Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-07-28
TRI-WEFKLY
LITTLE ROCK, JULY 23, 1860.
Col. A. Rust.

We have just seen Col. Rust's last, and we suppose, greatest "paper of the cam paign." It has been out, and we believe in the State sometime; this is however its first appearance here. The copy we have is borrowed We have not been surprised at it, and regard the whole piece as emi- nently characteristic of the burly congress- man. He reminds us, in the blindness of his impotent rage, of Satan after his fall, seeking his revenge by hurling invective and abuse, at once false and undeserved, and known by him to be so. We beg par don of the Colonel if he objects to the con- pany We have never before seen such a political document, or a lower, falser or more disgusting display of impotent rage We pity the Colonel, and while we shall at temptto show up few of his contradictions, pervarications and stuitifcmions, we must absolutely decline following him in his un- gentlemanly fish market billingsgate; which he well knew, to be false when penning ak His reply is remarkable in more ways than 1one, but chiefly so in its contradictions-its miserable diction and its utter failure to meet, in single point MT. Johnson's reply, or sustain, in single assertion or inference his own address; unless indeed in proving beyond the shadow of doubt, the egotis tical and dictatorial character of its author.
 But to the document-Co Rust in his address charges that:
 "There is ground for believing that another one of the favortes had assurances from the Governor that, if he purchased a tract of land belonging to widow and her orphan children, it would be impro we'd at the public expense. Will not every magnani nous citizen admit that, if the public interest quired this work, the incidental benefit resulting from it should have been enjoyed by the widow and her young orphan children rather than their assig nee, man with already princely estate"
 His reply denies all this, hear him. "He (Mr. Johnson,) has denied accusations which I never made, defended himself against crimes which I never imputed to him. denounced as false and slanderous, charges that have never preferred against him. l do not allege directly, or by impli cation, that he had swindled widow and orphans or any body else. 1 never thought of employing means of any kind fair or foul to compass his fall" Here is the dis claimer, full and frank, covering the whole ground; but alas, utterly untrue. The Col onel seems to have some such idea and hence heproceeds to explain" in criticising the official conduct of Gov. Conway I alluded to transaction which I did think and do now think, fit subject for animadversion, Tn which Mr. J. was involved. While he pretends to attribute very different motives to me from feelings of kindness and for bearance alone, suppressed his (Mr J.'s) name." The Col. did then mean Mir. J., and chose deliberately to slur the charge in an insinuation. Did he seek to avoid re- sponsibility thereby? His reply looks so. But is it possible the gentle Colonel could have had feelings of kindness for MT. J.? Let his candor answer. "Until recently 1 had little opportunity to judge his Mir. J's.) character" Ye gods how strange!! The veracious Colonel has associated inti mately with Mir. J. for ten years. "Every body" he continues, "knows that he MT. J. is selfish and sordid to the last degree That he is equally vain, stupid, ambitious and malignant" Now Colonel be honest, could you feel kindness for such character? If so, you are lower than we thought. But letus look a little further. Hear the heavy Colonel eff he had called upon me to correct any mistaken statement which I had made, it would have afforded me plea sure to do so." The circular of Mir. J. did call upon him as an Honest man to retract the falsehood and tell the truth. The cer- tifcates of MT. Kimball, swamp land sec'y.; of Drs. Sizer and Wright, political friends, and MT. Starback, engineer; and Mr. Wor- then, brother-in-law of the widow, politi- cal opponents of Mir. J., explained the af- fair and showed him the way. Has he retracted? The Colonel sometimes quotes Shakespeare. We think that poet says: ...tell the truth and shame the devil" Does tile Colonel recollect the passage? let him answer. .sa" With regard to the certificates he has introduced to bolster up his cause and disproye what I have never charged, I will only say they are beneath criticism.', We assure the Colonel either of these gents stand as high, if not higher, for morality,