 and shortly afterwards elected. The validity of this election is recog- 
 nized in the schetlule forming ])art of the new constitution of the 
 State, hereinafrer ])resented, and in proceeding to reorganize the State 
 government, as will presently be indicatetl, no election of Congress- 
 man was ordered for Colonel Johnson's district. 
 
 It was thought ailvisable however, in order to save any points that 
 might possibly Ix^ raised, as to the legality of this election, that a 
 second election should take place, when the proposed constitution 
 was to be acted iqjon, other representiitives in Congress chosen and 
 State officers elected. This election accordingly came off in March, 
 when the present constitution of the State was ratitied, and Colonel 
 Johnson was again elected by a largely increased vote. 
 
 All these manifePtations of tiie popular will took place, it wnll he 
 observed, prior to the issuance of the President's proclamation, pro- 
 viding for the reoi'ganization of loyal goveiaiments in the rebellious 
 States, and when rlie people had no intimation of the course that the 
 President aftervra^ds on the 8th day of December, 1863, sav/ lit 
 to pursue. 
 
 This feature is especially prominent in the history of the loyal 
 movement in Arkansas, and I respectfully submit, should receive that 
 consideration to which intrinsically it is entitled. 
 
 These meetings were the germ of the present State organization 
 and were simply encouraged, not created l)y the President's amnesty 
 proclamation. Under that and a letter from the President to Gen- 
 eral Steele, then commanding the Dejiartment of Arkansas, which 
 is herewith submitted, marked " D," a form of proceeding was indeed 
 pursued, but so pursued because of the executive sanction tljat it 
 received, and the additional guarantee of the aid of the military 
 arm, so far as might be necessary to secure a full expression of the 
 loyal sentiment of the State, while at the same time, no military 
 restraint whatever (and this statement is abundantly capable of sub- 
 stantiation) was allowed to be placed upon the iv^rn exercise of indi- 
 vidual opinion at the polls. 
 
 That the President moreover was disposed to recognize the ante- 
 cedent action of the people, is clearly apparent from a letter written 
 by him to William M. Fishback, a citizen of Arkansas, who was 
 warudy interesting himself in behalf of the proposed government, 
 
6 
 
 ^ \\ which he states distinctlj, that when he fixed upon a plan for an 
 election in Arkansas, he was ignorant that a convention of the peo- 
 j)l e were engaged in the same work, whereupon he yielded his plan 
 to theirs. In January, lb64, this convention met at Little Kock to 
 frame a constitution adapted to the changed requirements of the 
 time, which was sulnnitted to the people on the 14:th, loth, and 16th 
 days of March, and ratified by a vote of 12, 177 for, to 226 against it. 
 A State government was at the same time organized; members of 
 Congress were chosen, and a representation in the State Legislature 
 secured from forty-six of the fifty-four counties of the State. 
 
 On the first day of June, 1861, the called session of the -ebel con- 
 vention, having previously assumed to take the State out of the 
 Union, without referring or making any provision for the reference 
 of their action to the people, adopted a constitution for the State, 
 which was substantially its old constitution with some changes 
 strengthening its pro-slavery features, and substituting the phrase 
 " Confederate States of America," wherever the phrase " United States 
 ot America " occurred in the old instrument. 
 
 So far, then, as this convention could accon.plish such a result, 
 they had prostituted the constitution of the State to the interests of 
 slavery, and it was thought necessary that a new constitution entire 
 sliould be presented to the ])eo])le rather than that amendments to the 
 old one bhotild be proposed. Taking this view of the case, the con- 
 vention submitted their labors which resulted as aforesaid in the adop- 
 tion of the present constitution of the State, extracts from which are 
 herewith submitted, marked " E." Tlie immediate abolition of sla- 
 very is provided for, and all laws inconsistent with this constitution 
 are made inoj)erative and void. 
 
 In other respects the old constitution of the State is substantially 
 re-adoj)ted, and a])pended to the schedule that forms a part thereof, 
 and herewith submitted among the extracts referred to, are the names 
 of the delegates to the convention that framed it. Other counties 
 also chose delegates but they were unavoidably prevented from at- 
 tending the sittings of the convention. Pending the organization of 
 tlie n(!W goverinnent, Isaac Murphy was appointed Provisional Gover- 
 nor of the State, and in extracts from a message subsequently delivered 
 and herewith submitted mai-ked " F," are presented a number of 
 facts and observations, important in contributing to give a clear idea 
 of the condition of the State at that time. On the ISth of April, 
 1864, Isaac Murphy was inaugurated as Governor of the State, elected 
 ■under the new constitution, and directly thereafter the legislature 
 assembled. On the 31st of May, an act entitled " An act to provide 
 for the manner of holding elections," was approved, section 6, ot which 
 reads as folhiws : 
 
 Aiid be it further enacted hy the General Assembly of the State of 
 AikauKas: That each voter shall, before depositing his vote at any 
 election in this State, take an oath that he will support the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, and of this State, and that he has not vol- 
 untarily borne arms against the United States, or this State, nor aided 
 directly or indirectly the so-called confederate authorities, since the 
 ISih day of April, 186-i, said oath to be administered by one of th^ 
 
judges of the election, and this act shall take eifect from and after its 
 passage." 
 
 The disposition of the people towards rebels was thus very clearly 
 indicated. The substance of this law might indeed have been incor- 
 porated into the Constitution, but that it was not is not attributable 
 to an adverse disposition on the part of the people. It clearly ex- 
 presses the convictions of the loyal masses, and substantially con- 
 forms with their views upon this subject. But omitting further in- 
 quiry into the new constitution of the State or the laws passed there- 
 under, I desire to call your attention to the State government itself. 
 
 It has now been in nominal operation nearly a year, under the most 
 discouraging circumstances, and it is hardly necessary to say that as 
 a governuient it can neither possess dignity, strength, nor efKciency, 
 until recognized by Congress. The people of this unfortunate State 
 have been placed where they are to-day by the General Government, 
 and I submit that it is but an act of the plainest justice to recognize 
 their present State Government at once. They have sent 10,0 
 white troops into the field to defend the Union, and have now in the 
 three years service four cavalry and two infantry regiments, and a 
 six gun battery. For more particular information on this point I call 
 your attention to a communication from the Adjutant General of the 
 State herewith submitted, marked " G." 
 
 Again, the people of Arkansas have avowed their loyalty at the 
 hazard of everything that makes life desirable, and if received back 
 again to-morrow no compensation could be made them for a tithe of 
 their losses, i ut they have not simply their personal misfortunes 
 to bear in mind. The legislation of the country in one particular is 
 adverse to them, and they occasionally have the poor satisfaction of 
 realizing that the visitation of a quartermaster or a commissary of sub- 
 sistence, is but a new form of seizure without compensation. 
 
 I call your attention to an Act of Congress, approved July 4, 1864, 
 entitled, " An Act to restrict the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims, 
 and to provide for the payment of certain demands for quartermas- 
 ters' stores and subsistence supplies furnished to the army of the 
 United States." By the terms of this act, the payment of claims for 
 quartermaster and subsistence stores is restricted to the ," claimsof loyal 
 citizens in States not in rebellion," and on the 29th of August, ISfJi, 
 the act it self was announced in a general order from the Quarter- 
 master General's Department. In making proofs under this order, 
 special attention is called to the fac: that claimants must be shown to 
 be citizens of States not in rebellion. The order also specifies the 
 States and parts of States in rebellion, among which is the State of 
 Arkansas. 
 
