Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-12-22
For the True psmocra..: I..:
R. Fl. JOHNSON. ESQ: va, 4

voted with me upon those resolutsons, gross though perhaps unintentiona injustice, and ma teraly misrepresents my opinion upon the sla- very question. Justice to myself and to those l represent, requires that should, in as clear and emphatic manner as possible. set forth the motives and principles that influenced my vote on the resolutions offered by the senator from Union county.
 The Gazette, after copying the resolutions re- ferred to and commenting at length thereon, says:
 Now, while we would not pretend to class but very few of the opponents of this resou- tIon with the abolItonists, we do contend that Mr. Askew and those who cooperate with him in his present move, have given signal proof of their attachment to the south and her institul- tions."
 The legitimate construction of this paragraph Is that few of the senators who opposed the resolutions, relative to the re-openng of the African slave trade, were abolitionists and that opposition to said resolutions evinced a want of loyalty to the south and her institutions. The paragraph above quoted is susceptible of no other sensible construction and as am one of the opponents to the re-opening of the African slave trade and, as such, am held up as an abol- ltlonist, trust that you will permit me to enter my most solemn protest against this charge or lnuendo made by this know nothing journal.
 In the first place, will state for the informa- ton of the Gazette and all the dark lantern gentry that my best wishes, sympathies and in- terests are with the south, that whatever do in regard to her is done for what conceive to be her greatest prosperity, and to expand, strength en and make durable her present institutions, and Tn no event, or under any circumstances would l cast vote or do an act that would in the slightest degree, retard her growth, detract from her greatness or weaken the institution of slavery. My youth, my fortune, and my des. tiny. have endeared me to the south-the country of my nativity That am demo- crat and represent democratic constituency is tt least, prima facia evidence that am much sounder on the slavery question than any know nothing who stool upon the truly black repub-
 
 ran in 1856, and who voted that ticket The Ga zette and his favorite senator seem to be enthusi- | tstic for the south and most wond derfulv ntensi- jed upon the subject of slavery If the Gazette is m earnest and if the senator from Union be sin ;ere they are each the embodiment of all that is sound and safe upon the "nigger question:" as the Senator terms it. The Gazette was once Iunously rampant in favor of democracy and wrote as though its principles were necessary tor the salvation of the country few years 'go 1t was as long, loud and enthusiastic in praise of the time honored democracy as it is now, in some respects, of the institution of sa- Fery, but. to the utter surprise of many, that heet was among the first converts to know mo- hingiam and, in few weeks, its editor lost his ntense devotion to and extraordinary love for ne party with which he had so long been con- 'ected, anj which had bestowed favors on him. 1t IS much to be feared that another secret pro- crlphve party may arise, or the opposition com blning under the euphonious title of "The Peoples party" "The Union party" or some other yet undiscovered name, will undoubtedly netamorphose it from sometimes sturdy pro. slavery journal into black republican sheet and its apparent immense zeal for the institu. Ion Of slavery, when properly tested, be found 70 be as empty, futile, and valueless to the country as its democracy has proved to be-
 will endeavor to state in concise manner ha I in tba .l
 arguments used to sustain those positions be- ore that body, and 1 hope that those who have read the article in the Gazette will indge what my sentiments are on this subject and ts cognates by what I said there and reiterate lere
 In the first place, before we attempt to re- pen the African slave trade and engage in the '-atfic, we ought, as a wise conservative. christian people, be well convinced that it would be attended with beneficial results to he fricans themselves and to our own people In my opinion, the traffic would do no good or accomplish any desirable objects for the Afr. cans, the people of the south, or in any mau- aer strengthen her institutions
 Secondly. History clearly and levond loubt establishes the fact that the untrammeled ratlic in African slaves would be disastrous to hat people. for the stronger and more power ful tribes would subdue the weaker for the pur pose of selling them to merchant traders as ,laves
 Mnrderous, fratracidal wars, ,-horrid crueIties and fl,a l.
 have ever been the consequences of the African slave trade when prosecuted under the sanction pf the laws of nationg-the strongest induce- nents are offered for kidnapping and the com. initial of the most malicious, dark and damning crimes which So affects the mind of the African upon his own shores as to render him vaueless when brought here as slave. A repetition of the crimes of all imaginable hues committed by the Carthagenians under Hannibal to satisfy the ivarce of Rome is, by no means, desirable, and he wholesale bloodshed and slaughter of the Africans by the Romans under the command of Scipo, should be warning against the policy advocated by the friends of this measure
 The third position was that the re-opening of the African slave trade would be great n- jury to the south and would weaken her in all respects. The intercourse of the wild, re- fractory, ungovernable, and licentous Africans with our present negro population, would pro- duce the worst ideas and views among them and breed insubordination and instruction among our slaves. Such being the case the re- opeling of the trade would unquestonably diminish the value and render less important the slaves already in our possession. yhe in- calculabe injury to our present slave holders would more than counterbalance any good that might be derived from the numbers imported into our midst This traffic would not only in. jure the shareholder but would work hard ship on the poor laboring man, who owns no slaves. by reducing the value and price of his labor by introducing the labor of the African in competition with his, and 1 am not willing now nor will 1 ever, under any possible or probable