The true Democrat., 1857-01-27
Little Rock, Jan. 14th, 1857
Messrs. JOHNSON & YEgKEs-

Messrs JOHNSON & YEEKEs-
 Dear Strs :-I have learned, with some surprise, that it is rumored throughout my county (Pope,) that have, as a member of the present legislature, been voting for Kno.0 .Noth- i'gs, for offices within the gift of the legislature; and. ask of you the privilege through your paper of setting myself right before my con- Stituents," in respect to these rumors.
 And in the first place, deny the truth of the charge. It is well krown-or should be- to every citizen of Pope county, that the demo. crats, having large majority in both branches of the General Assembly, determined, at the commencement of the session to caucus for their own officers, and for State officers. Accordipplv the democratic members of the House. on the morning of the first day of the session. eau cused for speaker and principal clerk; and for the folmer selected the Hon. SAM'L MITCHELL. and for the latter, Mir. s. M. Scorr. editor oI the Arkansaw Traveller democratic paper: and the House met and these two were alone put ir nomination, and voted for them, as did every other democratic member. On the succeedino day, another caucus was held, and the remain. ing officers selected to complete the orsaniza. ton of the House, and when the House mel thelr names were alone put iu nomination. and voted for them. Afterwards the democratic members of both Houses met in caucus or two several occasions, and selected candidates at the first, for Secretary of State, Auditor Treasurer and State Land A gent and Collector and at the second for Swamp Land Agents: and when the days of their election came on. the names thus selected were alone put in nomipa- l ton, and 1 voted for them.
 Not one of these men, thus selected in cau- caus and alone put in nomination. is or was ,t the tune of their being selected and put in mo- mnatlon, to my knowledge, a Rnoao Nothino. and II they were, or are the whole lepislature is as much deceived as am.
 But 1t is said that some of these mon vo,o once members of the Know Nothing party. and therefore should not have been sunnorted for office. l shall not here attempt to show the danger to the democratic party of drawing such distinction. 1 am satisfied that everv one of them did good service, in the late cleo. tons, in this State for the democratic party: and that some of them assisted no little in procur. ing the overwhelming defeat of the Know Nothing party, among which latter, Mr. Scot, was most prominent.
 But this IS not the grounds upon which l voted for these men-I voted jor them because they aoere Me selected candidates of the sooe pa,ty and under like circumstances I would do Sc again; for hold myself too good democra, to bot nomination thus made. I want this distinctly understood-I voted for them be- cause they were the nominees of the party; and Tor their sou''dness and fitness the democratic le slsiature, individually and collectively, vouched ln their selection of them.
 As to MT. Scott's case, which is particularly urged against me, have to say, that, previous 'o my leaving home, read in the True Demo- crat' what considered sufficient voucher for tue Souhdness of his political faith, and a very hlgh recommendation of his qualifications. and after trial of nearly three months I have found him to be all that was than so;a or b;r "A sound and reliable democrat, and we'll fitted in s- Fy respect to discharge the duties of tb . o'hes ''s hlled in the present legislature I h''d 'eo. ey eonversing with other member. < the li' that all were pleased with him and the manner ia which he discharged his duties
 Respectfully, s. JOHN S. BOWDEN