 It is, however, trtie as matter of fact, that to some extent quarter- 
 masters and commissaries of subsistence on duty in the rebellious 
 States, pay the loyal citizens of those States for forage and other sup- 
 plies, but not universally ; and when a dispute arises as to the amount 
 actually due, or a subordinate officer refuses to pay, and an appeal is 
 taken to the Quartermaster General, as a court of last resort, the or- 
 der to which I have referred, is presented as the ultimatum of the 
 Government. Such has been the case with claims presented by loyal 
 
8 
 
 men from Arkansas, and though doubtless this condition of things 
 "was not contemplated, and there has been no disposition in Congress 
 to oppress the lojal citizens of the rebellions States, still I re!^pectful- 
 ly suggest, as cognate to this inquiry, that the statute referred to 
 should be amended; for, as it now stands, the struggling loyalists of 
 those States, have very poor inducements to cutivate the soil for the 
 sustenance of our armies. 
 
 But to return. Doubts have been expressed as to the fairness and 
 honesty of tiiis effort to re-establish a loyal Government in Arkansas. 
 That these doubts are not well founded, I have no hesitation to assert. 
 Upon this point I submit (marked II,) a correspondence r cently had 
 with the Commander of the De])artment of Arkansas, in which it very 
 clearly appears from him that the present State organization was got- 
 ten up by the people, and was generally participated in by the loyal 
 citizens of the State, freely, fairly, and without any attempt at inter- 
 ference by the military authorities. 
 
 The same correspondence, as also a letter to the Governor of the 
 State from the late Provost Mai-shal General of the Department, 
 herewith submitted (marked " I ") shows the condition of the State to 
 be favorable to the re-establishment of a civil government, and the 
 ability of the loyal people to protect themselves save against the or- 
 ganized forces of the rebel army, is declared in a communication from 
 the Governor of the State, herewith submitted (marked "K") and sup- 
 ported by citizens of the State, now in Washington, who are conver- 
 sant with its condition. 
 
 A few words more and I have done. The present State govern- 
 ment in Arkansas is the hope of that people. 
 
 On the 30th of November last, a public meeting was lield at Little 
 Rock (the proceedings of which are herewith sub'uitted, marked " L," 
 and the recognition of this Government by Congress, urged in a man- 
 ner that we ought not to disregard. I am credibly informed that 
 many of the citizens of the State, who participated in the election of 
 last March, have since paid for that act witli the loss of their lives, 
 at the hands of roving bands of rebels, who, encouiaged by the belief 
 that General Price's army would soon March into Missouri there to 
 remain^ swarmed last sunmier and fall over the State. Hundreds of 
 her loyal citizens living outside of military pos*^s, have, within the 
 last twelve months been compelled to flee to Missouri and Kansas 
 for safety. 
 
 Now, however, in consequence of the signal failure of General 
 Price's great raid into Missouri, and tiie exodus southward of rebel 
 soldiers, sympathizers and their families, they can, by concert of 
 action, defend themselves at their old homes. Already, in fact, they 
 are preparing to return, and are looking with an anxiety that none 
 but refugees can feel to the action of the pre^.ent Congress. 
 
 Their loyal brethren in the State, especially th.^se to wliom the 
 people confided their public trusts, are also watching with the most 
 intense anxiety the proceedings of Congress. Their Const itui ion is the 
 hope of the State, their loyalty its strength, and if after a i)rohation 
 that has already crushed the hopes of hundicds, their Government is 
 to be cast aside, and the patriotism of 12,000 men, the loss of whose 
 
9 
 
 fortunes has attested their sincerity of purpose, is to be trifled witli; 
 tlien, indeed have the blessings of the Union, as to them^tukQU their 
 final flight. 
 
 Tliis organization cast aside, the loyal people of Arkansas ■will, I 
 am constrained to believe, lose all faitli in the justice of the Gen- 
 eral Government ; but if sustained and encouraged, her absent citi- 
 zens will return, emigration will set in, and another free State be 
 ready to jdace the seal of its approval upon that great ciuuige in the 
 fundamental law of the land, now arresting the attention of the world. 
 
 All of which is most respectfully but earnestly submitted, 
 
 S. C. POMEROY, U. S. S. 
 
 I have examined the foregoing statement. The facts are truthfully 
 presented, and many others of a kindred nature could be supplied. 
 
 A. W. BISHOP, 
 
 Adft Genl, of Arl'ansas 
 and C'ommissio7ier at Washiiigton. 
 
 We, the undersigned, citizens of the State of Arkansas, have also 
 examined the said statement, and hereby certify to its accuracy. 
 
 WM. M. FISHBACK, 
 J. M. JOHNSON, 
 T. M. JACKS. 
 
E X: H 1 13 I T S . 
 
 [A] 
 
 A71 extract from a letter, dated Washington January A, 1865, /rom T. M. Jacks to Hon 
 Tkaddius Stevms. 
 
 " It. is doubtleeia known to you that a majority of tlie people of Arkansa3 were not 
 rebels from choice. The oiily thint? like a test vote ever given in Arkatisas was ou the 
 18th day of February, 1801. The vote was hastily called out. there V>eing but thirty- 
 four days between tlie legislative enactment ordering the election, and the election it- 
 self. 
 
 In a State like Arkansas without telegraphs and with poor mail facilities, it is fair to 
 infer that a large number of the people of the State knew nothing of said election, or 
 of its objects, until half of said time, at least had elapsed and then their principal in- 
 formation was received from men canvassing for their votes 
 
 And again rebel leaders — those who most loudly harangued the people — depended 
 upon lies (I cannot use a more courteous term and do them justice^ to accomplish their 
 wicked eiid , but notwithstanding all the frauds that were played otT at said election, 
 there were, in round numbers, eleven thousand majority of Union votes ca^t, and forty 
 Union to thirty-four Secession members, returned to the State Convention. 
 
 Of the thirty-four Secession members returned, several of tliern, before the people, 
 were Unionists, or at lei'^t onlv conditional secesMoni^ts. ()f their whole nuinh^r, I be- 
 lieve there was not a single "fire-eater." They had been life bmg Utiion men, and most 
 of them in their sjieeches to the people, advocated " re-constrnction" of the Union, after 
 the Southern S'ates should have seceded. Indeed, sir, hetei'odox as It m ly seem it is 
 nevertheless true that seces.--ion was urged, not only as a peace measure, but as pir ex- 
 cellence, a " Union measure." 
 
 It does not necessarily follow that those who could be deceived by such sophistry, 
 were either ignorant or stupid. The best men practice no guile themselves : they are 
 the last to suspect it in otlifTs. 
 
 Good men may be deceived; bad, seldom are. 
 
