jJHigtel'iii 1 . !.W.I'JlfF1^*—!' .il.. I ■.'■WegH»"AW„m—EgaiL—L Lgli «-'■HHJ-L- I '■ - 1-1_■.■ ..■■■BB---!- ----——— -
_ ■£)&& n'tuu w^iBai.¥ ._ _ ,
friends of the aspirant afterwards nomina
ted for Senator As I am informed, he
was chosen to lead the forces ol that aspi
rant. He was selected for that responsi
ble position by a private caucus,held in the
room of a Know Nothing member, (Afr.
Johnson, of St. Francis.) and presided
over by the Speaker of the House,(Afr.
Votes, of Monroe.) on Sunday night,
November 7th. The resolution is there
fo(e additionally important. Let us ex
amine it closely.
Resolved, That all questions to be deter
mined by this Convention, shall be determined
by a majority of those who are present, in
person, or by proxy.
Who were present at the time ? The
printed report of the proceedings commen
ces with the statement, that '‘the Demo
cratic members of both Houses met.” The
Bible tells us that "when the sons of God
came to present themselves before the
Lord, Satan came also among them.” So
it was in the caucus. At the very first
vote taken, the names of Know Nothings
and Disorganizers appear on the record.
‘‘The Democratic members” were there:
"Satan came also among them," and the
resolution I have quoted was designed to
mako room for him—in "the family.”
There seemed to bo need for his servicies,
and, like a complaisant and obliging devil,
he was "ready to serve his friends and
customers." He had been with them,
cheek by jowl, in their secret, Sundaynighl
caucus—that was work suited to his taste
—and now, a3 true to them as they had
beento him, here he was to do their bid
ding. His hoof-marks are visible wherev
er the ayes and noesure afterwards enter
ed,and at the climax and finale of nomina
tion, his horns, hoofs and tail ail ap
pear.
“lie is a friend indeed.
Who is a friend in need.”
The Griffin resolution would have pass
ed at once—opening the doors of the cau
cus to all members of the General
Assembly, of all politics and no pol
itics—had it not been opposed by some
good and true men, who had not bowed
the knee to Baal and who remained
steadfast in their integrity. Of such
there was a gallant band, who fought
the fusionists with the valor of Leonidas
and his Spartans, and, when overpowered
by numbers, fell covered with glory and
shrouded in the folds of the Democratic
flag. One of these champions of the faith
(.\Ir. Baxter, of Independence,) offered
the following resolutions, as a substitute
for the one I have commented on:
Resolved, Tint we, as representing the
Democracy of Arkansas, do cordially endorse
the well-known principles and policy of oar
party, and fully approve that ancient well es
tablished and invaluable Democratic usage —
the Convention System.
2. — Resolved, That none except good and
truo State-Rights Democrats should be admit
ted into a Democratic convention or caucus,
and wc refuse to recognize any man as a Dem
ocrat who was elected in opposition to a reg
ular Democratic nominee, or who failed—un
less providentsally prevented—to vote for the
nominee of his district for Congress at the
August election, 1808.
3. —Resolved. That wk deem this a suite
able occasion for declaring, that—whatever
may be the result of this caucus—we condemn
and repudiate any and all appoals, by Demo
cratic aspirants, to Know Nothings or Disor
ganizes foa support.
4. —Resolved, That we will not go into the
election of Uuittd States Senator until after a
nomination has been made, according to our
party usages and precedents.
5. —Resolved, That as to the number of
votes necessary to a nomination, the same rule
shall be in force in this caucus that governed
the caucus of 1852, which nominated a candi
date for the Senatorial seat for which this
caucus is about to nominate a candidate—to
wit: the two-thirds rule.
As will be observed, the lust of these
resolutions proposed the two-thirds rule.
The adoption or non-adoption of that rule
was, of course, a matter of expediency.
In our national convention of 1844, it ac
complished much good, causing Van Bo
ren’s defeat and the nomination of James
K. Folk, whose administration was era-1
phatically the “golden era” of the Repub
iKnn in nnr tf'nn v»»nt inns nf
1818, 1852 and 1850, it has been recog
nized as an organic rule of our national as
semblies. Its repeal, by the Charleston
convention of I860, would be a triumph of
the Douglas faction and a crushing de
feat to the South. I trust no such galling
calamity is in store for us, but that the
Charleston'convention will maintain the
old two-thirds rule and, under its operation,
place at the head of our legions the bat
tle-scarred s'alesman of Mississippi, Jef
fehson Davis, or entrust our standard to
that lofty patriot, R. M. T. Hukteu, ol
Virginia. Still, as I have said before, the
application of the two-thirds rule to an
Arkansas Senatorial caucus is merely a
question of policy, about which differen
ces of opinion may reasonably exist among
Democrats. I must be permitted to say. j
however, that opposition to that rule by die
friends of the aspirant who was nomina
ted by this caucus of November 9ih, 1858,
does savor of inconsistency, inasmuch as
that gentleman certainly was nominated
under the two-thirds rule in 1852. The
old adage—‘'circumstances being altered,
alters the case’’—may perhaps account
for the change of tactics.
