Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-11-30
Letter from Hon. W. w. Watkins.


 To THE EDITOR OF THE TRUE DEMOCRAT: The Old Line Democrat of October 27th, 1859, was handed me on yesterday, by a friend, containing a communication over the signature of "Prarie Nan,' purporting to have been written from this place and by citizen of Carroll county, which we think is very doubtful, but we do think that the communications written and published in the State Rights Democrat and Old Line Democrat, must have been written or die tated by men educated at the same college or institution.
 "Prairie Man" sets out by attempting to give an account or synopsis of Col. Hindman's speech made at this place on the 10th day of October last and in so doing, whether intentionally l know not, he grossly and .talsely misrepresented the Colonel in his remarks relative to the cor respondence which took place between Maj. I. 5. Floumoy and myself at Little Rock, last winter, and also calculated to reflect by such false representations upon my private character as a man of veraclty. After speaking of Col. Hindman's speech relative to the Senatorial caucus of the 9th Novem- Der, 1858, held in the Representative Hall at Little Rock, to nominate democratic candidate for the United States Senate he states as follows: 'As corroborating testi- mony, showing that his enemies did intend to put him down whether right or wrong, he read and commented very severely on the correspondence which took place be- tween Maj. Thompson, T. B. Flournov and our senator w. w. Watkins, at Little Rock, last winter.'
 Now MT. Editor, it is true as stated by the unknown Prairie Man. that Col. Hindman did read the correspondence as above stated, but it is equally untrue, that he (Hindman) in h's speech at this place commented very severely" or even made any unjust or severe allusion relative to the correspondence as alluded to by the com- munication in the Old Line Democrat.
 Col. Hindman in his speech at this place. to which "Prairie Man" has reference to- avoided any personalities or language calcu- lated in the least to give me offence: this was noticed and remarked by many, for not as the ''Prarie Man' states, that it was rumored that 1 was going on that day to demollsh Hindman, but that he would de- mollsh me, consequently, all noticed his remarks more particularly than they would have otherwise done. In fact sir, he made no such every severe comment" or allu- | sion as stated by the communication.
 Ii the correspondence between Mai. Flournoy and myself, notwithstanding the publicity given to it by Col. Hindman having 1t dove-tailed to his memorable speech of castigation delivered in the Rep resentative Hall on the night of the 18th February last, was of such a public charac- ter as the country would feel an interest in, Iwould take pleasure in having 1t published; but as the whole matter was entirely per sonal misunderstanding between the parties, and where the public is entirely disinterested and can in no wise be affected thereby, would not ask a consumption of your time and space in your invaluable paper, to pub. fish and parade before the country matter that they are so little interested in. One word explanatory of the correspondence between Maj. Flournoy and myself
 Gen. R. M. Gaines, man of Gods own make-an honest nam, and the mutual friend