 But to return : Tae Ai-kinsas State Convention elected, as bu'o'-e stated, met at Little 
 Rock on the 4ih day of March, 1864. The journal of that body shows seventy four 
 memheis present. Afier a boisterous session, of something nmre than two weeks, the 
 Convention adjourned, having accomplished practicalli/ noilii^ g, save the passage of an 
 ordinance referring the whole question of "Seces ion" back to the people, to be voted 
 upon by them on the 5Lh Jay of August following." 
 
 [B.] 
 
 Proceedings of a Unimi m'eting held in WaJiington County, Arlnnf^as, in 1861. 
 On the 27th of Apiil 1861, the voters of West Fork towiu-^hip, Wajhingtou county, 
 assembled in mass meeting, and passed the following resolutionti : 
 
 Sesolved, That we are opposed to any ordinance of secession. 
 
 Resolved. That we u teriy oppose any action in the state Convention, that will sever the State of Ar- 
 kansas from the Federal Government, without a lu.l and fair expression <>f the loyal voters of the 
 rilate. 
 
 Resolved, That in case of an ordinance of secession, we wisli to co-operate with the other Border 
 State or States. 
 
 Resolved, That we are opposed to any action of the Convention that would unite us with the South- 
 ern Confederacy. 
 
 C. a. GILBREATFI, Chairman. 
 W. R, DYE SecretMiy. 
 J C. STocKBUKPxE.i, ^ 
 
 1). E. ROBINSON, I 
 
 A M REED, ' 
 
 JOHNT A. RUTHERFORD, ^ 
 THOMAS MCKNlGUT, 
 W. D. DYE, 
 
 Coininittee on Resolutions. 
 
12 
 
 [C] 
 
 Proceedings of an " (Jncondilioiial Union" Jfass Mectivg, held at Fort Smith, Ark. 
 
 At a mass meetins; of the iirif^onditional Union men of Western Arkansas, held at 
 Fort Smith on the 30th of October, 18o3, F. B. Wolfe, E^q., was called to the chair, and 
 C G. Fustur appointed secret :i'y. 
 
 The chairinaii stated tlie object of the meetins^ to ba the adoption of resolutions ex- 
 pre,-*siiig the sentiiHents of the jieople of Western Arkansas in the present crisis of our 
 affairs, a:id t!ie inautrnratioii of such measures as the exiijencies of the times demand. 
 
 On motion it was voted thai the Chair appoint a committee of thirteen to draft reso- 
 lutions. 
 
 Whereupon the fvillowing TK",med gentlemen were apriointed such committee, to wit: 
 
 V. Dell, R. D. Swin.^ell, J Snirler, J. K. Smoot, D. W. Williams J. Whiteford, V. 
 V. Milor, 11. L. Holloman, Zich. Taylor, A. J. Singleton, M. A. East, J. II. Weir, H. 
 Pape. 
 
 During the ab=ence of the eommlttee, the meeting was addressed by the Chairman, 
 Judge Milor, and by Parsoii Wiight, of Johnson County. The remarks of the venerable 
 parson brought tears to the e\es of many of his auditors. 
 
 Valt-ritine Dell, Esq., chaiiin.-tn of the committee on resolutions, reported the follow- 
 ing, whieh were received with rrevnendoiis applause, and which, after bemg eloquently 
 discussed in a speech by Cuk-nel W. F. Cloud, were ui.animously adopted ; 
 
 Re-tolverl , That we are in favor of prosecuting the war as long as there is a rebel found in arms 
 against the United States. 
 
 .Kesoh'ed, That we will, to the full extent 'of our abilities, support the Administration iu all of its 
 measures, past and present, to suppress the existing rebellion. 
 
 Resolved, That we recommend that delegates be chosen to a State Convention to be held at Little 
 Kock, for the purpose of reorganizing the State Government. 
 
 And whereas the institution of slavery is an incubus upon the welfare and material 
 interests of the State; thtreioie be it 
 
 Resolved, That Arkansas should take her place in the Union as a free State, and that all laws tending 
 ta establisli or perpetuate the institution of slavery should be abolished. 
 
 Resolved, That none but " unconditional Union " men, known as such, be allowed to vote at any elec- 
 tion, and that we recommend the establishment of Union associations in every County of our State. 
 
 Resolved, That we will co-operate with all " unconditional Union" men in the establishment of law 
 and order in the State of Arkansas. 
 
 Resolved, That the people of the different counties of our State, be cordially invited to co-operate 
 with us, and to adopt similar resolutions. 
 
 Resolved, That the voting at the coming elections be done viva voce. 
 
 At this slRu:e of the proceedings the chairman, bt-ing indisposed retired; when, on 
 motion, (t. W. Sisson, Ei^q., was appointed to fill the vacancy. 
 
 The Chaiirnan announced t'lat tlie next business in order was the nomination of a can- 
 didate to repres:eiit Western Aikansns in the United Siates Cungi-ess. 
 
 The names of the different counties of the State were then called, and repres< ntatives 
 from twenty of them respoiidt-<l to the call. 
 
 Cajitain John Whiteford o F^rt Smith, proposed tlie name of Col. Johnson, of Madi- 
 son cou!:ty. as a candidat-j for Cimgress. 
 
 Wiierenp'in, on motion, Cobmel James M. Johnson, o." the 1st Arkansas infantry, was 
 unanimously nominated to represent the people of Western Arkansas in the Congress of 
 the United Si a' ea at its next session. 
 
 A cminittee of three was iqtpointed to wait upon Col. Johnson and Inform him of his 
 nomii a'ior;. 
 
 On rwoiion, the fourth Monday of November n^xt was recommended a» the day on 
 which to ii. Id the e!e(aion tor representative and deleg;ites to the State Convention. 
 
 Oil inoion, the proceedings of this meeting were oidered to be published lu handbill 
 foim for gen>-ral circulation 
 
 On motion, the mailing adj' urned sine die. 
 
 G. W. SISSON, Chairman. 
 
 C. G. Foster, Secretary. 
 
13 
 
 [D.] 
 
 Letter from the President to Mojor General Steele in relation to th< re-orgnuizalion of a 
 State Government in Arkanxaf^. 
 
 ExECUTiVK Mansion. WaKhington, Jan 20, 18G4. 
 
 Major General Stremc — Siitulry citizens of the State of Arkansas petilion me that aa 
 electioa m ly he held in that Stale, at whicli to elei^t a (iovernor ; that it be assumird at 
 nat election at)d theticeforwa-d, that, the constitution ai.d laws of the State, ws before 
 the rebellion, are in full force, exee(jt that tiie constitntion is so modified us to declare 
 that there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servimde, except in the punishment 
 of crirne-i whereof the party shall have been duly convicted ; that the General Assem- 
 bly may make such i)rovisions for the freed people a^ shall recognize and declare their 
 permanent freedom, and provide lor their education, and which may yet be construed aa 
 a temporaiy arrangemeur, suitable to their condition, as a laboring landless and home- 
 less class; that said election shall be held on the 28th of March, 186-1, at all the isual 
 places of thn State, or all such as voters may attend foi' that purpose ; that the vo^^ers at- 
 tending at 8 o clock in the morning of said day may choose judges and clerks of election 
 for such purpose; that all per-i>ns qualified by said constit tiou and laws, and taking 
 the oath piesented in the President's proc amation of December 8, 1803, either before or 
 at the el<-ction, and none others may be voters; thai, eac'i set of judges and clerics may 
 make retun s directly to }ou, on or before the dity of next ; that in all other 
 
 respects said election may be conducted according to said Constitiition and laws; thatou 
 receipt of said returns, when 6,4()6 votes shall have been cast, you can receive sivid votes 
 and ascertain all who shall thereby appear to have been elected ; that on the day 
 
 of next, all persons so appeari.'ig to have bi en elected, who shall appear before 
 
 you at Little llock, and take tlie oath to be by jou severally adiniijisiered, to support 
 the Constitution of the United States, and said modified con titution of the State of Ar- 
 kansas may be declared b} you qualified and empowered to immediately enter r[)oa the 
 duties of the ofKces, to which they shall have been rtsp'Ctively elected. 
 
