Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-06-08
Canaden, Arkansos, May 26th, 1859.

| the True Democrat, advising you of the turn of affairs down here; yet at the same time l feel many misgivings in attempting the task, since there are so many writers of talent and ability who make the True De- mocrat the channel for giving their effusions to the public, while l come before your req ders with Call my imperfections on my head" Some one once said that the |" ;tcb o1 scrlbbling is an endless curse;" although nave never been very severely afflicted with cocoethes scribendi, I am inclined to subscribe to the truth of this axiom. But am not writing now solely for the pur pose of seeing my effusions in print. bu. merely to while away "the dull tedium of a luckless hour" and will add, that, if you thnk my letter devoid of interest. (not merit you can consgn it to the fate of all other rubbish, and place my name ou your "rejected Ea.''
 Well, have commenced this letter. and now, how l shall .tniM it, is the rub. Moth Ing strange or wonderful has happened hereabouts. Nobody murdered, drowned or missing; we have had no fights or fires to relieve the dull, quiet, monotonous aspect of our city, but everything moves on in it's wonted smooth channel, and everybody seems Tn good humor with himself and his neighbor. Since the great Sickles farce has been acted out, and the curtain drawn. and there being nothing acting on the great stage calculated to feed the morbid appetite of public curiosity, our citizens are at q loss to lind topic for discussion and conversa ton, save the extensive preparations that are actively going on for the great drama in Europe, and that is too far from home to absorb universal attention.
 Harry Mccarthy and his theatrical troupe, who played in our city for while. and thus relieved the dull monotomy of our town, have left for Louisiana. Mccarthy met with good success here for while, but a clique or combination was formed by certain class to cry him down, and inure him in the eyes of the community. A Amost relentless persecution was waged against him, and his prosecutors scrupled not at the means used-heaping infamous and slan- derous lies on the characters of those com posing his company That immqculote sheet, yclept the Ouachaa Herald edited ostensiJly by those censors of morals and manners, and c,itics of Merature (O Adam (me fr@) and James, (he second, joining lii with Gray, Blance and Sweetheart.'' yelped as loud as some of the larger CUTS. These very moral and upright young men, becoming angry because Mccarthy would not favor them wirh the printing of his play-bills, (which was considerable item) thought to revenge themselves in this very ungentlemanlv manner 'Tis said "re- venge is sweet" but l cannot conceive that bought at such dear price as this, ( at the sacrifice of conscience and principle, it can taste very sweet to their palates. "To what base ends will men resort?"
 The per diem question comes in for it's share of public attention and discussion l am rejoiced to see that the Hon. Speaker Oates has gallantly accepted Duval's pro- position to canvass and discuss this much vexed question before the people; and 1 predict that, ere they have many discus sions, Mr. Duval will find that he has caught Tartar" and bitterly repent that he ever heard of per diem poy, save only to quietly receive 1t, and pm d in It's pocket So far as this section is concerned, 1t is use less to extend their discussion here, as everybody Is of one opinion, and that is, that those members of the legislature who drew their per diem ought to be prosecuted tor receiping money under .talse pretensest- They received pay for services represented to have been performed, when, the truth is, they were at home by their fre-sides, at tending to their house hold affairs, or frol- licking around the streets of the capital, imbibing rot-qW and Just-head. If Mr. Du- val thinks he can make the people believe that he and his followers are right, and Mr. Oates wrong, he has certainly "reckoned without his host" They have read and examined both sides of the question, and all the pleading he can do-al the nice tales he can tell, cannot change their opin- ion. The verdict has already been made up, and that is, that Mr. Duval and kin dred spirits shall lay on Me shelf for all time to come.
 Our river is still in navigable condi tIon' and boats arrive and depart almost daily. The season, however, is about clos ing. Our merchants generally have laid in their stocks, and are not slow to let it be known, judging from the way they blus- ter and blow about 1t through the columns of our papers.
 A terrific tornado swept over the south east portion of our county on last Friday night. Its track everywhere was marked by utter dissolution, and in some instonces death. The sturdiest oaks as we'll as the puny saplings were twisted off and felled to the earth as reeds, and houses and fences were swept away as chaff This section of the country seems peculiarly subject to tor nadoes, no less than four having swept through it within the last two months, proving great drawback to many of our farmers.
 1t has been reported abroad, much to the detriment of our city, that the people of Camden were dying off from the hux, like cattle with the murrain How such re port originated is a mystery to me, for so far from there being any truth in it, Cam den never was in the enjoyment of more perfect health. There has not been a case of Aux in town this season.