The Van Buren press., 1859-08-24

Respectfully yours,
[Signed] HENRY A. WISE.
Letter from Col Hindman.
HELENA. August 8, 1859. d.
Eds. State Rights Democrat -
GENTLEMEN: In the Little Rock True
Democrat of the Sd inst, an editorial arti-
cle,-headed political Facts for Consid-
Grafton, makes the following statement
in relation to my course during the Demo-
cratic Congressional Convention, at Bates
vile, in May, 1867
Though defeated, and though his conduct iu
1ng the struggle in the Convention, as we have re-
Gently learned, not that of an unselfish Demo
crat, Mr. Hindman did not suffer even this occa
sion to pass unimproved; After some two hundred
drew his name. Fos this apparently disinterested
act. he claimed and received great credit Now,
since his open disorganization, and for the first
time, it comes to light, that, before he withdrew,
he made the proposition to Of his friends, in
view OF the hopelessness Of his prospects over
Judge Greenwood. to adjourn the Convention
without a nomination, or to break it up and turn
him loose as an independent candidate. This was
Mr. Hindman's first contest in the State, and how
did he bear himself in it 2 Was il as nm .sold linz
Democrat" devoted to his party and its organiza-
tion Rather, was his conduct not that of a rpck
less adventurer. who was willing to sacrifice
the Democratic party to crafty his selfish am
bition
AS will be seen, the editor of the True
Democrat distinctly charges, in the above
extract, that, "before l withdrew, l made
the proposition to some of my friends to
adjourn the Convention without a nom
ination, or to break it up, and turn me
loose as an independent candidate
The charge Is utterly untrue. l made no
such proposition 70 any person whatever,
and never entertained any such thought.
No act, word or intention of mine, ever af-
forded the slightest foundation for the SLAM
der. On the contrary, pursued the very
opposite course and manifested the very op
posite disposition.
The first contest in the Convention was
about the election of a presiding officer.
who would be proxy for the counties not
represented by delegates in attendance
My friends had the numerical majority, and
could have elected Chairman Of their own
number, without any difficulty. Judge
Greenwood's friends insisted that the Chair
man should be one of themselves. Final
ly, when it became evident that the Con-
vention was about to Observation-Disclosures
Greenwood's friends, or the body of them
at least, having declined to return to then
seats.-l prevailed on my friends to elect
Mr. Watkins, of Carroll Greenwood
delegate,-Chairman. He was put in NOM
ination by Col. A. c. Robertson. of nv
own county, and unanimously elected. /
effected this by means of the following
note, which l sent to Col. Robertson by
w. A. Bevens, Esq, of Batesville, after
submitting it to Hon. w. c. Bevens, his
father -
Vote for Mr.. Watkins, of Carroll, for Chairman.
II 1t beats me. let the responsibility rest on my
ization Tell all my friends to vote for him.
When it seemed that Judge Greenwood,s
friends, or the greater number of them, had
seeded and bolted from the C convention.
my friends resolved to meet at the appoint
ed time and place, and proceed to make
nomination. l myself communicated that
intention to friends of Judge Greenwood.
stating that l had rather withdraw from
the contest than see the Democratic party
disorganized, and would DO so, if necessary,
to avert that misfortune. They thcreupon
returned to the Convention, and it was then
that l caused Mr.. Watkins to be elected
Chairman, as before stated By so doing.
l also caused my own defeat, for the Chair.
man persisted in casting all his proxy votes
for my competitor, to the end of the 276
ballotings, although part of those votes
were instructed to be cast for me, as second
choice.
Ihe above is some evidence of the cor
rectness of my course, judged by the strict
est tests OF Democracy. Other evidence
may be found in the fact, that quietly ac-
|quiesced in the casting of tho three votes of
Washington county for Judge Greenw ood
although l had good reason to believe. and
do still believe. that l received more Demo-
cratic votes in the Washington county
Convention than Were cast for him. Other
evidence appears in the fact, that acouies-
ced In the casting of the two votes of Madi-
son county, by proxy, for Judge Green
wood. although the Madison county Conven-
tion had emphatically instructed against
that when Judge Greenwood and / were At
an equal vote, or within one of it. and a
copy OF the proceedings of the Pope coun-
ty Convention was furnished me, three days
IN advance OF the mail. being the only copy
IN Batesvllle, delivered it, unhesitatingly.
TO Judge Greenwood's friends, thereby add
ing the two votes of Pope to my competi-
tors strength. Still further evidence ap-
pears in the fact. that the Convention
knowing all the circumstances, unanimous.
~ endorsed my conduct, and declared that
l had saved the party from disorganiza-
ton.
| these are facts / am ready to substan.
tate, and shall take occasion to do SO IN
the canvass / am about making. If the ed
itor OF the True Democrat has proof 70,
ms statement, let it be produced. at my ap.
pointments, BY himself or any Of his SUP.
pie tools ! will be prepared to meet him
or them, and to overthrow every vile slam.
der. whether published for whispered. tha,
may be alleged against me. Of.him and
ms. have NO favors to ask, and of the ma
.ignant assaults that emanate from that
fountain. head. have no fear.
t"nsclous OF the rcctit'rlr cf nv intcu