Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. The text of Steele's address contained in his telegram of March 2 is as follows:
``To the People of Arkansas:
``It affords the Genl commanding the highest gratification to be able to say that, by the conduct of the army under his command, in connection with the Administration of the Government by its officers at Washington, peace has, so far been restored in your midst as to enable you to institute proceedings for the restoration of the civil government, by which order may be firmly established and the rights of persons and property secured against violence and the dangers of anarchy.
``The convention of your citizens held at Little Rock during the last month, has adopted a constitution and submitted it to you for your approval or rejection. That constitution is based upon the principles of freedom and it is for you now to say by your voluntary and unbiased action whether it shall be your fundamental law, while it may have deficits in the main in accordance with the views of that portion of the people who have been resisting the fratricidal war which has been made during the last three years to overthrow the government of our country.
``The convention has fixed the 14th day of March next on which to decide this great question and the General commanding is only following the instructions of his government when he says to you that every facility will be affixed for the expression of your sentiments uninfluenced by any considerations save those which effect your own interests and those of your posterity. If you will now institute a government of your own, he feels great confidence in assuring you that quiet and security will soon be restored to your Eastern borders. Those who have been unwisely led by the counsel of bad men to engage in the unjustifiable and wicked rebellion will speedily return and acknowledge