Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-09-21
From the South Arkansas Democrat.
MEssRs. EDITORS:

| 41EoShC' AADiIohc'
 From an advertisement published in your paper over the names of nine citizens of La Fayette county, perceive they con slider that Gov Elias N. Conway deserves their censure for not responding to civil in quiries made by citizens of La Fayette county in relation to contract which /, as State Engineer, had made eoith Col. Calvin NJ. Harvey, for the construction of levee on the west bank of Red river.
 After Gov. Conway received a commu- nication making inquiries about the location of the levee he was so anxious to afford to the citizens of La Fayette county, correct, reliable and full information on the subject, that he instructed me to make out map, of all that part of Red river in Arkansas, on large scale, embracing not only the river, but a considerable portion of coun try on each side of 1t, so as to include the bottom lands, and to designate and mark on this map, the exact location of the pro- posed levee.
 l completed the map on the 11th July, 1859; and Gov. Conway instructed me in writing, to proceed immediately to Lewis vllle La Fayette county, Arkansas, and to see each and every one of the citizens of La Fayette county, whose name was to the letter of inquiries, and to show to each of them the map, point out the location of the proposed levee, and explain to them fully why 1 had, as State engineer, thought it would promote the public good to have the levee constructed. My instructions from Gov. Conway also requested me to To- cate and let out contracts for the construc- tion of all levecs which the public interests require from the Louisiana to the Texas and Indian boundaries, in Arkansas, on both sides of Red riyer," and requested me to '' be particular in iocating he leuees so as 70 promote he public good wjthoM damage to in- dl0lduals." With these instructions, left Little Rock in the stage on the morning of the l2th July, 1859, expecting to reach Lewisvile, La Fayette county, in three days. As l was the State engineer who To- cated the route and made the contract for the construction of the levee, it was thought that could, in person, explain the whole matter more satisfactory to the citizens of La tayette county, than could be done by letter. Gov. Conway, therefore, sent me one hundred and fifty miles with written instructions, designating therein each citi zen by name, who had signed the letter of inquiries about the proposed levee, and re- quested me to see them all and give them full official information in response to all the inquiries which they had made
 On my way to Lewisville, 1 was taken sick and confined to my bed, with severe fever, so that, although 1 left Little Rock 1 for Lewisville, on the morning of the I2th July, did not get there until the 2d day of August; and my health was then so bad that l was not able to carry out my writ ten instructions, so far as to see all the per sons named in them, and communicate all the information in regard to the proposed levee, which by their letter to the Cover nor they had sought. Whilst l was sick did not write to the Governor until on my return from Lewisvile, 1 wrote to him that l was sick; and had been sick, and was not able to carry out his instructions
 l will here state MotMe Gorernor neither Iocotes Me routes nor makes contracts tor He construction ot' iegees, but such duties are pettormed in accordance with Me requirements ct law dy Stote engineers. 1 have quoted from the instructions given me by Gov Conway.
 In the exercise of my discretion, after examining the country, l was satisfied in my own mind that it would promote the public good to have the levee constructed, and therefore, l let out the contract to Col Calvin NJ. Harvey. Under all these cir cumstances and facts of the case l feel quite certain that every impartial person will see that Gov. Conway sought to ex- tend more than ordinary consideration to those citizens of La Fayette county, who asked information, and he only failed to accomplish that object, promptly, in conse- quence of my sickness and inability to carry out his instructions
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