But as to the balance of tiiese Baxter
resolutions, there was not the shade of a
justification for any diversity in sentiment
or in action. They declared no new
fangled doctrine or practice—they added
nothing to our established creed and pre
termitted none of it—they changed none
of our established usages and ignored
none. In the fullest sense of the words,
they were right, proper and Democratic.
In every Democratic county convention
held during the last canvass, they would
have passed without a dissenting voice.
If all the Democratic voters of Arkansas
were now assembled here, in grand mass
meeting, and these resolutions were pro
posed to them for adoption, the few squeak
ing negatives that might be heard would
be drowned by the thunders of approval
shouted by unamimous thousands. And
yet—oh, ‘'tell it not in Gath, proclaim it
not in Askelon"—these resolutions were
bitterly—yes, malignantly opposed in that
model “Democratic" caucus of November
9th! Not only were they opposed, but—
astounding and incredible as it may seem
—they were voted down, by the over
whelming vote of yeas 5-5—nays 33.
The pretext set up for this barefaced
repudiation of Democracy was, that the
5th Baxter resolution embodied the two
thirds rule. To obviate that objection, the
mover of the resolutions called for a di
vision of the question, so as to take the
vole on each separately. The chairman,
(Mr. Rtdmond, of Monrot,) by an im
prbvement on parliamentary law, decided
the demand •* out of order!” That de
. ciaion compelled those present to vote . in
\ favor of all the resolutions, or against all.
The record shows that eighty-eight mem
bers voted. Those eighty-eight look u[
the 6th resolution—embodying the two
thirds rule, a mere policy—and weighed
it, as it were, against the other resolutions
containing principle. Thirty-three of
them found that principle outweighed pol
icy, and therefore voted for all the reso
lutions. Fifty-five of them, on'the other
hand, were induced, by the insidious niti
fices of their leaders, to decide that poli
cy was more ponderous than principle, and
therefore voted against all the resolutions
repudiating principles which they pro
fessed to endorse, rather than vote for o
policy they objected to. This was the ex
planation their leaders gave at the time
Hut even that tottered and triflrig fig
leaf of an apology was torn from them' at
the next instant, by a further test. A Sen
ator (Mr. Hammond, of Hit Spring,)
offered this abbreviation of the Baxtei
resolutions : —
Resolved, That we, as representing the
Democracy of Arkansas, do cordially endorse
the well-known principles of the Cincinnati
Platform.
Resolved, That none except good and true
Sates-Right* Democrats should he admitted
into a Democratic Convention or Caucus.
. -rn.-r „ .„r rl,_
tion shall nominate a candidate for United
States Senator.
These Hammond resolutions were en
tirely free from the objection urged againsi
the Baxter resolutions, for they proposed
the majority rule instead of the two-thirds
rule. But they endorsed the Cincinnati
platform and excluded all “except good
and true Stale-rights Democrats." Their
adoption would have vacated the seats irt
ihp caucus held hy Know Nothings and
Disorganizes. That would have viola
fed the secret Sunday-night agreement;
it would have dissolved the coalition and
divorced the loving fusionists, not only
from bed and hoard, hut even from the
bonds of amalgamation. However much
the “ Hards,” or Old Line Democrats,
might have desired this divorce, the
“ Softs” and their opposition allies would
hy no means consent to it. The Ham
mond resolutions—including the National
Democratic platform, the convention sys
tem and the majority rule—were there
fore murdered ttt cold blood and cast into
the same grave with the Baxter resolu
tions. They were unceremoniously voted
down, or, ns the Secretary mournfully re
cords the fact, they were “ lost.” At the
same time and by the same act, the title
of that caucus to consideration as a Demo
cratic hotly was also “ lost”—never to be
regained until Lucifer and his ungels are
taken back in Paradise.
The subsequent action fully explains
what I have related, and is the key to the
fate of the Baxter and Hammond resolu
tions ; a key with which the door of the
Sunduy-niglu caucus may readily be un
locked, and all its hidden plottings ex
posed to view. Let us use it for that pur
pose.
The Griffin resolution, changed in form
but not in effect, and with a new resolu
tion attached to it as an amendment, was
read and adopted ns follows;—
Resolved, That all questions to be deter
mined by this convention shall be determined
and decided by a majority of all democratic
members of the Legislature, or those who rep
resent Democratic counties and are pledged to
support a Democrat for United States Senator.
Resolved, That this being merely a Dem
ocratic Caucus to nominate a candidate for
United States Senator, we will not consider
any attempt to make a platform for our Demo
cratic constituents, being not so authorized to
act.
The amendment, or second resolution,
sounds, at first reading, like an honest
confession of political incompetency. Well
might such a confession be made! Well
might the leaders in the caucus, who had
built such a ricketty piece of patchwork
for themselves and their friends, acknowl
edge their inability to construct a platform
for others ! But that is not the true
Tic- mooninrr i-s t 11il t I ll PniH'lK
...»
voted down the Baxter and Hammond
resolutions, because not authorized to
adopt a platform. Tho inference from
his is, that no platform is binding unless
adopted in pursuance of express instruc
tions. If that be so, then the Democratic
[tarty of the United States is at this mo
ment without any platform whatsoever,
for it is a fact that the delegates to our
national conventions have never been spe
ially empowered to lay down a platform.
