Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-09
TO THE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS.
Eelloag- Citizens.

The democracy of the State, in their con vention assembled at Little Rock, in April last, nominated me as the democratic can didate for Governor of Arkansas. As shall not be able to visit and speak in all the counties, as l should desire, nor in so many of them, as 1 at first anticipated, have deemedi it proper to adopt this meth cd of making my views generally pubic. I shall also visit and address the citizens of as large portion of the State as 1t IS pos sible, and 1 shall trust to thelr courtesy and kindness for an attentive hearing and an impartial verdict
 The brief limits of circular letter will not permit me 10 enter so fully as l could wish into the detail of my views upon pubic questions; but I hope to be sufficiently ex- plicit to be clearly comprehended, and' as 1 shall present nothing but my earnest con victions, beg to request they may De well considered. l shall address myself direct lv to the judgment and good sense ot the people. 1t is to them l appeal, and 1t IS by them I wish to be understood and ap- preciated.
 The office for which 1 have been noml- mated by the democracy is the most honora- ble and responsible of any in the gift ot the people, and when 1 reflect that m It's wise and efficient execution, the interests, the honor and even the future destiny of the State are involved, I must confess that l accept the position as candidate for It with an extreme difidence of my abilities. All can promise is, if elected, to bring to the execution of the duties of the office an honest and an earnest desire for the pros peritv and welfare of the State.
 The convention that honored me with the nomination for Governor assembled, at Little Rock, on the 2d April last. 1t was regularly called by the executive committee appointed for that purpose by the State de- mocratic convention of 1856, and ample notice was given. Every county in the State was fully notified, and on the day set apart four-ifths of them assembled Tn con vention. The convention was regularly organized by the election of officers to pre- side over 1t, and committee on credentials was appointed in the usual manner.
 Two sets of delegates appeared from each of the counties of Benton and Phillips, and they were sent before the committee on ere dentials. The committee was composed of honorable and just men, and it considered well and impartially all the facts in each case, and reported accordingly. Without any reference to myself, but upon the facts alone, the committee reported in favor of the delegate from Benton county that was friendly to my nomination., and in favor of the delega tes from Phillips that were op- posed to me. Their report was adopted in the convention by an overwhelming vote.
 The decision of the convention in regard to Phillips county, as it was against my friends, of course is not complained of by my enemies; but the decision in regard to Benton county, being in favor of the- dele gaton friendly to me- is for the same reason objected to. This objection at first extend ed only to the action of the convention. but now 1t Is urged against me as the nominee
 All good nd true democrats were satis- fed with the action of the convention, and thought t right. Two delegates had ap- peared in the convention and claimed to represent the democracy of Benton county One of them, MT. Robert Harston, was a citizen of Benton county, and the other Mr. T. c. Peek, was a citizen of Little Rock. The convention awarded the right to represent Benton county to Mr Harston, who was 8 citizen of the county, and ruled out Ar. Peek, who was not q citizen. Had the delegates from the meeting which Mr. Peek claimed to represent as the proxy thought the matter of much importance. and dad they believed their meeting to be the correct and legitimate one. 1t was reasonable to suppose, under the circumstances of contest, they would themselves have at tended. They did not attend. and the in ference was strong and conclusive, that the delegate from the adverse meeting, who did attend, was clearly entitled to his seat. A citizen of Little Rock had no right to represent Benton county, when citizen of Benton was present with his credentials claiming the right. The vote of the con vention manifested the feeling on the sub iect. .Sirteen Mousand four Hundred and sepentyJf0e votes were cast in favor of MT. Harston, and only ice Mousand and sirty- t,co in favor of Mr. Peek Oger Mree- tourths ofMe ootes cast were in .fagor of IMr. Harston as Me delegote.
 Those who complain of this action, also contended for the adoption of the two-third rule in making nominations. Here is a decision made by a vote of more thon tro- by vote of Mree ejourths- and vet they are not satisfied! This shows clearly that had my nomination been made under the two-third, oreven the three fourth rule, it would not have pleased the parties now obiecting. The reasons assigned for opposing me are mere pretexts. and the real reasons are carefully concealed from the public.
 The vote of Van Buren county is also of That vote is a matter to me of unfegned regret. It was the vote of a proxy in my favor upon forged instruc tions, and had my nomination depended upon it, l would now decline that nomina tion. It was the act of some imprudent friend, or some designing enemy. Be it, however, whom it may, it was an unpar donable wrong, placing me in false posi-. ton. It did me serious injury, and in no event could have done me service.
 Had the vote of Van Buren county been III tilN NOi'SiAtioh to tion, would now decline the honor; but it was not. Throwing out Van Buren county, and refusing to count it, entirely, the fol- lowing statement shows the result:
 The number of votes cast, after deduct ing the vote of Van Buren county, were... 24,374
 Necessary to choice ce................. l2,l8S
 The vote of R. H. Johnson, less the vote of Van Buren county (455,) was. ......... l3,O04
 Thus it is concusively shown that the vote of Van Buren county was unnecessary to my nomination. After deducting the vote of Van Buren, and throwing it entirely ont of the count,hI hal Sl6 votes more than enough to secure my nomination. And, in this statement of my vote, most of the counties that instructed for me as their second choice are not included. Had the convention failed to nominate me on the 2nd ballot, and proceeded to one more ballot, | should have received nearly, if not quite, three fourths of the votes cast. As it is. my nomination was made unani nous, and l am before the people of the State as the democratic nominee for Gov ernor by the unanimous vote of the con- vention.
 had no agency in the Van Buren county fraud, and was not aware of 1t until many
 f,or t1,a of tho conyan-