Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-06-09
cneech of Hon. Henry w. Billiard

st which had been assailed in him. finder 5s lressure of political events, far greater in bsir significance than the party issues upon
 .sastions of policy which had hitherto divided l he ereope of the south, he had been forced ,r his convictions of duty to the country. of con- E,encv with the principles he had uniformly Irocated, to declare his determination of sun-
 -,+ing the present conservative, constitutional
 ,nuistraton This had thrown him into
 .nmunion with those whom he had formerly
 ..oosed upon issues no longer existing. For
 s independent exercise of a right that be
 need to him, as man, of duty that devolv- # l mn hmaS a patriot, he had been attacked rtb bitterness of language, vindictiyeness of feeling, meannesS of spirit, that was un- l raraleed m the history of parties or men in lbe south. In all the contests throuoh which l he had passed, and there were some memorable frtheir fierceness, he had ever met with nor l .,ral courtesy. and magnanimous apprecia- l TOD of his motives from his former opponents He had eudeavored during his residence in this l community, for, now, more than twenty years l DhfIl all the obligations, social and political which his position had imposed He de6ed ,r one to put his finger upon the point in his tGeer, where he could justly say, " here sir. rlu deserted friend, or were untrue to a prin- dpe you PToiesSed, or deceived or betrayed rur party" Now, however his motives were aspersed, hIS course mlsrepreSented, and his letter msconStrued and distorted with ma lgnty as lneXcusa0Ie as It was unexpected. H Criticism, legitimate and fair he had anticpa- ted and invoked; but vituperation he instine Il lively shruuk from; it was consonapt neither with his habits nor taste the one he could meet and repel, the other he could not conda-
 scend to- He could readily understand the \ severity of the disappontment to some of +ba @aFah's' "nnSe iittIe local designs could not TOW so readily be effected. He was awaro i tlat' III Ills movement over the political field, ne had tram pied upon and destroyed the paltrv Il Ult' ana shares for men, which they had scattered through 1t; the sticks which bo had McAe" uP "lth hlS feet, yet darkened the air. Il He could conceive the extreme mortifcation when Such result had produced amongst a Il class, "hose political horizon was limited to I ael purposes and bounded by their own sel- lshhesS; who regarded politics as a game. and gersonal elevation as it's end; hose ideas of a II IaTty was as that of an association of men mi H ei by no stronger tie than tLat which banded a1ethcr wolves for their prey.
 | But he had higher objects and nobler asnir, lions, which embraced the whole country and
 @nght the highest reward in promoting inc peace, security aud welfare of the neonis of these States, tor whose common hpneiit tbo
 mon had been formed. Because he had asso Ca.ed himself with a national party which
 was m majority, he, who had, during his whole lie belonged to one, which was in 1 mi
 hori'}' a. long aS It had an existence. and yhila + had o0talned every position he had J.-
 @fed' was accused of fearing a minoritvl Ho AaS been selected as being the leader of tb,t parry lH thlS Congressional district. IS it was for. merry constituted, and through contest more Saniiy and ably conducted with one evca,,- H 'a' man any he had witnessed, had borne tbat H #""HY Ing 10 victory, and won for himself a saa' m congress, which he had held uutiI wa. "ts'eI to nm oV the oppositon He relin N 4i'"eu II P"Iu tarily, when he mi .ht bayer. 4ned It, and retired to private life with ppblic E AnofS sun within ms reach. All that h.. had eyer ejJoYed he had won for himself. not by Il 4a-ue nor chlcanery, nor indirection bnt l fsA'l' alIIy-in the light of day, on the field Nfestli.g them from opponents, who now as | -en' d'd justice to his character and corJnct I Il he Was Indebted to his old friends for tbair support, he hal entitled himself to if bv bis Il Ia59es Tn their behalf and repaid it by ser e1'' "h.ch, up to the present time, they had le'ef hesltated 10 acknowledge. Bytbe skrts oi ho man had he been puIled into position. he | hal seized OH no one by the skirts to pulI bm down. Now he was pursued by them wirh l aO'se; trdduced in every possible way. the
 s+Ac-ty which surrounds gentleman in hi, lGfate life and social intercourse. was violated. tle free, uuStudied Expressions of friendly con.
 verse, the sentiments that in a moment 1f fer
 VT amidst scenes of unusual excitement g.sh- el Ig"m !lis lips-all were seized upor naryert. 5l uaYesued, for purposes of taunt and com .umelN. Not satisfied with their own arbiava
 aehts, II hls adversaries could cull from an ob-
 cofe democratic paper published at villaoe
 1 another State, some spteiui alnsion or un
 generous word, IL was hailed as an unan,wera-
 @e argument and heralded as d trlumpb, Sncb
 victories belonged to them.
 hNeh l~S manners hal been objected in He
 Wis loo polite man for his old associates. he 1'Ped that, Tn alIyiug himself with the demo- | Gacy, he would find himself in comnanv
 where one could politely bow, without bejng Il s"J'c,ed to cehSure, and the largest libeay "aa a.-o"ed oi being well hammered. A bar 3Ail'lst las sad of him. that he would not Y mi ite evth 10 the DcUH He doubted not 4at ne hal met the writer of it in the streets 'ad PoItely bowed to him, and the fellow "1'N i" 'th hI' cohdeSceItlon, had taken it for l -illel ne would take off his hat to the Devil -mSeil. The friends of his satanic majesty l ''9"4 HoI complain ot his civiiitY These l were weapons, with which he was as,a-led l '-u ne aene4 them; they might turn all their l s".S' ""U concentrate on hSn the herce,t fire -"e'er aSsal.ed politician, but, bearing i. u@Hd the lag for hich he fought, he would 'e 'He!f batteries uuappalled and, crossing sathed. ' nAy was this animosity thus evinced to- aus one, Wnom heretofore these gentlemen -'t '"' ored "itA thelr SuliraLes? II was diff .". 'o believe that 1t was only because he had 0'Ne" the prrroSative of freeman, and oI'HoiS winch they had prolesscd.- iV' 50 It was, and whv2 Because he had o,tJ 'f'' ID the form of letter. his deternil.a. tl 'o support the administration of a Presi 54' whose Inaugural maintains the very prn- iteS Tor which he and they had contended -l"n the great question, which threatened snelhpg more than d division of parties- S'eh the severance of the Union. lie could s' be restrained from giving his earnest cor -'' aud Jealous support to an administration. 7Feihed by the principles announced in that a9ural, because it happened 10 have been sfte by q party, against which he had here aore contended He belonged not to that gass of men who delighted to finger among +s tombS, who were enlivened by the smell of "e cAarla houae;he had not the tastes of a vam- lEIe, Upon issues which were '' ''obsolete'' he haa nothing to say; States rights man always, ne lad thought ani felt in times past that the 1smocracy hal trampIed upon him and those e4o heard h'In; but he dealt only with living asles the practical questions which met him, "s ophMX, which crossed his daily path de- -4aacd solution or death. To that party, [reai'ent which gave an answer that was productive ei safety, be it called democratic '! Whatever name, he gave in his adhesion, Ai pledged his support; he accepted it, name
 '-g al, without addition or qualification.
 10 sustain the assault made on him, 1t was
 lslged that he said iu his letter he supported
 4L' Fillmore 10 elect 4lir Buclanan"
 There was nothing of the kind in it, nor any
 Ilhg that could assimilate it, but by the most
 8ooFant or willul perveroion.