We are then reduced to the necessity ol
rejecting the National Democratic plat
form. or repudiating the caucus of No
vember 9th. Truly, a sad dilemma lobe
placed in, if the Democracy of those who
managed the caucus is admitted, but )
otherwise no dilemma at all. Tho fact is
that the amendment i> a mere blind—an
afterthought—concocted to hide the enor
mity of voting down the Baxter and Ham
mond resolutions and to cover up the out
rage of admitting Know Nothings and
Disorganizes. Every intelligent voter
in the State will seo this at once, when'
lie observes that while the amendment so
studiously disclaims all authority to adopt I
a platform, the Griffin resolution, to which
it is attached, actually does adopt a plat
form, at the very same time—the before
jnheard-of platform of Know Nothings
and Disorganizing equality in Democratic
■aucuses and conventions. Canvass the
history of our party—disentomb the rec
ords of all its assemblies—scan those rec
ords from beginning to end—criticize each
of the myriad resolutions adopted—and
find me one of them all that accorJs with
this proposition to equalize our political
enemies with ourselves in our own house
hold ! Find me one that so audaciously
asserts their right to such equality ! Find
me one so entirely destructive of all our
principles and usages ! Outside of the
notable caucus of November 9th, there is
no parallel. But that caucus, abounding
in all manner of monstrosities, affords a
:win Caliban, to work in the amalgama
.ion harness With this delormed and crook- '
-mJ thing'. Behold the well-adapted yoke- j
fellow iu this resolution, offered by a mem
ber of the House. (.Mr. Oates, oj Monroe,)
- to define his position.”
Resolved, That in a Legislative Democratic ;
Caucus we are not the principals, but the j
agents of the several comities we represent,
and the political character of the county and
not of its agent is to be questioned in judging
of the right to take seats in said caucus.
Here it is directly asserted, that a Dis
organize!1, who has lifted his traitorous
hand against his former associates, and
won withered laurels for himself by cou
spiring with their enemies, nmy after
wards stalk, with brazen front, into a cau
cus called for Democratic purposes, and
impudently constitute himself tlie“ agent”
of a betrayed and outraged Democracy.
Here also it is unbluihingly affirmed, that
a Know Nothing, who has triumphed
over the Democracy of his county, who
has torn their flag from its bearers and
trampled it in the dust, who has spit upon
their platform and covered it with defam
ation nnd contumely, may yet take his seat
at their council-board ond patronizingly
christen himself their “ agent." Did mor
tal man ever see, hear, read or dream of
such effrontery as this i It absolutely ex
ceeds belief. They whom it suits may
call it *• Democracy.” I do not, and Cidd
forbid that I ever should! When the
“ hard-fisted yeomanry,” the honest Demo
cratic masses, come to test it, what will he
their judgment ? They will spurn it as a
base counterfeit, and the men who attempt
to pass it for genuine will be lashed, with
a whip of scorpions, naked, around the
State.
The proceedings I have commented on
transpired before my own eyes. As an
Arkansas Democrat, l felt indignant, and
so expressed myself. Thereby I have
drawn on myself the most concentrated
wrath nt I ht> sinn 11 mnnnrrr»rQ nf lh*» ran.
cus, and of certain outside high-priests
who manage them. They have sent a
thousand many-tongued rumors throughout
the State, all of the ominous purport, that
my defeat, as a candidate for re-election
to Congress, is already an irrevocable cer
tainty. To accomplish that result, it is
said that conferences have been he/d and
propositions made, to devise ways and
means for separating tne from my pres
ent constituents, or for adding to my dis
trict counties in which / ain supposed to
bo unknown and where embryo competi
tors are ready to burst the chrysalis. For
the same purpose, the bill to proviJe for
electing Representatives to Congress in
the year in which they take their seats,
instead of sixteen months in advance, as
at present, was kept so long between the
upper and nether millstones of delay and
secret opposition, against the known will
of a majority of the people, and in order
to bring on the election when I will be in
Congress, unable to canvass. For the
same purpose, the Jeffersonian rule of
“ honesty, capacity and fidelity” has been
nullified, and the rule of “ political neces
sity” substituted for it, under which a man
notoriously incompetent and convicted, by
formal report of a Legislative committee,
of swindling the State and plundering
her citizens, has been elected to the Hele
na Land Agency, located in my own coun
ty. For the same purpose, a rabble of
official panders and vile place-seekers,
have been hounded on me, and yelp and
snnrl, like mangy curs, at my heels—pro
claiming that I ought now to resign, at the
bidding of their masters, an honor con
ferred on me by eighteen thousand free
men.
Why should I resign, as these base
Hessians insist ? Havel been faithless
to my constituents, in my official position?
Not so, because my official life lias not
yet commenced, and, unless a special ses
sion be called, f cannot take my seat in
Congress until next December. Have I,
as a private person, sinned against pi'in
[ciple, or violated one tenet of Democracy!