 You will please order an election to take place on the 28th of March, 180i, and re- 
 turns to be tuade ia fifteen days thereafter. 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 The time for holding this election was subsequently changed to the 14th, ISth and 16Lb 
 days of March. 
 
 ["E"] 
 Extracts from the pre fie nt Const tint ion. of the State of Arkansas. 
 
 P 11 E AMBLE. 
 
 We, the people of the State of Aikaiisas; having the right to establish for ourselves a 
 Constitution in conformity with the Constitufim of the United States of America, ree- g 
 nizing the legitimate consequences of the existing lebflliou, do hereby declare the entire 
 action of the late convention of the Sinte of Arkansas, which assembled in the city of 
 Little Rock on the 4th day of March, 1861, was, and is, null and void, and is not now, 
 and never has been binding and oblik;at'i-y up<Hi the people. 
 
 That all the action of the State of Arkansas, under the authority of said convention, 
 of it( ordinances, or of its constitution, whether legislative, executive, judicial or military, 
 (except as hereinafter provided,) was and is hereby declared null and vtiid ; Provided, 
 this ordinance shall not be so construed as to affect the lights of incividiials or change 
 county boundaries, or county- seals, or to make invalid tli-i acts of justices of the peace, 
 or other officers in th. ir authority to administer outbs, <>r take and c^-riify the acknowl- 
 edgtraent of d-eds of conveyance or other insfiuiiinits of writing, or in thrs soleinaization 
 of marriages; and Provided. Jnr/her, that no debt or liability of the State of Arkansas 
 incurred '-y the action of sai(l convention, or of the legislature or any dcpirtment of the 
 Government under the autho ity ol either, shall ever be recognized as obligatory. 
 
 And we, the people of the State of Arkansas, in order to establish therein a State 
 Government, loyal to the Government of the United States — to secure to ourselves and 
 our posterity Ihe protection and blessings of the Federal Constitution, and the enjoyment 
 of all the rights of liberty ;iud the free pursuit of happiness, do agree to continue our- 
 selves as a dee and independent State by the name and style of " Ihe State of Arkansas," 
 and do ordtin and establish the folio witg Constitution for the governruent thereof: 
 
14 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 ABOLISHMENT OK SLAVERY. 
 
 Sec. 1. Npillier slavery nor invo^intary servitude shall hereafter exist in this State> 
 otherwise than for the punishment of crime whereof the party shall have befTi couvicted 
 by due prooess of law ; nor shall any male person arrived at the age of twenty one years, 
 nor female arnvid at the at;e of eighteen years, be held to serve any person as a sei'vant, 
 under any indenUne or contract hereafter made, iinlees such person shall enter into such 
 indenture oi' contract while in a state of perfect freedom, and on coaditioa of a bona fide 
 consideration received, or to be received for their services 
 
 Nor shall any indenture of any negro or mulatto hereafter made and executed out of 
 this State, or if made in this State; where the term of service exireeds one year, be of 
 the least, validity, except those given in case of apprentieestiip, wliich chall not be for a 
 longer term than until the apprentice shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, if a 
 male, or the age of eighteen 3 ears if a female. 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 Sec \. In order that civil government may be ia full operation and effect, at the 
 earliest day possible, it. is fuither oidained and provided, that a general vote on the rati- 
 fication of the Constitution and ordinances of this Convention, and a general election shall 
 be tiiken and held throughout the State as far as practicable, on the 2iid Monday of 
 March next, as follows, to wit : Any number of persons, beinsr white male citizens ot the 
 State, over the age of twenty-one years, at the county seat of any county, or (in case of 
 volunteer soldiers in the federal ariuy,) at the camp of their respective companies, hav- 
 ing first taken the oath prescribed in the President's proclamation of December 8, I8G0, 
 before any justice of the peace, or other person authorized to administer an oath within 
 the county in which they reside, or within which they are eneamped, may appoint a 
 commis-sioiier of elections, with power to appoint such election judges as may be neees 
 sary, who shall also be an enrolling uflicer for said county or compiny, who shall proceed 
 as follows, to wit: Said commissioners shall prepare an enrolling and poll bo(ik, to which 
 shall be appended the Constitution, ordinances and schedule of this CoLvention; one col- 
 umn shall then be headed with the oath contained iu said proclamation of the I'resident; 
 another column he»ded " Cunstilution and ordinances ratified ;" another column , '■ Con- 
 stitution and ordinances rejected ;'' other columns shall be arrang.-d so that a vote may be 
 taken for all officers to be voted for within the county or eom()any where the election is 
 proposed to be held ; sail commii-sioner shall then take the oath aforesaid, before any 
 justice of the peace, or other officer authorized to aJnii: ister oath-i, and enroll his own 
 name at the head of the column, under the said oath, written out in full; the said 
 commissioncf shall thtn, on the said 2d Monda\ of March next, within usunl election 
 hours, proceed to hold an election, as follows: viva voce \ and provided, also. That said 
 commissioner nmy keep the polls open for three days, to wit: Every white male citizen 
 over the age ot 21 years, of the county, or (in case ot a military company,) of the State, 
 presenting himself to vote, and not being included in the exceptions contained in the 
 said proclamation, shall take the oath contained in said proclnmation, administered by 
 any justice of the peace, or other officer authoriied to adrninister oaths; and when 
 is name has been tb< reafter duly enrolled or subscribed in the proper co iimn, the 
 commissioner shall cause his vote to be recorded, fiist upon the question of the consti- 
 tution and ordinances, and then in the elec'ion of all officers to be voted for. 
 
 Sec 2. That within five days after the holding of said election, said commissioner 
 shal) foot up tlte said vote, and certify the result over ids signature as commissioner; 
 he shall then make a duplicate of said book, [except that the constitution and ordinances 
 of this convention need not be appended to the copy.] and forward the said copy to 
 Little Rook, addre.«sed to the provisional government ; the original book shall !)e pre- 
 served by sail commissioner, and deposited by him as soon as the counties a'e or- 
 ganiz d with the clerk of the county wherein the election is held, or (in case of sol- 
 diers,) in the county whertin the voters reside. 
 
