Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCEk.
LETTER FROM HON. r. w. JOHNSON, REPRE-
SENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM ARKANSAS.
WAsHIssros, MAncH -, 1850.
To the Editors of the National Infehgencer
NV attention has been called the cthat some time since
YOU gave publication to from of the Arkansas pa
pers to show the public opinion in Arkansas In re-
ference the slavery question, The acquired territory and ne
Unon also that you continue the same course OF pup
cs.oD extracting articles from various Southern papers, 70
.hs the condition Of the Southern pulse upon these grave
and vital topics.
The unqualified and high respect in which have always
held the Editors Of the negencer teaches to know that
what they thus shadow forth, by their Southern quotations.
as public opinion the South they must believe to be true
reflection know that they gentlemen incapable OF urg
ing augh for truth which they may know to be erroneous
and that they thus wsntony seek to dres and de-
stroy the spirit the people of the South in their defence Of
absolutely vital rights.
I am satisfied too, that you cannot wish to mscad the
North as to the feeling the South and cannot thus
seek confirm them aggressive OF action SO un.
fair SO destructive and degrading the South You do
not wish undenate to the minds of your readers the
measure ofour difficulties and importance Of the issues
Now, gentlemen, any sentiment which proclaims this
Union valuable to the people Of any section Of it than
their rights under the constitutions not correct Any pub
cation which proclams that the value of this Union cannot
be estimated from which may be inferred that the people
of the Souh any other enlightened people, will worship
the Union after shall have become engine for their de-
structon immediate remote, instead OF guaranty and
security, presents fiat absurdity.
Almost all the extracts you publish 60 to show that the
Southern people do not feel that this is the crisis Of their fate
and that they do sustain Southern Representatives in the
view they have taken and declared Of the dangers and the
shame immediate and remote which hang over their con-
stiuents This is sad error The North will be confirmed
in wrong by this erro when perhaps it too ae
feeling dangerous to public tranquility advances daily with
giant strides and bound to estimate not only what
that feeling now is but what under its present impetus, will
become in six months more.
Your from Arkansas papers msepresent public
opinion there have every to believe having
cess all the papers the State and being in daily receipt
of letters from all its parts Thus gentlemen, for one, nd
myself by of your journal, placed in the attitude
throughout the Union of who msrepresents his people
and violates his trust This know you never intended.
The only one of those which saw, from the
Democrat, published at Little Rock Upon the Democrat
however this question, reliance cannot at present b.
placed. But yet not that you will not find th
paper in short time moved by public sentiment to become
strongly Southern any other.
The misrepresentation Of the opinions of my constituency
and its bearing upon me- should not notice at ALL if it we
upon ordinary party topics. But informed by severa
members, that similar have been promulged th
sentiments Of their constituents and believe the disso
luton Of the Union will be the alternative of the loss OF
rights and the preventive for the consequent insecurity
sand ultimate overthrow Of the South and know in
heart that sincerely desire the continuance of this Union
if our people can be protected and satisfied tha
- tho cnpinia
,o their sister Southern Siates will tend to confirm them ir
their present views will destroy all probability Of just
ancsbe settlement shall discharge my duty by declaring
to you that your extracts far they relate to Arkansas
are noJair rs,lsr Of public opinion there.
Lassueyou loo, that, in my humble opinon drawn from
observation, that the attachment Of the intelligence of thu
Souih for the Union strong, by vast dea
FIVE years ago.
will saw further that in its place there exists, wde,
spread pervading and gloomy apprehension OF the ultimate
effect of this Union upon the South and that this feeling
exceeded only BY the evency ardor, and confidence Of th
Northern assailants.
And will say further that know number Of instances
(sd in no instance do refer ignorant uninelgen
il which actual dread of the Union has taken tn
place undoubng confidence, love- and devo
toC. All ill unite who really love the Unon deplo
the ers Of the times which produce suhFesus Tha
they exist itistnd folly to deny and, without knowledg
of the, expect that proper remedies will be ap
piled But do not condemn that spirit which poclam
this UEn evil when it shall become engine Of tyranny
and dest1dction-
If Souhern members would CHOOSE do, many of then
could tell Of instances within he knowledge of tao advances
Of this spirit.
In testimony of this. hand you Of numbez Of letter.
have received exhibiting this tendency, which you
guested puhsh. the of the writer from
publication, with this statement yer that know hiss well
He is intelligent influential gentleman Of character
property and was a member of the State Legislature.
The very striking, if not startling changes in the minds
and hearts of people, naw apparent to all observing
snnd have very nearly all taken place whin year past
znight almost say Within three months.
How lang, them will it be- with this mpstus already given
by he exhibition Of spirit ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to the inte-
rest che equality, and honorable existence Vt one section of
the URion, "a spirit which is becoming daily intense
before the very basis of this hearts and a
ecions of the people-shs be swept away
lam, with great respect, your obedient servant,
R. w. JOHNSON.
Copy of Letter to Mr.. johnson
COUNTY, (Ark.) FKB. Is, 1850.