Have T been lukewarm in defence of the
cause, or untrue to it ever, in thought, in
word, or in deed ? The self-sold hirelings
of an over-fed and mendacious newspa
per may say so, but the honorable man
does not live who hns made or will make
such an assertion or insinuation. At all
times and under all circumstances—
through good and through evil report—I
have been a working, out-spoken, unflinch
ing Democrat. 1 have never stopped to
count the cost of laboring for our party,
nor have I ever hesitated to do battle for
it. Misfortune, incurred in its behalf, has
inail.i ii 111 lli ii I ■ i > i m rwY /> »■ i ia n I ViAii cua
.. ' I O II
fore you. Blood, taken from near the
heart, lias sealed my devotion to it.
It is not because of any lukewarmness
or disloyalty, that I am fore-doomed to de
struction. The crime imputed to me is
that I have been and am over-zealous as
a Democrat—that I was not sufficiently
“ conservative” to shut my eyes, and close
my ears, and fold inv arms, and double-lock
my mouth, while'the sacred principles of
Democracy and all its time honored usa
ges were peddled out and huckstered
away by the amalgamation caucus of
November 9th. Thai is the sin for which
[ nm to he crucified. I glory in the of
fence and repeat it continually. When
honors are so cheapened in Arkansas as
only to be bad by bowing down before a
thing of brass and clay like ilia t, tjien 11
shall scornfully refuse to ask office. It
will have lost ell its attractions. Let the
result be what it may, 1 here affirm that I
am neither to be coaxed nor driven into
acquiescence in the precedent set by that
caucus, much less into . approval of it.
The •' frowning down” process may be '
attempted, but if ever efficacious, its day
lias passed. The guillotine of political
decapitation—with its bloody knife and all
its horrid paraphernalia—may loom up in
the distance, and be grimly pointed at by
the bloated Jacobins of Arkansas. But j
the reign of terror is ended and the threats |
of the terrorists no longer freeze the blood
or palsy the arm. 1 know not what oth
ers may do, but as for me, come weal or !
come woe, I will adhere to the old prin
ciples of State Rights and the ancient 1
land-marks of Democracy—opposing fu- ;
sions and coalitions and insisting, not only
on the exclusion of men who do not ap
prove our creed and abide by our usages, 1
but on the rebuke of those who have at
tempted to smuggle alien enemies into i
our ranks. This is the path of honor and ,
duty. I appeal to all Democrats to walk
with me therein. I will keep in it, turn
ing neither to the right not to the left, even 1
though political annihilation be the pen
ally. Until the fact is shown, 1 will not ,
believe that my Democratic brethren can
find it in their hearts to condemn me Cor
no other offence than fidelity to our party,
its doctrines and practices.
Since the fusionists and their pliant
sooth-sayers have sought to edify the pub
lic by prophesying rny downfull, permit
me to conclude my remarks with a pre
diction. which has one merit of which i
theirs is destitute—truth. They will be i
overthrown, and that speedily. The in- I
dignation of the people will consume them j
as stubble. Democratic wrath will burn j i
them up like chad'. They will be ousted 11
from their high places—hurled headlong
frointheofficialParndi.se in which they
revel—and made to wander forever in the
iirnho of political outcasts, Jhe warning
to Belshazzar already rings in their ears
—th«y will soon he horrified at seeing it
emblazoned, in fiery letters, on the ban
ners of the Old Line Democracy of Ar
kansas. As they behold the flaming in
scription, they will read it in their own
well merited sentence of condemnation:
“Weighed, and found wanting.”
They and their vassals pretend that L
misrepresent my Democratic constituents
in repudiating tlie amalgamation caucas
and that I ought, therefore, to resign. If
the Democrats of my district do approve
the course of that caucus, then I frankly
confess that I do not and cannot reflect
their sentiments. But I believe the state
ment to he a foul slander on them and on
the Democracy of Arkansas. To test the
matter at once, I am willing to discuss the
issue, this year, in every county in the
State, with any named champion of amal
gamation. If this offer is accepted, I will,
at eacli discussion, request the Democrats
present to vote on resolutions'sustaining
the positions taken in the speech I have
made here to night. If those resolution*
are voted down at the discussions in a*133"
jority of the counties of my district I w|d
immediately resign; on the jus* a|1(I ^a'r
condition, that if the resolution3 are adopt
ed at the discussions in a majority of the
counties of the State. »ften the nominee of
the caucus of November 9th shall imme
diately resign his seat in the Senate.
If mV assailants believe me to he in the
wrong, and themselves to be in the right,
they will promptly accept this proposition.
If they are conscious of their guilt and
afraid to meet the people, they will decline
it. In either event, the Democracy will
judge between us. I shall calmly await
the verdict.
For the Des Arc Citizen.]
DEFEAT OF THE DES ARC, DAR
DANELLE AND FORT SMITH
RAILROAD.
The Des Arc, Datdanelle and Fort
Smith Railroad bill, in the Legislature,
was lost by a majority of four.
Our citizens can bear this defeat and
pursue the even tenor of their way for two
years to come, when it is to be hoped that
men unbiased by local prejudices, or blind
ed by self-interest, will be elected in the
place of those, who have been willing to
squander thousands of dollars from the
Stale Treasury, yet dare to deny to some
of her citizens the priviledgo of building a
work for their own benefit—not their ben
efi'. only, but also, for that of the State
itself. The ques'ion is here asked, “How
would this work have benefited the Slate?’’