 Seo. 3. Within ten days after the receipt of the said enrcdling and election return 
 books by the Provisional Governor, it shall be his duly, with the assistance of the 
 Secretary of State, to examine the same and declare the result by proclamation as 
 follows tc wit: 
 
 1st. Whether tbc constilul ion and ordinances of this Convention have been adopted 
 or rejected within the meaning of ihe Presidents proclamation. 
 
 2d. He shall announce the whole vote polled for or against said constitution and ordi- 
 nances. 
 
 3d. He shall declare that persons are elected to the various offices throughout the 
 
15 
 
 State, except that of Governor and Lieutenant Governor of State, deciding the result by 
 plurality. 
 
 Sec. 4. All persons thus declared to be elected State officers, shall enter upon the dis 
 charge of their respective office? as soon thereafter as they take and subscribe an oath 
 before any justice of the peace, or other officer authorized to administer oatlis, as follows: 
 That they will faithfully peifotm the duties of their respective offices, that they will sup- 
 port the constitution and laws of the State and of the United States, and said oath, in 
 case of State officers, ehall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, and in case of 
 county officers, they sliall enter upon the duties of their respective offices immediately 
 after the election upon tiling said oath with the county commiesioners. 
 
 Sec. 5. At the fiist session of the legislature, and during the first week of the eessiou, 
 the said Provisional Governor shall place the said return books before that body, who 
 shall declaie the result as to the election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor and Sec- 
 retary of Slate, who, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take 
 the oath herein prescribed for other officers. 
 
 Skc. 6. It is also further ordained and declared, that in counties wherein, for any cause, 
 elections are not held on the said 2d Monday of March next, the same may be held for 
 the several local officers provided for in the constitution, ordinances and schedule of this 
 Convention, in the same manner as hereinbefore described, at any time thereafter till the 
 whole State is full}- organized and represented. 
 
 Sec. 9. The officnrs to be voted for inthis election, are Govei-nor, Lieutenant Governor 
 Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney-General, three Judges of the Supreme 
 Court, nine Circuit Judges and nine District Attorneys, (according to act of January 15th, 
 1861, ) County Judges, Clerks, Sheriffs, Coroners, Constables, Justices of t le Peace, and all 
 other officers provided for in the constitution and ordinances of this Convention, or which 
 may exist by law, and Members of the Legislature, according to the ratio or apportion- 
 ment of senatorial districts in force in the year 1860, and Members to Congress in dis- 
 tricts N< 8. 1 and 2, according to the act approved January 19th, 1861, (no election being 
 ordered in district No. 3, ttiis Convention recognizing the election of Col. James M. John- 
 son as the representative from that district.) Aiid it is hereby declared that all laws in 
 force in this State on the ith day of JIarch, 1861, are still in force, not inconsistent with 
 Ihe Constitution, and which have not expired by limitation therein contained. 
 
 JOHN McCOY, 
 
 President of the Convention, 
 and Delegate from Newton County. 
 
 LUTHER C. WHITE, Crawford county, 
 
 C. A. HARPER, 
 
 JOHN AUSTIN, 
 
 JOSIAH HARRELL, 
 
 HARMON L. HOLLEMAN, Sebastian county, 
 
 JNO. R. SMOOT, 
 
 RANDOLPH D. SWINDELL, " 
 
 G. W. SEAMANS, Madison county, 
 
 JAMES T. SWAFFOYD, Saline county, 
 
 W. HOLLEMAN, 
 
 JOHN M. DEMINT, 
 
 ENOCH H. VANCE, 
 
 MILES L. LANGLEY, Clark county, 
 
 J. M. STAPP, 
 
 C. T. JORDAN, 
 
 JOHN BURTON, " " 
 
 JOHN C. PRIDDY, Montgomery county, 
 
 REUBEN LAMB, " " 
 
 E. D. AYRES, Pulaski county, 
 
 T. D. W. YONLEY, 
 
 E. L. MAYNARD, 
 
 WILLIAM STOUT, Pope county, 
 
 BURKE JOHNSON, Yell county, 
 
 ELIAS G COOK, 
 
 L. D CANTRELL, Pike county,- 
 
 WILLIS JONES. 
 
 JAMES A. BUTLER, Phillips county, 
 
 T. M. JACKS, 
 
 HORACE B. ALLIS, Jefferson county, 
 
 JOHN BOX, Jackson county, 
 
16 
 
 CALVIN C. BLTSS, Independence county, 
 A. B. FRYREAR, St. Francis county, 
 LEMUEL HELMS, Sevier county, 
 R. L TURNER, Ouachita county, 
 THOMAS J. YOUNG, Polk county, 
 JAMES IIUEY, " " 
 
 ANDREW a. EVANS, Dallas county, 
 R. IL STAXFIELD, 
 AVILLIAM COX, Drew county, 
 L. DUNSCOiMB, Conway county. 
 
 [F.] 
 
 Extract from the message of the Provisional governor of Arkansas, delivered in^ April 1864 
 
 Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. 
 
 "On the sixth of May, 1861 a Convention o'the people of ArVflnoog, met in this Hall. 
 A majority of that Convention had most solemnly pledged theii selves t • the people that 
 electad them, to resist to the last extremity. Secession and Rebe ion. ' Yet instigated bv 
 a stranee insanity, they basely betrayed those who had trusted tne u, and passed an Or- 
 dinance o! Secrssion, and made preparation to resist the auth •rities of the United States 
 by force of amis, bping confederate with other slave States. From that day loyalty and 
 srood faith to the United States have been considered a crime, to be punished by confisca- 
 tion of property and death. Since then the sufFerings of those whom fear could not be- 
 guile into active participation in the rebellion have been terrible, — of which it is not 
 necessary now to speak, — they are engraved on the memory of all. 
 
 The arrival of the Federal army under Gen. Steele at the^ Capital of the State, and the 
 army of Gen. Blunt at Fort Smith, gave an opportunity to honi^st men to speak and act 
 with some degree of freedom. The opportunity was improved prom )tly. The people 
 of the North-western counties called fiublic meetings, passed resolutions expressive of 
 their desire to return to the Union and to the protection of its government, and to reor- 
 ganize the State Government based on principles of freedom to all races. This movement 
 had just eomiiiei^ced vhen it was stimulated and sustained by the President's proclama- 
 tion of amnesty of Dee. 8th, 1863. Elections were held and delegates to a convention 
 were elected to assemble at Little Rock, in January, 1864. The delegates met at the Cap- 
 ital and orgaiiizf'd on the eleventh of January, 1864, a number of tliem being prevented 
 from attending by the disturbi^d state of the countrj'. They were earnest men and firm 
 patriots — ready to die for their country if need be, and presented an aspect of moral 
 sublimity rarely seen. The people for nearly threeyears, had endured the most crushing 
 tyranny ; — deprived of arms, — with no means of resistance, — the )ea!<t suspicion that any 
 one favored tiie Union or opposed the Rebellion, was sufficient to justify murder and as- 
 sassination in the opinion of the tyrants and the reckless mobs i hat ruled the country 
 during that terribl« period. That Convention adopted a Coustituti.m prohibiting slavery 
 or involuntary servitude except for crime, in other respects not differing materially with 
 the former; established a Provisional Government, appointed me the Provisional Gover- 
 nor of the State, atid subtnitted the Constitution to the people for rati cation. I assum- 
 ed no power and felt unwilling to perform any executive act uritil the Constitution and 
 ordinances were ratified by the people. They have been confirmed by the almost unani- 
 mous vote of the loy.;! voters of the State and I now feel j'jstified in assuming to act in 
 that capacity and calliog your attention to the conditicn of the Slate. 
 
