The Arkansas banner., 1846-05-19
Tor the "Banner. ,
PRETENSIONS OF DIR. CHAPMAN.

PRETENSIONS OF DR. CHAPMAN.
 MR. EDIToR ;-I was more amused than suPris- ed at a communication, signed Phocion,' in your paper of the 18th, April, advocating the claims Of DR D. J, CHAPMAN, in opposition to those of Col Ashley, the present incumbent, and the legitimate pretensions of Gov. Yell, to seat in the United States Senate.
 Your correspondent places the claims of the Doctor upon sectional grounds, usual; for 1t was solely upon question of locality that this same Dr. Chapman, at the instance of the ehigs in his own Town, thrust himself unbidden, upon the Demo- cracy of the Sate in opposition to Judge Cross, in 1872 And 1t is believed that his nomination 10 Congress, at the December Convention, was sue cessluly urged, by distinguished individual in that Convention from the North, upon the ground that the party in that quarter of the State had be- come restive and h their zeal to sustain the Doctor in his proiassed democracy (but now ascertained selfish and disorganzing views)-as there was no other aspirant in the North-woad soon occasion much trouble, to the party at large. Upon these grounds, mainly, if not entirely, Dr. Chapman, was nominated.
 II was soon discovered that some dissatisfaction existed in relation to the nomination for Governor And, then, this same Dr. Chapman wrote to gen tlemen-high in the confidence of the party-that he was willing to have his position changed on the ticket. Thatis, provided Gov, Yeli coald be in duced to run for Congress, he (Chapman) would accept the nomination for Governor.
 By this time, his sectional influence had become something of terror to the party; and he was al oI, to ,Ji Jic,, fhn well as inc character of his own advancement, By very 'tght squeeze," he was nominated, by the April Convention for the office of Governor. It is said that he was much displeasod at this, and required deal persuasion to induce him to accept the no nination although he had previously, written to several gentlemen at Little Rock, urging that very change in the ticket.
 But he did accept; and entered the canvass, armed cap pie with all the implements of speech-maliag. With a grand flourish of trum?ets-which might well have served to herald the approach of ''Jaek- the Giant Killer,,-he challenged the champions of whiggery and disasIcction to meet him before the people. But when his challenge Was accepted when the enemy came forth and offered him battle inc doctor was not there' His boiling pugnacity suddenly cooled down to the peace degree; while his courage, he ever had any is supposed, like Bob Acres, 10 have 'oozad out at lis fingers ends. But he had been somephere; for he had made the grand and astounding discovery that Byrd was i'm mensley strong and gaining ground, wherever Chapman had been.
 Again, however, the doetof's courage plucked up a little; and this redoubtabe champion of dcmoera- cy travelled as far west as the Arkansas River And then and there took place the much talked of, and long expected, meeting between him and his oppo- nent Or. Gibson Ramor was rife, at the time, that, in this encounter, Chapman sfoHght, bled and died, in defence of his party Bnt the truth soon came to light, that he had, only, sieseaed, hnocsed aader, aad declined ia tlror # Df. Gibson; thas leaving the Democratic party, within few weeks of the election, without any regular candidate, and, as was then believed, completely at .he mercy of the Whigs.
 It was further rumored, and is still believed, that immediately upon Chapman's return home, after this meeting with Dr. Gibson his IVhig fraends. at Batesville, commenced betting horses, with Demo crats, that Byrd would receive more votes than Chapman. Dr. GhaPman's best Democratic friends at Batesyile remained ignorant o his having with drawn from the canvass, for nearly week after his return home Bnt, the Wdigs, it seemed, Aad .snutfed the tainted breeze. Several horses were won, by whigs, from Demoerats, upon this bet!
 The first public iotmation of Cbapmans daclin- ing was accompanied by the call, from Little Rock, upon Gen. DREW, who, it is said, refused to run and letters pouring in upon him, he refused a second time. All this was kept from the public, at the time. But when the call was pressed upon Dnew, third time, its believed that having urged Chapman's pretensons in the December conven- tion and as it were, stood sponsor for his demoera- cy and fidelity, he felt that there was some obiga- tion resting upon him, to the breach, and unite the line which had been So recklessy wantonly, and disorgauziagly broken by Chapman
 The in!erenccs arc on the suriace-''he that runs may read" I have no comment to make, further i than that, as a Northern man. and Democrat, I am grieyed whenever hear this local question mooted The State nay have claims upon the services of her sons, as, have no doubt, DREW thought, when he reluctantly consented to fl the place, from which Chapman had nglorously fed But utterly disclaim the doctrine that have political claim; particularly upon sectional grounds and mos especially do I deny that this man Chapman ha: any claims at all. OLD LAWRENCE.