Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-06-01
Hon. R. w. Johnson-the Fort 5ntn
 Herald--the Pacific Railroad.

t1Cu. K. w. JOIaSou-tAC ASAs s~~>s~ Herald-the Pacific Railroad. The Fort Smith Herald, in a recent attack upon RoBT. W, JOHNSON, represents him as favoring a railroad from Vicksburg, Mss, vto Shreveport, La., Fl Paso and Fort Yuma to San Francisco Colitornia, and does so upon the authority of an irresponsible paragraph going the rounds of the newspaper press. To make up case as strong as possible, and to show clearly that Senator Johnson is hostile to the interests of his State and people, the Herald, through its irresponsible authority, represents, or aaisrepresents him, not as advocating the El Paso route, which, if adopted, would pass through the centre of Arkansas, from Fulton on Red river to Memphis and to Cairo but as advocating route via Fl Paso, "entireiy out of the State," and passing through Louisiana. The case is too strong one. The charge against Robt w. Johnson is so improbable-so widely opposed to his past acts that it would hardly be believed by the people of Arkansas even if it were supported by credible authority; but presented as the Herald does it, on authorl- ty wholly irresponsible and unknown, 1t will l be rejected by every sensible man in the State. It is surprising to us that the Herald, upon such slight evidence, should make so grave charge against one who it confesses, has done many noble deeds and acts for the people of Arkan- sas" and whom it profesSes personally to have always respected and revered' We suspect the Herald's professions of friendship and re- gard, in such connection, were not the utter ances of genuine feeling, but only artfull!v used to give an appearance of frankness and impar- tialitv to charge that it would otherwise be difficult to sustain before the people of this State
 The charge that Senator Johnson advocates a railroad to the Pacific, "entjrely out of the State of Arhansas,' is utterly untrue. There are two routes to the Pacific known as thesouth- ern routes-one by Fl Paso and one by Fort Smith upon the 35th parallel of latitude, both passing through the heart of the State of Ar kansas-the acceptance of either of which by the general government would meet with Sena- tor Johnson's entire appreciation and support. His statement in the Senate, which has been so grossly perverted and misrepresented by the Herald aud its authority, gives assurances to this effect. We copy from the New Orleans Picavune meagre abstract of his remarks:
 "Sel ator Johnson, of Arkansas, spoke for postponement, because he said it had become evident that for the project before the Senate, there had been no other object than to give it a sectional character"
 ''It seems to me that, in'spte ot SHOWS and mountains of almost illsurmountable obstacles, the intention aud will seem to be to drive arall- road across the northern route, at any expense to the national treasury, to which we contribute equally, and vet we are to be excluded from any fair opportunity to participate ln It. We cease almost to be considered part of this Union. We cease almost to be considered as parties having rights Nature herself declares in our favor but her voice Is dsregarded.
 q ktow there are two routes, one on the thirty fifth parallel and the Fl Paso route, that materially affect the interests of my own peo- ple and ihese two routes, l am we'll aware, are by far the cheapest that can be taken by the go- vernment of the United States. If we conine ourselves to the construction of road beyond the limits of State jurisdiction, there are not five hundred miles to be constructed on the Fl Paso route, and there are no very serious na- tural obstacles in the way. There does not ap- pear to be an inclination on the northern side of the House to consider 1t at all. Then, If you are not willing to go to that route, there Is the route OF the 35th parallel. That, too, Is scarce ly considered"
 This does not read like Robt. w. Johnson was opposed to the route on the Both parallel, or was advocating a route entirely outside of the State of Arkansas" It shows that he Is for a southern route whetherit be that by Fl Paso or that upon the 35th parallel. The construc- ton of railroad upon either of these routes would, and ought to satisfy the people of Ar kansas, and it would not only be wrong, but suicidal, for our delegation in Congress to make an issue with the south for either one of these against the other, when the entire porth is op- posed bitterly to both of them.
 The question with those who are observant enough to understand the state of parties at Washington city, is Lot which of the two south ern routes we are willing to accept, but whether we shall be able to get either one of them. As 1t is now in Congress, the majority is decidedly opposed to both of the southern routes. The question has become a sectional one, and the northern majority in Congress favor route for railroad to the Pacific far north of the north- ern boundary of Arkansas.
 Neither of our Senators, Johnson or Sebas- tian, to our knowledge, has taken any action in favor of either of the southern routes against the other, and in the present state of the question before Congress it would be highly impolitic in them to do so. With a stubborn and unyield- ing majority in Congress against both of the routes, and in favor of more northern route, it would be unwise, if not contempta6le, in our dele gation to embark in dispute or quarrel with the delegations of the other southern States, who are our only friends whether we shall have the Fl Paso route or the route by Ft. Smith on the 35th parallel.
 Our delegation, we imagine, would accept and be satisfied with either of the southern routes, whichever they could get. Either one would benefit the people of Arkansas for they pass through the centre of the State-the Fl Paso route over the Cairo and Fulton road, and the route on the 35th parallel over the Ft Smith branch of the Cairo and Fulton road Un- happily, the settlement of the question between the two routes rests not with the Arkansas dele gation, nor with the united delegations of, the southern States. It remains entirely with the northern Senators and Representatives, and they are to man opposed to both cf our routes.
 No one would hail with more satisfaction than we would, the passage of a law by Con- gress giving aid to a railroad from Ft. Smith on