[Arkansas]: Pomeroy, James M.:

$2,500 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. FRAMED AND ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION WHICH ASSEMBLED AT LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 7th, 1868....WITH MARGINAL NOTES, A FULL DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE ... The Littell copy of Arkansas' unsurprisingly contentious Reconstruction Constitution. While it allowed Arkansas to rejoin the Union, restrictions on rights for former Confederates and other ideas considered "Radical Republicanism" resulted in anger and violence in response. This constitution strengthens the power of the Governor's office, recognizes "the equality of all persons before the law" regardless of "race, color, or previous condition," enfranchises Blacks, grants property rights to women, voids the secession constitution of 1861, restricts the voting rights of former Confederate officials and soldiers (until 1876), outlaws dueling, establishes a system of free public schools, and forbids religious tests as a qualification for office. James Pomeroy, who compiled this volume, was a Little Rock lawyer.Following the adoption of this constitution, Union-general-turned-Governor Powell Clayton tried largely in vain to enforce its strictures and curtail Klan activities and other agitation in the state. When Clayton left to become a senator, the gubernatorial election of 1872 became a hotly contested race between Elisha Baxter and Joseph Brooks. Voter intimidation and election fraud were the words of the day, but eventually Baxter was certified as the victor. Brooks took a group of armed

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