Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-12-08
From the N. o. DELHI.
Prominent Men in the Memphis Convention;

ac.i
terIstics Of the States which they represented-l
Previous to the regular organization of the Con-
ventlon, Inc chair was occupied by Col. Absalom |
Fowler. of Arkansas, who filled the post with |
great efficiency, dignity. and skill This compli.
ment was due no less to the merits of Colonel
Fowler than to the leading position which Ar
kansas had taken IN convoking the assemblage
The suggestion of the Memphis Convention ori.
ginatsd with Captain Pike. of Arkansas, q gentle
man who would be an honor to any State, and
was followed up by the election of a delegation
embracing nearly all the prominent men in the
State.-a delegation which included their Govern
or. hale, pleasant, intelligent and gallant looking
young man Ex-Governor Drew, who long enjoy.
ed .he confidence and support of the people of the
State; Senators Borland and Sebastian. two gen.
tleman, not brilliant or snowy, but highly useful
representatives Mr.. Watkins, of Little Rock, a
keen, sagacious and able lawyer--and many
others who had filled high places in the State, and
IN the confidence of the people. Altogether, this
delegation presented most imposing appearance,
It's members being strongly marked men, with
persons and countenance indicative of stern reso-
luton and energy, such fail to character.
ize those who have passed through the perils and
! hardships of frontier life. Arkansas has been
| for long time the theme of much caumny and
detraction, on account of certain eAtravagant
stories Of individual encounters and bloody fights
that have occurred within the State. Now. bot h
| the number and character of these combats have
| been nosr grossly exaggerated. Arkansas, as
frontier Territory, was, for a WHILE the resort of
many desperate characters, and the chosen field
| for tie settlement of quarrels occurring in the
neiglboring States. But the regular, permanent
population has always been peaceful, quiet and
Industrious one. 1t is true, in the political arena
the pride and ambition aspiring politicians urged
on oy the intrgues of quarrelsome men, have led
to leeds of violence, which must ever stain the
pages OF the history of the State of Arkansas. 1t
is strange that these displays of physical courage
sfould be prompted by moral cowardice that
sirinks from obeying the dictates Of reason, JUS
tee and humanity, lest they excite the con-
! tempt and ridcule of those brutal men, whose
opinions in all other matters, would be despised
and disregarded. We have said, however, that
few prominent acts of blood shed and brutality
occurring in the State of Arkansas, have been
seized upon by foreign calumniators, and dressed
up witt, such exagggerated horrors and .Slnereal
might be searched in vain for their parraIleIs.-
For example, we read few days ago, in Major
| Noah's paper. an account of the fearful combat
which took place the floor of the House of
| Representatives of Arkansas, between the Speak
/ er (Mr. Wilson, and Mr.. Anthony, member of
| the House. scene, horrible enough, without the
necessity of any hyperbole, but which is greatly
heightened in the description, BY the infamous fi-
brication, that this encounter witnessed with
tisfaction by the members of the House, and by
whom was the wife of one of the combatants and
the betrothcd of the other. This is grossly false.
That disgraceful encounter resulted from sudden
burst of temper during an exciting debate. The
Speaker, irritated by what he considered gall
ing insult, descended from his chair and advanc.
ed against Mr.. Anthony. The parties met in the
aisle, and fight ensued. The members rushed
to interfere and part the combatans. A chair
was thrust between them. and Wilson succeeded in
stabbng Anthony Under it. Thus fatally ended
this combat, whose bloody ves,iges still Iinger on
the floor of the House, ano must ever lnger in the
memories of all the sons of Arkansas as an event
the most depIorabe in her history. But it is utter.
ly false that the scene vieweo with anv other
feelings than horror, shame and detesa,ion bv the
legislators that they made efforts seDa ra te
the parties that single female was resent
or that the family of either party was witir "a
hundred miles of where it occurred. The whoe
Senate was aroused to the highest pitch OF in,
dIpnation at the occurrence, and the survivor
was compelled to fly community where his
presence was considered living, burning reProach
and insult We refer to this event merely TO IL
lustrate our remark that Arkansas has been much
maIigned by the exaggerated stores OF encounters
that have taken place within her limits.
Bu. these things have now passed away. The
dueIlings, the blood thirsty fighters, the bowie
nr o,ber s,ates, have all passed away. Like the |
ION Who sprung from the soil Of Attica when
.owo with the dragons teeth they have mostly
ne erisbed by another's hands. Arkansas has
passed through the fiery ordeal to which every
frontier State must be subjected, and she now
emerges strong, intelligent, enIerprising, moral.
and advancing State. Her people hay Sc, them
selves actively to work TO refute all the calumnies
of which their State has been SO long the subject
Her course is onward and progressive in morals
IN social, and political enlightenment.
So much in justice to neighbor. Her ie
presentation in the Memphis Convention olspaye'
not only talent, numbers. and digniifeu '0a .'h;a'
sneak we'll for the hsars and tellects of her sons
Arkansas presents strong claims for the location
of a railroad or military road to the Pac'Ic. we
hink the latter is tne giea, hs
Nd a military road is much better adapted to en-
c,urage emigration, th,p a railroad; Afkansas
no onlv presents
s'l'