Rebellion and Realignment: Arkansas's Road to Secession

288 Pages·1987·6.666 MB·English

by  James M. Woods

REBELLION AND REALIGNMENT

REBELLION
---------AND---------
REALIGNMENT
ARKANSAS'S ROAD TO SECESSION
James M. Woods
The University of Arkansas Press
Fayetteville 1987
Copyright© 1987 by James M. Woods
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
Designer: Patricia Douglas Crowder
Typeface: Linotron 202 Primer
Typesetter: G & S Typesetters, Inc.
Printer: Thomson-Shore, Inc.
Binder: John H. Dekker & Sons, Inc.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American
National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1984. 9·
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Woods, James M., 1952-
Rebellion and realignment.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Arkansas-History. 2. Arkansas-History
Civil War, 1861-1865. 3. Secession. I. Title.
F4II.W63 1987 976.7 85-21024
ISBN 0-938626-59-0
This book is gratefully dedicated to my parents,
Judge Henry and Kathleen Woods.
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to many people for this book. Dr. John B. Boles, now of Rice Univer
sity, directed this study as a Tulane doctoral dissertation. President Frank Van
diver of Texas A & M University first steered me onto this topic, and oversaw my
earhest efforts as my master's thesis director at Rice University. Others in aca
demia who have helped include: Drs. Bill Malone and Lawrence Powell of Tulane
University, Dr. Roland Pippin of Northwestern State University, Dr. Walter Brown
of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Dr. C. Fred Williams of the Univer
sity of Arkansas at Little Rock, Dr. Michael Dougan of Arkansas State University.
Special thanks to Dr. Richard Beringer of the University of North Dakota and
Dr. Dani~l Crofts of Trenton State College for their comments and criticisms.
Dr. June R. Welch of the University of Dallas and Dr. David Hodgson of Claflin
College provided me with strong moral support and encouragement.
Outside of academia, I wish to thank Miller Williams and his staff at the Uni
versity of Arkansas Press. This book was greatly improved by the hard work of
Mr. Ernest Dumas of the Arkansas Gazette and ofmy parents, Judge Henry and
Kathleen Woods. Thanks also to Dr. John Ferguson and his patient staff at the
Arkansas History Commission. I must include Catherine Catalfamo of the Arkan
sas Territorial Restoration and Margaret Ross of the Arkansas Gazette Foundation
Library. Others in need of recognition include: Thomas Woods, Eileen Harrison,
Ray and Diane Hanley, Kathi Schiel, Mrs. Macon Kirkman, Harry and Sue
Graham, Joseph and Carolyn Brady, Orlando and Mary Moron, and Eric Wedig.
Thanks also to my personal friends who loved and supported me throughout this
endeavor, and to the Lord Jesus Christ who gave me the grace to see this book to
its completion.
Finally I need to thank my wife, Becky, for without her love, patience, prayers,
and encouragement, it would have never been finished.
Contents
Introduction l
I A Promise Unfulfilled: Settlement of the Arkansas Frontier 5
II A Story of Contrasts: Regional Differences and Economic
Development in Antebellum Arkansas 17
III The Foundation of a Dynasty: Parties and Politics in
Arkansas, 1819-1849 32
IV Neither Ready Nor Willing: Arkansas During the
Compromise Crisis, 1849-1851 43
V Change and Continuity: Family Rule in Arkansas,
1851-1859 53
VI Beyond His Merest and Most Sanguine Hopes: Thomas
Hindman and the Defeat of the Dynasty, 1859-1860 70
VII Arkansas Is With the South: State Politics During the
Presidential Election of 1860 91
vIII Division Over Disunion: The Realignment of Arkansas
Politics During the Winter of 1860-1861 113
IX Avoiding Secession and Dismemberment: The State
Convention and the Campaign for Cooperation,
March 4-April 15, 1861 133
X War and Secession: Consensus and Conflict 153
Conclusion 166
Appendix: Tables and Figures 171
Notes 197
Bibliography 255
Index 271

REBELLION AND REALIGNMENT