Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-05-25
The Gazette of this city. still insists that

The Gatette of this city, still insists that the democratic party is a free soil party As regards Mir. Letcher's speech, the editor says he copied it from the Washington States. The Nashville Banner did the same thing and thereupon the Union and American of that city answers him as fol- lows: We will now see whether the Ga zette has the manliness to confess it's error
 MT. fletcher and The Banner.
 The Banner has not yet taken the trou- ble to investigate its charge against Mr. Letcher, that he was opposed to the Fugi- tive Slave Law. A simple inspection of the Congressional Globe for the 34th Con- gress, would convince our contemporary that the extract which it continues to pub1- lsh as from speech of Mir. fletcher. does that gentleman very great injustice. If the Banner does not recognize the obliga- ton resting upon 1t, to verify or correct its statement when the official documents furnishing the information, are at hand. the people must decide what degree of au thorlty should be attached to publications ln the columns of that paper
 The States, from which the Banner cop- les the paragrah purporting to be from Mr. Letcher's speech, on which the charge is based, has since acknowledged and correc- ed its error. It does as the Banner says, defend Mir. Letcher from the charge that he was opposed to the Fugitive Slave Law Why does the Banner then persist in making the charge? The Opposition pa pers m Virginia, have retracted 1t, and the Banner IS the only journal of either party. so lar as we know, which does not admit its injustice.
 The quotation from Mr. Letcher's speech on W llch the Banner relies to sustain the charge, IS incorrect, as our contemporary mig 1t have ascertained by reference to the Congressional Globe. It continues. however, to publish the erroneous report from the States, instead of copying the correct version of the speech as given in the official records. We called the Ban ner,s attention some time ago to the fact that the matter under discussion was Dunn's amendment" a free-soil measure intended to repeal the Kansas Nebraska act, and restore the Missouri restriction prohibiting slavery in the Territory of Kan sas.
 It was with regard to this amendment which the Southern members unanimously opposed that Mir. Letcher said, in reply to question from Mir. Giddngs, that ha would have voted against. Responding to this statement previously made in onr pa- per- the Banner again quotes the report from the columns of tine States and says:
 1 hat IS not the language of the above report. MT. Giddings does not ask Letch- er Ii ne would have voted for Dunns amendment casks the question, would you have voted for the fugitive slave law There Is no ambiguity in his question. It IS Slncapable of miaapprchension Mir. Letch- CT answers this question: : l would not '- Such IS the question and such the answer, amt the reader can judge for himself wheth CT It Sustains the charge made by the States or not"
 The question of Mr. Giddings was not as above stated by the Banner. He did not ask Mr. Letcher would you have vot ed for the fugitive slave law?'' Mr. Letch- CT was referring to the Dunn amendment, when his remarks were interrupted by the following lntewogatory: { We quote from the Appendix to the Congressional Globe, lst session, 34th Congress, page 112l:)
 " Mr. Gidding~. | wish to ask the gen tleman question. Did you not vote against the law "
 This question referred to the Dunn amend ment, and Mr. Letcher in saying that he wo1ld have voted against it if he had been present, answered just as every Southern man in the House would have answered. just as they did answer by their votes.
 The use of the words " fugitive slave law 7 in the Bnnner's quotation from Gid dings' interrogatory, is entirely unauthor- ized by the official documents, to which the Banner might have referred if disposed to repair the injustice it had done Mir Letcher