 Previous to the act, of rebellion, the inhabitants of the State were possessed of all the 
 elements of happiness, secure in all thtir po'.sessions, — could truvel to any place in any 
 way in contideiice of security. That such has not been their condition since, all know. 
 I'uder the Constitution of the United States, enforced by the luu'itive slave laws, slavery- 
 was as well proteded, as it was possible to protect it by legislation. The moral eense of 
 the civilized woild was against it. Slave owners felt that, and eosieeived the insane idea 
 that by force of arms they could overcome that sentiment of oitpotiiion and obtain for it 
 grace, by showinjr it^ powuv If the designs of the good ruler of the world, and the des- 
 tinies ot war, can be known by events, this rebellion of slave-owners against the only 
 jirotection slaveiy had, most clearly proves that He had determined to put an end to the 
 
17 
 
 fystem. Perhaps this rebellion against, their own government, from -which they hav e 
 nevt-r siifleivd wioUi , and sgainsD their own interests, was the only way that could be 
 devised ID ep»-edily I estroy .lie |_)i cuiiar institution and etnbitter even the minds of its 
 adherents against it and to afF^d this grt-at end, their hearts were hardened, and their 
 judtjn ent biii dt-d. Bt Ihbt ik it Dia\, the institution is dead, and the people have buried 
 It iu this Stale b^ tht adop.ion of the Constitution too deep ever to be resurrected. " 
 
 ISAAC MURPHY, 
 
 Prov. Gov. Ark, 
 
 [G.] ' 
 
 Letter from the Adjutant General of Arkansas to Hon. S. C Pomeroy in relation to the 
 
 troops of that State. 
 
 Washington, D. C, January 28, 1865. 
 H n. S. C. Po fEROY U. S. S. 
 
 Sir : I respectfully present, herewith, for your con-ideration, a statement of the number 
 of white troops raised from the .State of Arkansas, fir the defence and maintenauce of 
 the Union. It is approximate only, for coining to Washington oo other business, 1 did 
 not «-ontemplate tnuking such a comiuunicati.ju when I lett the State. 
 
 There are in the United States service from Arkansas, four cavalry and two infantry 
 regiments, and one six giin battery. The First Cavalry numbers i,OUO effective men 
 and all these orgauizatijns, it is believad, have held their o wn as well as regiments 
 generally. 
 
 The First Cavalry, M. La R le Harrison, Colonel commanding, was organized in the 
 year 1862, under a special order from the War Department, the first enlistments taking 
 piace as early as March. 
 
 Un the 18 h of April, 1863, assisted by the First Infantrv, then not fu'ly organized 
 and only parrially armed, ii successfully defended the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas 
 against an attacking force of three times their numt>er, aided by aitilleiy. This regi- 
 ment is now stationed at Fayetteville, and on the 28rh ot October last, repelled a be- 
 eeiging force 2 000 strong. Again, on the 3.1 of Noveintjer, the town was attacked by 
 General Fagan, with his entire division, and somw irregular troops, exceeding in all 
 6,000 men. A successful resistance was once mt>re made by the First Cavalry, a 
 email detachment of the First Infantry and 200 militia, who behaved with steadiness 
 and bravery. 
 
 The iSecond Cavalry, Colonel John E Phelps commanding, organized in 1863, and now 
 in Gent^ral Thomas's command puticularly di-ti guis led it-elf in the late great raid 
 into Missouri. Constituting a po.ti ■& oi General 8aib)r.rs force, and led by Col- 
 onel Phelps it was frequently in the ad van e, and participated honorably in the se- 
 ries of engagements that re-<ulted in the discomfiture of Price's army. 
 
 Tiie Third Cavalry, organize! dunn:? the same year at Little Rock, Colonel A. H. 
 Ryan commanding, is eow on duty at Lewisburg on the Arkansas river, and has already 
 accomplished a great good, iu extermioa ing or driving away a large number of the 
 guerillas, with whom the State has tieen infested. 
 
 The organization of the Fourth Cavalry has just been perfected, its Colonel, La Fay-. 
 «tte Gregg, having been mastered dui-iug the present m.)aih. This regiment bad the 
 minimum number of men some months since but as fast as enli-ted, recruits were placed 
 on active duty, and the usual casualties of the service prevented for a time, the com- 
 pletion of the organization Tlie regiment is now on duty at DeVxU's Blutf 
 
 The First Infantry, Colonel J M. Johnson co nmanding, w ts raised directly after the 
 battle of Prairie Grove. It part cipated, as alreaiy of)8erved. in the first defence of 
 Fayetteville and in the spring of 1864, moved with the Frontier Division of the 7 h 
 Army Corps from Fort Smith to Cam len, co operating there wiVh the forces from Little 
 Rock, and bearing an honorable part in the successes and reverses of that Campaign. It 
 likewise was the fir-it regiment to enter Fort Smith in September. 1863 this honor being 
 genu ously accorded by Gen<"ral Blunt, then in command of the forces operating on the 
 F ont.er; and at Fraine D Auue, it and the Second Infantry bore the brant of a tierce 
 artillery attack. 
 
 The Second Infantry, Coloue. M L. Stephenson commanding, belongs also to the Fron- 
 tier Division, and participated in the campaign referred to. At Saline river, where was 
 fought one of the severest infantry engagements of the war, it beha/ed with great gal- 
 lantry. Colonel Stepheneon being severely wounded. 
 
18 
 
 The First Battery, Captain Denton D. Stark commanding, was organizeil in 1863 ; be- 
 longs to the came Division ; took part in the campaign meiitioned, and at Priarie D'Anne, 
 •where General Steele's entire army was drawn up in line of battle, and partially en- 
 gaged, its evolutions and practice were especially commendable. This battery together 
 with the First and Second Infantry have since been stationed at and in the vicinity O'f 
 Fort Smith. 
 
 Other regiments have partly been raised, but since consolidated with older organiza- 
 tions. The militia of the State have aho been called out to a considerable extent, and 
 have done good service especially on the Frontier. 
 
 Finally, hundreds of the citizens of Arkansas have enlisted in Iowa, Kansas, Illinois 
 and Missouri regiments, and it is entirely safe to say, that, during the present rebellion, 
 the State has furnished 10,0(X1 white troops for the defence of the Union, and but for the 
 issuance of circular No 31 from the office of the Provost Marshal General, dated August 
 ;;l, 1864, which practically prevents the return of many loyal men who have been con- 
 scripted into the rebel armies, the number of the troops of the State would be much 
 larger than it now is. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 A. W. BISHOP, 
 Adjutant General of Arkansas. 
 
 [H.] 
 
 The fairness of the Election in Arkansas. 
 