We answer, by spreading the arms of in
ternal improvement, which tends to ad
vance the interest of civilization and m
increasing the State revenue.
The erection of any work of improve
ment has heretofore tended to advance the
interests of the masses.
The building of Railroads in Russia has
been the means of abolishing serfdom in
that country. In France and England
they have been the means of bringing the
inland counties into closer connection with
the comforts and luxuries of Paris and
London. In this country they have tend
ed to increase the value of land and its
productions. They have, also, been the
means of building up towns, which other- i
wise would have halted in their course of ;
progress. As for example, Baltimore, ;
Maryland, whose harbor is one of the i
most indifferent on the Atlantic coast, and 1
yet she is now becoming one of the first t
cities in the Union, and why? Because
Lhe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as an j
arunciai cnannet oi iraue, us drawing to t
her that trade, which would have gone to |
New Orleans by those natural courses [
formed by the Mississippi river, and its \
tributaries, and the Western trade which s
should naturally build up a Southern city i
is now being used to build an Eastern t
:ity with abolition proclivities. 1
And what has our glorious Legislature 1
lone? Nothing but the same thing, by t
•ncouraging the building of a Road to r
Memphis (the Memphis and Little Rock s
Railroad) thus building up a town in Ten- i
lessee from which that Slate will derive
lenefit and Arkansas be the loser. i
Better let us be without Railroads alto- i
'ether, than to build them with their ter- t
ninus into another Stale. The natural i
dianuels of trade that we have now, will
nduce merchants to settle among us; but i
f we put a Railroad into operation termi- ;
titling elsewhere, it is but telling them, -
‘To stay away, and we will bring our ,
foods to you, provided, you will pay a tax t
o another State and not to ours.”
And all this is done, in the face of peti- (
ions to give us a market in our own State, s
iVhy riot build Des Arc up instead of t
Memphis? and thus concentrate our own t
hate trade within her limits and let her s
lerive the benefit from it. Better by far, i
or Arkansas to build Railroads from Des l
Yrc to within ten miles of Memphis and r
here slop them, so as to draw the trade i
o one of her rising towns, than seek to 1
lestroy that town as well as others by &
Iriving the trade out of the Stale.
Citizens of Arkansas, we call upon you 1
o note this action down, and when again 1
'oil are desired to speak at the pulls.
!peak for the benefit of your own State,
tnd inn for that of another. “Des Arc.
---
Army News. —A Washington dispatch r
says: General Albert S. Johnston, now t
n command of the Array at Utah, having ,
ipplied for leave of absence to enable him
o visit his family, the “leave” asked has
teen forwarded, with orders assigning s
Lieutenant Colonel Charles F. Smith, of
he Tenth Infantry, to command, under £
tis brevet rank of Colonel. 1
!
J. C. MORRILL, EDITOR.
DES ARC, ARKANSAS:
FRIDAY,.......... MARCH 4. 1859.
Adjourned.—The Legislature of Ar
kansas adjourned on the 21st ult. The
session lasted near four months, including
the recess from the 23d December V llie
23d January.
J®* Our correspondent “ Observer.
in his letter from Little Rock, |ejl week,
was mistaken in reference !o ‘1,e new
charier for the town ^ ^rc liavln£
become a law. 'me 1,111 "'as finally lost
in the fMfse. Query?—Wonder
what f*~ was paid a certain law maker
l0 oppose the new charter ?
Cor,. T. C. Hindman's Speech.—We
publish, to the exclusion of our usual varie
ty, the speech of Col. Hindman at Little
Rock, on the 15th ult. We invite a care
ful perusal of this effort of the Colonel’s
—believing that it is replete with truths
in which every tiue friend of the doctrine
of Slate Rights is deeply interested, not
only in Arkansas, but throughout the
nr»L . .- ..r .i.., --
ed to influences outside of the Democratic
ranks to secure their ends in the caucus
which nominated Mr. Sebastian for the
U. S. Senate, are shown up in a style
which it is unnecessary to enlarge upon
—the whole management is unravelled
and delineated by a master hand. We
maintained before the meeting of the Leg
islature that none but Democrats should
be permitted to sit in caucus and aid in
nominating the candidate for Senator.
Had this correct iule have been adhered
to, and Mr. Sebastian’s election secured
thereby, no complaint would have been
heard; but as it is, the Democracy of
the State have good reason to complain,
and the proceedings of the caucus of the
9ih November, 1S-5S, show the men upon
whom the responsibility rests. Let their
constituents take them in hand, and de
mand a recantation of their errors, and
should they refuse, leave them at home,
and send men to our Legislative halls,
who will not barter their principles for the
sake of electing a favorite to the U. S.
Senate.
y ——
For the Dos Arc Citizen.]
Mr. Editor:—I have quietly read the
True Democrat since the meeting at Des
Arc, in reference to the removal of the
Capitol, and have noticed the resolutions
of several little “one horse towns,” which
were evidently intended as a burlesque on
Des Arc, and friendly to the Capitol’s re
naming at Little Rock. There is noth
ng clearer than that the True Democrat
n tends by publishing the proceedings of
hese little cross-road meetings to assist
hem in their designs.
