Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-21
A Nut for the Editor of the Arkansaw
 Traveller
Ash Grn,,e ,July IS. 1857.

As the article contained many errors it was suggested that it should be answered, but the suggestion for several reasons, was not adopted. First; because a little opposition to good mea- sure is often benefit by calling attention to it. Again, the Traveller is no great traveller after all, or rather, it travels in small circle, nor is its influence in that circle very great. And further, it was hoped that, the objection of the editor to the law being groundless, the system working admirably and the mass of the people approving it, the editor of that delectable sheet would cease "kcking against the pricks," and let the matter rest until such time as the work ings of the new system could be fully and off, cially ascertained. And this hope was strength ened by the fact that the aforesaid editor has just returned from Memphis and Cincinnati, had brought new press and promised his pa irons an improvement in his paper.
 But to our disappointment he recommended his abuse of the law and his co vert insinuations against officers. Even yet, if his misrepresen- tations were all, it would not be worth while to write line on the subject, but other mis-state mentS have been made, wrong impressions have gone abroad, and those whose former positions should have enabled them to know better have published exaggerated estimates of the cost of removal of the offices and adoption of the pre- sent system. Besides this, it is, just now, subject interesting to great many, and there- fore we present to your readers, a little contrast between the former and present systems.
 It is impossible to answer the man of Arka- delphia for he has given us nothing to answer. The only thing in the shape of an argument that he advanced, in the very next issue he took an opposite ground and refuted himself. To such clap trap expression as ito benefit the few at the expense of the many" and others, of which his articles are made up, we can only say, that we expected better things from one who had been all the way to Cincinnati and back, by himself, and who aspires to be the next Senator from his district. At least if he had no arguments and was forced to content 1 himself with invective, he might have given us something new, and not repeated phrases that are as old as demagogsm itself.
 The writer of this has great respect for the tripod, and is aware moreover, that in tho fan cfuI city, of Arkadelphia our friend Scott may be "a very Treton among minnows," and that upon his return from his journey, full of the great things he had done and seen, it may be said of the people of that ilk, that Still they gaz,d and still the wonder grew That small head could carry all he knew"
 Nevertheless, as he persists in doing injustice to made, and to himself it may be proper in the language of schoolboys, ito call him to taw"
 But to show that we are not disposed to deal harshly with him, we will admit that he has written some truths on the subject For in stance, in one of his articles, not now before us , he says, in substance, that he knows some things about the swamp land law and there are other things that he does not know. or which we have no doubt. Indeed, we believe that if ignorance was bliss, so far as the swamp land law is concerned, our friend Scott would enjoy an elysium upon earth. Again, speak ing of the law he says:
 That it may be better system than the old one, we have admitted all along; but that 1t is the best the legislature could have done, we do not beeve."
 All of which is very true. But then, he should remember that We are not all wise, not all Scotts, that the members of the legislature were poor finite mortals, had never edited a paper, and few of them had even been to Gin cnnati. We should make allowances for their ignorance and make the best of what they gave us. Besides, at the risk of being pedantic we will quote the latin maxim. "NlH 8j,sM est inventus ct pertectio,1em.'
 And here we stop to ask inc editor of the Traveller these questions. If, as you admit, the presen. system is better than the old one, why do you oppose it? Why not Do thankful for the change, if it is beneficial and g:ve due cre- dit to those who procured us these benefits? Would it not be better to give the system a fair trial, note its defects and when we get in the legislature, you as Senator from Clark and Montgomery. and this present writer as mem- Der from -, to remedy them?
 Do hot, we pray you, talk about wanting official information, when you know and every body knows hat if you any editor, will ad- dress a note to the Auditor or Treasurer, those officers will furnish him official information without charge. At least, upon calling upon the Auditor, he furnished us with the sta,e- ments below concerning the offices and expen- ses under the present system, and presume that if h. would do this for a plain farmer, he would certainly do it for an editor.
 It has boen widely circulated that the ex- pense to the State of changing the offices, moving the furniture, plats, books, etc, the making of plats and establishing two new agencies had cost. at least one hundred thou sand dollars!
 Here is the statement of the auditor made out from the books in his office.
 Expenses of transferring the swamp land offices.
 From Pine Bluff $25 co