 The following correspondence was published in the Natioi:al Democrat nt Little Rock, 
 December 10, 1864. General Steele, commander of the Department of Arkansas at the 
 time, gives, it will be observed, decided testinony to the fairness and honesty of the 
 election of officer?, and the general management of the re-organization of the State undei'' 
 the President's proclamation : 
 
 C0BRE8P0NDENGK. 
 
 > Oi-FicE or Secritart of State, Arkansas. 
 
 Little Rock, Nov. 25, 1864. 
 Major General Steele, Commanding Departinent Arka7isns, 1th Army Coi'ps : 
 
 Dear Sir: An impression seems to prevail in many portions of our country that the 
 Stale of Arkansas is en^ irely overrun by guerrillas, condaiug our civil and military con- 
 trol of the .strtte to a few military posts. 
 
 It is also thought by many unacquainted with the facts of the case that the present 
 State organization of Arkansas is the result of outside and illegitimate influence, and 
 not a spontaneous movement of the loyal citizens of the State, or at least not a mnjority 
 of those citizens. 
 
 As these impressions, supericdueed by erroneone accourts of newspaper correspon- 
 denis, and strengthened by an allusion in the late mess, ge of the rebel President, are 
 calculated to prt-judice the interests of Aikansas, both iu a civil and military point of 
 view, I would take it as a great favjr if you would furnish this office with a vindicatioa 
 80 far as justified by facts, which none are so well acquainted with as yourself. 
 Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 ROBERT J. T, WHITE, 
 
 Secretary of State, Arkansas, 
 
 Headquarters Department of Arkansas, <tc. 
 
 Little Rock, November 30, 1864. 
 Hon E. J. T. White^ Secretary of State: 
 
 Dear Sir: Your communication, dated 25th instant, was received this morning. You 
 ask me to furnish you with certain facts relative to the civil ami military control of af- 
 fairs in this State, which you think will have a tendency to correct erroneous impres- 
 sions that rxist in 9ome quarters. 
 
 The present State organization was gotten up under my own observation, but was rot 
 suggested by m\8eli, nor, to the best of my knowledge and belief, by any other official 
 of the Uniied States Government. When the matter was first mentionea to me, I ex- 
 pressed the belief that it was premature, but was soon led to believe that it was a spon- 
 
19 
 
 taneons movement on the part of tho people to reestablish a civil government, of which 
 tbey had been for some ti>ne depriveil. 
 
 The loyal citizens hiij, diirintj the rt-h' Uion. sufferer' 1o sui'h an extent from militory 
 dep otif^ni, that they would have hjoktd wiih RU:<pieion upon any attempt on the part of 
 the military authorities to i terfere in tins business Tlie lUDvenient was initiated by 
 them, and they had every opportunity of expressing their uribia^sed opinions at the 
 polls, wherever they were opened. Commissioners cli sen by themselves were furnished 
 with poll books gotten up in such 8t^ le that do frauds could be perpetrated ; either in 
 regard to the number or (lualitiiiations of the voters. So far as t could judge there 
 never wa^* a moi-e hone t eiecliou, and a very large majority of the loyal citizens of the 
 Stnte recorded their votes. 
 
 There are some guerrillas in this State, but probably not so many aa there are in some 
 StHtes further north. 
 
 Those only infest portions of the State, and partake more of the ckaraeter of high- 
 way robbers than partisans. 
 
 They have levied such contributions upon the rebels themselves that, we are informed, 
 Gen. Maajruder has ordered his troops to shoot them wherever they may be found. 
 
 The rebel President, not having been in Arkan^^as himself is somewhat mistaken in 
 regard to the extent of his jurisdictian in this State, as he was io supposing that 
 "Steele had surrendered at Camden with his entire army." 
 
 Since the occupation of Little Rotk by our forces the rebel troops have held no part 
 of tht State north of the Saline permanently. They have had nomadic commands north 
 of the Saline and even nortli of White river, but no permanent po^ts. 
 
 Their locations have generally been changed on the approach of our scouting parties. 
 Our troops have several times dnven them out of Princeton and Arkadelphia. They 
 liave occupied Monticello longer at a time than any otlier place north of the Saline, but 
 the strongest force they ever had there, left with indecent haste a few weeks since, on 
 hearing that our troops were advancing on them. We have evidence of this in captured 
 letters written by rebel ofiicers. 
 
 Shelby, in his raid, drove a small cavalry toree from Dardanelle, and captured a guard 
 on the railroad, but was driven off by Geiger's brigade of cavalry, and pursued by them 
 several days. 
 
 Price, after maneuvering for several weeks to get acro's the Arkansas, travelling two 
 or three hundred miles out of his way, always avoiding this post, managed to cross at 
 Da'danelle, while Magruder, with a large force, was threatening on the south and 
 Shelby on the north. Hnving crossed eighty miles istant from any one of our perma- 
 nent military posts, he hastened to Missouri, with Mower's command following him. 
 
 On his retnrn he fled through the northwestern part of the State, with his command 
 broken into fragments. His officers and men were freqieaily met by our S(!OUting pir- 
 ties and eithei- killed or captured. His men are still coming into our posts and voIuq- 
 tarily surrendeiing themselves. 
 
 At present the rebels hold no portion of this State, that I can hear of, except a lin« 
 from C.4mden to Red river, and some outposts; and this with a feeble tenure. 
 
 General Mngruder has ordered the citizens to fall back across Red river, or he would 
 leave them only thirty days' rations. 
 
 Rebel citizens are also moving from the north side of the Arkansas. 
 
 One of our scisuting parties overhauled a traia of thirty wagons a few days ago, 
 loaded with the effects of rebel citizens who are going south, having abandoned their 
 homes north of the Arkansas. 
 
 Tliis does not look like the rebels holding the principal part of the State. 
 
 A^'ery respectfully, 
 
 F. STEELE, Major General. 
 
 Extract from a letter from the late Provost Marshal General of the Department of Ar 
 kanms, to the Governor of that State, in relation to the military Situation therein. 
 
 nEAD^UARTKRS DlPT. OF ARKANSAS, AND 7tH ArMY CoBPS, 
 
 Office of Provost Alarshal General, Little Ruck. Ark:, Pec. 14, 1864. 
 To His Excellency, Isaac Murphy, Governor of Arkansas. 
 Governor : 
 
 " At no time has the State been bo free from hostile tread as it now is, and it can be 
 
20 
 
 tmly said that no portion of th<> territory in dispute is so thoroncrhly reEfiined. T ha^e 
 to day received m^ honorablp dis?chHr<ie from the service, and I fr-.f] &'■ liWerty to m l-e 
 some etatemfuts to you which 1 could not so properl_y have done, while iu office, that 
 bear directly on this (loiut. 
 
 I have filled the office of Provost Marshal Genera' since the occupation of Little Rock, 
 until to da}', and iiad organized a very thoiough sys'eni of r<e«-ret service. Ttie re^^ult of 
 the information ■which has of late been obtained, establishes couclusively the fact, 'hut 
 sine* the disastrous failure of Geijeral PrieeV rod, the eneinv had resolved on the bban 
 donement of the State of AikHDsas, and fixing their line of defence on Red River. 
 
 General Magruder has ordered the country to be abandoned by the people, and an 
 nouDced that he will leave only thirty days provieiouB to aiy family failing to obey his 
 instructions to move south of Ht-d River. 
 