They fear Des Arc—they see her glo
y in the. future—they know she has the
ibility to comply with her propositions,
md that there is much danger of the Cap
tol's being removed from the leeches who
lave been sucking the blood from the vi
als of the State, io ! these many years.
The fame of Des Arc as a commercial
iumi uuu a yiuwmg is unug net
lded to every portion of the State. Iler
lopulution is increasing more than fifty
er cent, per annum. In a few years she
rill be the largest town in the State, and
he is already commercially so. Well
night Little Rock burlesque Des Arc, and
ly to keep iier down. She is a formida
le rival—shipping her eight thousand
ales of cotton, and selling near a million
f dollars worth of merchandize—com
aanding a trade from Little Rock, and
everal hundred miles above on Arkansas
iver.
You can't keep Des Arc down, gentle
nen. The God of nature has done too
nucli for her—she has perpetual naviga
ion and a rich and fertile soil surround
ng her on every side.
Run your railroad through Grand Prai
ie, twenty miles from any place—gel
our forty thousand dollars from the Slate
—use your influence to defeat the Des
Wc Dardanelle and Fort Smith Railroad
ill—but you can’t kill Des Arc.
The doom of Little Rock is sealed !—
)ne Legislature, and no more, will as
emble there. Senators and Representa
ives who have been led by the nose, and
heir votes controlled by “outside pres
ure,” will be left at home, and men who
are to think and act for themselves, will
e sent in their stead. Many an honest
mn has been sent to Little Rock, who
esired to make good and wholesome
iws, and the first thing he knows, to use
quaiut phrase, “ lie knows nothing.”
’he future history of Arkansas will, per
aps, reveal a few things on the subject of
ianks, Swamp Lands, &c.
Yours Truly,
_PRAIRIE.
|?gg“Speaking of the recent special
lessage of the President in reference to
ae protection of American citizens on the i
ransit routes, a Washington co. <OQn_
ent writing under date of the 1 Dili ult ,
ays:
The President transmitted to the Senate
n yesterday a special message, relative to
he protection of American citizens auu
their properly on (he transit routes, nskmg
ihe passage of an art authorizing him to
use the land and naval forces for that pur
pose. This opened a debate, which, of
course, will he continued ; and a siinil^
message was sent to the ^0U3e^0^OUS)
army and navy, post office, n,l®^|n(T t0 be |
and ocean mail service yet re-‘ ^ of.
acted upon-not to sPenaksl)ry_lhere can-'
means to releave the^ .
not be much clianc __
LAT1* FROM EUROPE.
OT THE CANADA.
Colion .Advanced—Large Sales and Fa
vorable jYcws.
New York, February 24—P. M. — Tha
steamer Canada has arrived this evening at
Halifax.' bringing Liverpool advices of the
12th. The steamer City of Washington’s ad
vices rcached*Liverpool on the 11th.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Liverpool.—Sales of Cotton for the week
G7 (ton bales ; speculators took 9.500 bales, and
exporttrs 3.500 bales. All qualities have ad
vanced >d, principally in consequence of the
improvement in politics and the favorable ad
vices from India and China. Tire market
closed active. Sales on Friday, the day of
sailing, 10,000 hales, with 2,000 bales for ex
port and speculation. Market closing fnin.
The quotations are Or'eans Fair 7 7-1G ; Up
land Fair 6 15-10; Middling 6|. Stock of
Cotton in port 397,500 bales, of which 335,000
bales are American. Some circulars say the
advance is 1-16@3-IG.
LATER.
Liverpool, February 13.—F.stimated sales
to-day 15.000 bales, with 5,000 bales for spec
ulators and exporters. Orleans Middling 7d.
General News.—Pacific rumors had pre
dominated, but the latest advices were more
warlike, notwithstanding the pacific sentiment
which had been uttered by Napoleon and the
Count de Morney in their speeches of the 7th
of February.
ii' i • i ” .. . Cnnn nnnflmifl An o lurrrn
scale.
The Sardinia Chamber Deputies had voted
a new loan of 50,000,000 francs. Count Ca
vour explained it was designed for the defense
of Sardinia, against the threatening attitude
of Austria.
The Austrian military movements were con
tinued.
France—The Emperor Napoleon, in his
speech of the 7th of February, declares “ that
the present agitation exists without any ap
parent or imminent danger, and says it has
ever been his policy to restore France to her
true position and rank among nations, and to
cement the friendly alliance with England;
and to sustain that end so valuable to the peace
of the world, he had thrown aside all oppor
tunities of reviving the late calumnious at
tacks dictated by prejudice, and even by na
tional antipathy to France; that the interests
of France are wherever civilization ought to
prevail ; therefore, there is nothing extraor
dinary that France should draw closer to
Piedmont, which proved herself devoted du
ring war, and faithful during peace. That
the marriage of his cousin had in it no hidden
meaning, but was in consequence of the com
munity of interests, countries, and friendships
of their sovereigns. That the state of Italy
gave just’eause for diplomatic anxiety, but
was not sufficient for a war.” He furthermore
says: “My policy will be neither provocative
nor pusillanimous; peace, I hope, will not be
disturbed, so that you may calmly resume the
usual course of your labors; you will find my
policy has never ceased to be firm, but con
ciliatory; therefore I rely on you and the na
tion, and never shall personal interests nor
party ambition guide my actions. That when
supported by the popular sentiment we ascend
«a throne and acquire so great and grave a re
sponsibility, we rise far above that infamous
region where vulgar interests are debated.”
