Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-10-20

that none of the Richmonds in the field B are disturbing the placid equanimty of the editor, or that either of them, for want of better horse may ere bestride the faded hack of -cOnsmittahsm, vide Mr. Sebastian on the compromise measures; and. presuming that have apprehended correctly the purport of your editorial, referring to the suppression of DOT tion of my article published in your issue of 2lst September defining, though rather ob- scurely, l think, the future course of the "True Democrat" in the senatorial canvass, put you upon the record as sailing under the flag of neu- trality, hoping, that neither time accident may drive you from this conclusion. With this po- stion, l am content, and shall rely in full faith upon your promise of an open and fair fight. But Mr. Editor, have you not dropped stitch in your political overcoat, when you say " from all contests between democrats, any of whom, we would cheerfully support, if nominated by | the party, it has been our desire to hold the True Democrat aloof" Have the loud com- plaints of Warren, umirated from Red river to the capitol, been effaoed from your memory | already?
 As to the right or wrong of your animadver- sions on MT. Warren's course it is not my pro- vince to decide; but, that you did take ground against him, pending his nomination, contribut- ing more or less to his defeat is assuredly true And that occurrence is of such recent date, that l had looked to it as precedent and authority.
 repeat that just criticisms upon the course of public functionaries, occupying exalted and important stations ought but to be pleasurabe duties, necessarily performed by political jour, nalists. Hence, if Col. Warren, in declaring the Mormon government moral evil" and in voting against the issuance of treasury note hlls did in yOu inf dan doctrine, it was your duty to announce it to his constituents, that they might correct the evil by sending another in his place. So, think, Mr.. Editor without quarreling about the matter, that it is no less duty, to tell the dear people, of the shortcomings of MT. Sebastian, if you so regard his acts-or if you approve, you ought to vindicate. Tell them, say, unless you think he was right-that it is confidently asserted and has not been contradicted: First that Mr. Sebas. tan did refuse to vote upon the passage of the compromise measures; second, that upon cer- tain occasion, when Hon. Edward Cross was the democratic candidate for Congress, and Col. Absalom Fowler, the whig candidate. that our honorable senator committed the "youthful in- discretion of voting for Fowler, the whg, and the personi6cation of whiggery, and against Cross, the essence of democracy; that, upon a certain other occasion, which -"trled mems souls," o-wit: when Hugh L. White, the dis organizer and Martin Van Buren, the "north- ern nun oiM southern principles" were candi- dates for the presidency, our honorable friend MT. Sebastian, voted for Mir. White, and against the democratic nominee, Van Buren. But, in justice to the gentleman, be it recorded here, that he denies the latter accusation though it Is nevertheless maintained by many responsible gentlemen, who had abundant opportunities of knowing that the honorable senator did so vote His denia may easily be accounted for from the fact of the multiplied and ard,tous duties in- cumbent upon ten years senatorshp his mind has become oblivious of past political events But he ought to be "put upon his country" at all events-tbat he might fairly dissipate such unpleasant reflections and to vindicate the truth of history.''
 Comparisons are said to be odous--but show us the laches in Col Rectors political record. In politics. his friends may almost claim for him the position of veteran. For twenty years, he has stood without finchiny at the mouth of the enemys cannon. He has done his whole duty at all times and in all places as- signed him by the democratic party And whilst MT. Sebastian was angling in the senate for the popular current in which swim the loaves and little fshes--Col. Rector, it will be found, was amongst the first of the few gallant spirits that came to the rescue of Hon. R. w. John- son, who was then the sole representative of Arkansas in the lower house of Congress, and had taken high southern grounds, upon the issues making up the compromise measures.
 In 1849. and whilst those questions were agi- tatng vitally the whole nation, and before their settlement in 1850. Col. John Preston, bril- liant reflex of Henry Clay conservatism, opposed Col. Johnson for a seat in Congress Preston, formidable in debate and with great dexterity and address, assailipg Johnson for his secession and nullihcation doctrines, as he chose to term them, made the result for time look doubtful But Johnson, occupying the true southern ground, claiming the right of secession for a sovereign state when oppressed by the passage of laws by Congress. manifestly unconsttution- al-daring to calculate the value of the union
 when it ceased to confne it's legislative action within just constitutional limits-declarine that the "Union youH and ought to dissolue, if north ern fanatcism persisted in its unholy warfare and havoc upon southern rghts-resistng to the last extremity the admission of California. gotten up by northern iItermeddling and against all lawful precedent; notwithstanding a tempo rary trucking on the part of faint hearted, con- promise democrats, he was sustained by the sooef SecoHu tHougul UT the pe0ple-thc posi- tion of Arkansas democracy was thenceforh de- fined. and was found to stand upon southern ground; vindicating state right tsovereignty-the fiaaAt af feaeeahlle seeessiaa-.aaa the 4aaieE .f exercising the right, rather than submit to de- grading oppression-against the ruinous policy of compromising every right away for the sake of peace, where there is no peace-against the supremacy of federal power, making the states subordinate, when upon all true principle as to their reserved rights they are superior to the federal government. All these and other kin. dred questions were authoritatively settled in the contest of 1849. Johnson and his friends were sustained and among those who indorsed his positions and past course in Congress, none was found more unfinchng than Coi. Rector But from this fruitful field of political glory where are the laurels gathered by Mir. Sebastian! What willing hands, save his own, have dug his political grave? For be it recorded here as my poor opinion. that the people of Arkansas viii no. send a man s'rteen years to the Senate who el1aeI Knows not their rights or fears to main.