 The entire strength of General Magnider's army, inclusive of the remnant of General 
 Price's, does not exceed 20,uOO men, ttfectives. 
 
 I am, Governor, very respectfully, your obedient servant. 
 
 J. L. CHANDLER. 
 
 ["K."] 
 
 JSxUact from a letter from the Governor of Arkansas in relation to the present condition 
 
 of the State. 
 
 Washington, D. C, January 30, 1865. 
 Hon. S. C. PoMEROY, U. S S. 
 
 Sir: T have just received from his ExeeMency, Tsaao \Inr|>hy. Governor of Aikmsa^, 
 a leit-r written on the 19 h in-tant, trom whio*i the foilmvintr are t-x'iart.-: 
 
 " The citizf IIS nuri h of ihe A kansHs r ver are pr*'i)ariinr to g'> to wnrk upon 'heir 
 farms, and organizt- for neighborhood defeni^e. (loerilia binds are g'ling 8i)Uih. In sev- 
 eral counties 1 have aui h<jiized volunteer oiginizition-i tor home defence andabeily 
 they are giving protect'Oi and creating conhdence. They arm and support thennelvt-s. 
 If the Government wiil keep large rebel forces from the State, the people will attend to 
 thieves and robbeis and with the aid of courts and juries, they will soon l>e driven from 
 the State. The mere laet of the exi tetice of a Unit d States court here is doint; jjood, 
 although the first term will not commence uiitil Apiil There ought to be another 
 court established in the northwest, and in the present condition of thiigs, the court 
 should sit at lea»t four times in the year. 
 
 A grCHt change has taken place in the views of secessionist''. Events are using the 
 most convincing arguments, and some of the heretofore most eIlthu^iastic rebt-ls ai* now 
 utterly opposed to the piiiciples they foimerly advocated. Thif< 1 know from conver- 
 sation with them. The chat ge eflecled on the subject of slavr-ry is equally inaik'd. I 
 have not lately conversed with'any inte ligent slaveholder who does not admit tliai. sla- 
 veiy^ean never be re-eslablit-hed. They could not be induced to attempt again the con- 
 trol of tla%es. The danger would be too great and the profit too small, and that all 
 races and colors should be equal before the law, in certainly the true dootriue. It lies at 
 the foundation of our system of free governuient. " 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 A. W. BISHOP, 
 Adjutant General of Arkansas. 
 
 Proceedings of a Union Mass Meeting, held in the Hall of the House of Representatives 
 at Little Jiock. Arkansas, November 3(J, 18C4. 
 
 At a meeting of the citizens of Little Rock, Arkansas held in the Hall of the House o' 
 Representatives, November 30, ISril, for the purpose of taking und-r con'^ileration the 
 condition of tlie State, Robert/ J. T. White was called to the chair, and J. W. Demby 
 chosen Secretary. 
 
 The Chair having briefly explained the object of the meeting, it was addresned by 
 Governor Murphy, after whi ;h the foUowitg rcsolutiona were introduced by Colonel 
 Bishop and passed unanimously : 
 
21 
 
 Wliprpas ihe Ppp8id<>nt of the United States, in and by his proclamation of Deceniber 
 8, 1863 <1i(i declare and make known to the people <>f he insurrectionary States a meth- 
 od bv wiiich their State government could be reoiganized 
 
 And wher»-a9 the loyal citizens of Arktinsaa did, on the 14th, 15th, a-id 16th days of 
 March last, ad.'pt a free Slate constitution, a d rr-estahlish a State Knven.metit under 
 and in pur-nance of said proclama'ion, but which government. ha-> thus far failed of re- 
 CHgnitioii in th« Congress of the United Stages, then by greatly difcournging the loyal 
 ciiizeis of the State, and streng hnning th.* rebe lion within her b'udefs ; therefore, 
 
 RfHo'ved, That the Prf-sident of the Unitnid St.a'e« be and he is hereby requested to en- 
 forc-i up'Mi Coniresa at the enrliest praulictble m tmeiit, the urgent necessity for ttie iia- 
 mediate full, and effective rfC>gniti.»n of the State g^jverntn^'nt, by admit'in< to the now 
 VHcait 6>'-\U ill the National L-gi^laiure those members whom the people of the States, 
 ia t*ie e'c rji<-! of th lir > H i it >n A 'i <»'•<, ha e !h ne i 'o r^p'vsat fie n. 
 
 hexolved That as loyal citizens of thi* S'ate, we are entitled to thrt full benefit of the 
 onstit.itional pr >visoii that guarantees to every State in the Union a republican form of 
 govermnenr, aid protection to its citizens thereunder; that, we utterly repudia'e the ac- 
 tion of the State convention of IStil in asmning, without authority, to take .\rkHn-«a9 
 out of tiie Union, and we avail ourselves of this occasion to renew the expression of our 
 devotion to the Union of our fathers, and our attachment to that flag, which, in iti stare 
 and stripes, symboliz-is a great and expinsive (roverninent. 
 
 Re.tolued, That the present unfortunite condition of our State demands the immediate 
 atienii in of the General (rovern nent and that the longer withholding of that recognition, 
 which we have beeti led to expect, and mujh more its final refusal will work evils in the 
 State even more alar niU;^ and ^isa^trous than those to which oir ci'izens have already 
 been suttjected; thit while it is greatly to be regretted that hundreds of our citizens have 
 left the Stite si ice March last many others will quickly follow them vhen it is definitely 
 known tha' th<jir efforts to re establish a State government made at the peril of their 
 liVf8, have bf-en cast asi le a'. VV^a<hinaton, a id that until the decision of Congress is made 
 known, the Legislature abo it t > as-ie able cmnot t tficiently exercise their funrtions, nor 
 can money be borr .wed or taxes collectel while the stability of the State government is 
 cloudel (vitli doubt a id ini-igiving. 
 
 Resolwd, Ttiat wj cordial y co operate with all those citizens, who, whatever their 
 p ilitical ant'Cedents, are novv actively and earnestly loyal, tnat we depreca'e the prac- 
 tic-! of crimination and recrimination that unfortunately exists to some extent in our mids^., 
 and that fo- the enhancement of the c »'nin >n g »o i and the security and grow'h of our 
 State in thi)s-' elem^^nts that inake a (>eopie great, hippv, aid prosperou«, we will support 
 a id m ijntai i ics pre e it co istitu'ion aid g overnmeiit, rcg irding them as the g -rm of a new 
 life, and above all deprecating any return to that system of administration which a 
 military givernm-'nt woi«ld imply. 
 
 U'her resolutions similar ia purport were introdiic«»d bv O Jennings, Esq , of Hemp- 
 stead county, and passed by the meeting, after addresses fro ■\ W O. Stoddard Knq., 
 United States mars lal, B isha B ixter, United States Senator elect, Hon, Truaan Warner, 
 Hon. James A Butler, and others. 
 
 ROBERT J. T. WHITE. Chairman. 
 
 J. W. Dbmbt, Secretary. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 JlllillllllllliliiHiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiMiiiMi^ 
 014 647 876 1 W 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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