The effects of this speech were unfavorable
notwithstanding its pacific nature.
England.—Minister Dallas gave a dinner
to Lord Lyons.
The London News says that the peaceful as
surances of France are neutralized by the
warlike preparations on the continent.
Great Britain has sanctioned the erection ol
fortifications along the seashore.
It is said there are two bundled ships on
commission at French ports, and that six
floating batteries navigable as ships will be
constructed in French ports.
It 13 believed that hostilities will commence
before the end of the present year.
The Sardinian Chambers of Deputies voted
the new loan of fifty millions of francs 1G
against 35.
Count Cavotir say's, “we will not excite war
nor succumb when Austria arms and threat
ens.”
Austria consents to withdraw from the Ro
man States if France does the same.
Tile Russian army will shortly concentrate
on the Austrian Gailician frontier.
Persia.—It is reported that the population
of Heyrout expelled the English Commission
er.
India.—The Governor-General had issued
i proclamation disarming tile whole popula
:ion of upper India. The rebels are hope
essly subdued.
Congressional Proceedings—Acquisition
of Cuba.
Washigton, Feb. 21.—In tile Senate to-day
he Consular and Diplomatic bill was recou
lidered, and the debate upon it continued.
Mr. Mason offered a substitute, in the form
if a resolution, to the effect that Congress ap
iroves the policy set forth in the President’s
nessage, as to the ultimate necessity of the
inquisition of Cuba, but that Congress confines
tself to the declaration that the United
States is prepared to receive Cuba whenever
spain will sell the Island.
The resolution further declares that the
[Jnited Stales would never be neutral under
my policy which would sever the Island of
Uuba from Spain and place it under the influ
ence of any foreign power.
This resolution is believed to embody the
riews of tlie Administration.
Mr. Slidell’s thirty million bill was dis
cussed at some length, when the Senate ad
journed.
In the House the proceedings were unim
portant.
The Army Appropriation bill was passed.
The Post-office Appropriation bill was also
inder consideration, and discussed at some
length.
Great Freshet in the Ohio River.
Lower Part oj Louisville Flooded—Great
est Rise in Five Years—Interrup
tion of the Telegraph Lines—The Gale
of Saturday Night.
Louisville, Feb. 21.—The Ohio river at
his point had been rising rapidly for several
lays previous to Saturday.
On Saturday night a severe storm prevailed
—the wind increasing to a gale—doing much
damage.
All the Eastern telegraph lines are prostra
ted in various places, and no dispatches have
been received over the lines from New York or
Cincinnati, since Saturday, and up to 9 o’clock
his (Monday) evening, there has been no
communication by telegraph east or west
from this city.
There is a great freshet here. All the cel
lars on Water street are full of water. On the
Western portion of Water street the waters is
live or six feet deep on the lower floors of the
juildings.
The Third street bridge is five feet under
ivater. The Second street bridge is submer
ged, the water just washing over it.
The river is still rising, but more slowly.
The water has risen to a greater height than
las been known during the past five years, and
ias done considerable damage to merchandize
tored In cellars in the lower part of the
=ity. _^_
Fire at Clinton, Miss.
road 1S»urg, Feb. 21.—The Southern Rail
destroyea by h.Clinton, Miss., was partially
Fifteen bates of “A o’clock last night,
some other damage done. '«.-ei e burned, and
The loss to the railroad is veiy
Vi _Bes Arc, Prairie county. Arkan
• practice in the counties of Pram.
' ue, Arkansas, Jackson, White, and Cer!
, ^iy. febl2-tf
V. n. D A LH TMPL£. JOHN S. WILLIAMS
DALRYMPLE & WILLIAMo.
LAND AGENTS,
WES ARC, PRAIRIE COCNTy,
ARKANSAS, *
WILL give prompt attention to all
v * LAND CLAIMS, and will attend'
personally to the locating of swamp land serin
and warrants, buying, selling lands and p_'.
Ing taxes, &c. mar 4-tf.
WAAA ACRES of valuable land in
,UUU tracts to suit purchasers.
DALRYMPLE & WILLIAMS,
inar 4-tf Land Agents, Dos Arc, Ark.
QAA ACRES good up land near Dcs
u\)U Arc. for sale on five years time.
DALRYMPLE & WILLIAMS,
mar 4-tf Land Agents, Des Arc, Ark.
RICH WOODS LANDS 1
WE HAVE several thousand acres 0f
choice land in the Rich Woods
sale, 23.60 acres of which we are authoria l
to trade for d v goods or negroes.
DALRYMPLE & WILLIAMS,
mar 4-tf Land Agents, Des Arc. Ark.
To All Persons
IX ANY WISE INTERESTED L\
THE ESTATE OF
w. B. MEANS. DECEASED
A PPL1CAT10N will he made at the April
term of Probate Court, for Prairie coun
ty, Arkansas, for an order for the sale of ail
the interest, right and title of W. B. Mea/ie,
dec’ll, in and to the following lands, to-wi.
S. E. qr of 0. S. W. of S. W. of 10, N. E. ct
S. W. of 0, Si E. of N. W. 4, N. E. of S. W.
of 4, and 110 acres, West part, N. E. of 16, |
township three, north, five west. Also, the
reversionary interest of land and negroes, in
cluding two slaves, Susan and Emeline.
J.YU. S. PEARSON,
mar 4-lm Administrator.
STRAYED;
FROM the subscriber, liv
/f?}\ ing in Jackson county, four ^ESS
miles east of Des Arc—One bay mare
from 9 to 11 years old—near 15 hands high—
mealy nose. Also, a bay mule—2 years old
this spring—also has a mealy nose. Said
mare may have a young colt. This stock has
been strayed some eighteen months—but have
been seen near the river, below Des Arc. \
liberal rew aid will be paid for the above stock,
as also for any reliable information as regards
them. S. F. BURGESS,
inarch 4.—4t.
LAST PUBLIC SALE OF LOTS
IN
BUFFALO CITY,
On Monday and Tuesday,
llth and 12th April, 1859:
Te iims—One fourth Cash—balance in
twelve months.
ALSO, several Stores arid small dwelling!;
. a large Warehouse at the Steamboat
Landing and Ferry will be rented to the high
est bidder,until the 25tL December next.
White river is now in line boating order
steamhots running to lluifalo City, and will
continue, acceding to past history, at lent
until the middle of July.
It is unnecessary for the proprietor to say
anything in praise of Buffalo City. The fact
of its meeting with such continued bitter op
position from other points and places, is some
proof, at least, that it is the peace, the
point for a city, in fact. Go see the site,and
the extensive country and i apid improvements;
view the Buffalo Shoals. examine the maps of
the country, enquire of old citizens. Pay no
attention to those who are actuated by self
interest, or a dislike to see others prosper, and
you will surely be com inced that Buifalo City,
at the foot of the Buffalo Shoals, on Upper
White river, in Arkansas, is dos.ined to be, in
reality, what it is by name.
Persons desiring to purchase Lots, at pri
vate sale, can do so by applying to K B. Tuk
stael, Agent at Buffalo City, or the under
signed at Des Arc, Arkansas; either of whom
have magnificent maps of the city.
JOHN H. QUISENBERRY.
feb25 ts.
*„* Batesville papers and Memphis Ava
lanche and Appeal copy 3 times.
FOR SALE OR HEAT.
ACRES choice upland, 3J miles
from Des Arc—45 acres ready for
cultivation, with Log Cabins, Stables, Well,
Sec. A great bargain will be given. Apply
soon to the undersigned, at Des Arc.
feb23-3t.] J. II. QUISENBERRY.
A. Stewart & Bro’s.,
SiGROCERSfii
commissionIierchants,
I)a Arc, Arkansas.
GROCERIES, &c7~
OUR stock is large and our assortment gen
eral. Those who wish to purchase will
doubtless find it to their interest to call and
buy from [febl8] A. STEWART & BRO’S.
SEED OATS.
I FZf\ SACKS, just received and for saleby
LOU feb 18. A. STEWART A BROS.
SEED POTATOES.
BBLS.. just received and for sale by
<0V; feb 18. A. STEWART & BROS.
NAILS AND CASTINGS!
OAA KEGS assorted Nails;
\ *\7 25,000 lbs assorted Castings.in store,
febltj] A. STEWART ft BRO’S.
Paints, Oil and Turpentine,
ALWAYS on hand and for sale, by
. feb IS] A. STEWART & BRO’S.
SPERM, LARD & TRAIN 01L,
CTONSTANTLY on hand, and for sale by
J fcbl8] A. STEWART & BRO’S.
Window Glass and Sasli.
8B Y10 ; lOby 12 ; 10byl4 ; lObylti; lObylSj
10bv20; 12byl8 and 12by20. A large sup
ply, for sale by
febl8] A. STEWART & BRO^
AVEHY’S plows.
^ LIGHT and heavy, Single ana
-Hi Two Horse Plows; just received
tsSiMBHNhbbb and for sale by
feb 18] A. STEWART & BRO’S.
FURNITURE! FURNITURE!!
_ 1 Ttl/jj. OUR stock of this ar-,
v tide, is now very com
plete, consisting in part >
of High and Low Cord*
and Slat Bedsteads, Wald
and Cherry Cribs, and Trundle Bedstead,
Marble and Common Top Bureaus, Wfs
stands, Tin and Wire Safes assorted size >
Secretaries Tables, Lounges, Work Stand ,
Plain and Fancy Wardrobes, Single and 0°
ble Shuck Mattrases, Cane, Split Bottom »
Children’s Chairs, a greet variety,
feb 18 A. STEWART & BRO^
ATTENTION BLACKSMITHS
r r THOUSAND lbs. assorted Iron for**1*’
Ai.so—German, Cast, English and
merican Steel; Anvils, Vices, Bellows, ScfC
Plates, and a general assortment of Tools, J
feblS] A. STEWART & BROb^
House Keepers Attention- .
WE have now in Store a large assortm*»(
cf “ Cooking and Heating Stove5'
completely trimmed, for sale low. Call a
examine. _
febl8J A. STEWART ft BROS