Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-09
ADDRESS OF A. RUST.
To the People ot Arkqnsas:

ADDRESS OF A. RUST.
 To the People ot Arkansas:
 It is known to some of you that I am a candi- date for the seat in the United States Senate now occupied by the Hon. R. w. Johnson, who is not and declares, without reservation, he will not be candidate for re- election
 In consenting to become candidate for the Sen ate, l was assured of the good will and support of an interest and political combination in Arkansas of which the True Democrat" newspaper is the representative and exponent
 For many years this combination has exercised most despotic power in our State, and has of late exhibited an arrogant contempt of the popular sen tment of the people unparalleled by any of it's for mer pretensons. If it owed the extraordinary in fuence which it wields to the superior virtues pri- yate or public, public services commanding tai. ents of its members, we would all were the Carolinians of their Calhoun and the kentuckians Of their Clay, feel proud of possessing such eminent citizens in our midst.
 But every man in Arkansas at all conversant with its political history, knows that, so far from its being won in rival contests where the field was fair and equal it planted there by the hand of federal power and patronage, and has been foster ed and perpetuated by persistent and continuous best0wal of the same patronage, and that of the state government with reference solely to that ob- jsct
 This address is provoked by intelligence from Arkansas, the authenticity of which connOt be questioned, that "combination in Little Rock, whose ramifcatons extend to all the counties in the State, intends to supplant me" That "a sub sidised interest in every county is bending all its energies to carry all the strength possible for Con way into the legislature this tal'' That '' 'clan- destinely an effort made to give things this di- rection" in certain county in my district, etc. Great as the odds are against me accept the issue thus tendered.
 There is not federal officer in Arkansas who holds his place by any other tenure than the will of one Senator from that State.
 No man who has ever enjoyed power has used it with more single and studous regard for the in terest of himself and one particular family in the State than the present Governor, and one with his capacity has ever exerted it more judciously than he has done.
 There is not press in the State in which own an interest to the amount of dime; there is per haps not one in which can procure the publication of this address. Yet. they declare war, and I ac- cept it and defy them.
 Many prudent men in Arkansas will regard my course as indscreet and rash to the last degree It may be so. l prefer an open active foe 10 a doubtful friend. But, above all, if am to fall, let it be in a manly and honorable contest and not by the stealthy hand of the assassin.
 If am beaten will certainly not owe it to that duplicitv and treacherv, to which am informed the defeat of the Hon. Mir. Flecher is attributed in the recent contest for the g'Ibernatonal nomina tiOn.
 Absolute rule in Arkansas has been the cardinal object of this combination since the admission of the State into the Union. Every interest, every principle, feeling and passion has been made subor dinate to this idea. Just resentments have been smOthered injuries have been forgotten, the obligations imposed by important services render. ed have been repudiated whenever the political in terests of this faction have demanded it. The only nf vvptth h,- hoo to their interests and their will. Reorganization has been the sin of every who has dared to op- pose them. and for this they have issued their bull of excommuncaton against him. But, must ad- init, that immediate abSolution and forgiveness have been the prompt rewards of returning servitv
 will illustrate this view by adverting to one of the many instances of the kind that might be cited From le46 to 1852 Gen. George w. Clark was the able, fearless, and effective opponent of this fac ton. With talent enough to be feared, and too much courage to be ntimdated, it was thought ex- pedient to conciliate him. His offences against them had been grave and manifold. He had re- peatedly opposed the Hon. R. w. Johnson for seat in Congress Elected to the State Senate in fS4e, in the memorable contest between Dr. Bor- land and Col. Sevier, he was the active partisan of the former, and contributed more than any other in the State to the defeat ofthe latter. Subse- quently to this, that is in 1851, he again opposed Mir. Johnson for the congressional ominatiou He
 
 principle hitherto acknowledged by honorable men, he supported NIT. Preston, the whg opponent of Mir. Johnson, and through the columns of paper which he then edited, opposed Mir. Johnson with zeal and bitterness of personal invectiye and denuncia- tion rarely paralleled in partsian are. His eff foris were so effective to reduce the vote of MT. Johnson in one of the most populous and de- mocratic counties of the State to less than thirty In this canvass his disorganizing attend ed by every aggrayating circumstance. His hos tlity to Col. Sevier, whose memory was professed to be held in the most af'ectionate remembrance by Gov. Conway, and every member of this clique, was fresh in the memory of everybody. And yet, in 1853, without apology or atonement on his part or exclamation on theirs, he was adopted their favorite and protegc. Unmindful of the claims of those whose services and friendship had been life long, they have taken him into their confidence, and conferred upon him first one office and then another, seeming themselves never to be satisfied with the favors with which they have loaded him.
 When, for the first time, was member of the legislature in s42, and the personal and official character of Col. Sevier assailed with viol- ence and aerimony which many of you will remem- per- actuated by sincere respect for his character, admirauon for his talents, and belief in his inno cence defended him against these assaults, if not with ability certainly with an earnestness and dis lhteresteoless winch eicited his warmest acknow- ledgments.
 II, m several of the contests which resulted in the nomination of Mir. Johnson for Congress he did not owe hls success my efforts in his hehaf he and many of his friends have nlacod an undpe estimate upon the services have rendered. b;n,
 Yet the interest to which have referred and of which until recently he has been the active had has never imposed upon me the slightest ohl;ra,;o They have never in single struggle in Which T have been engaged been my friends.
 Of this have for long time been convinced and as an evidence of my convictions long ago. [ will now publish the following card:
 "RocKwAY, Nov. 27, 1859. Editor Of the old Line Democrat-
 In your paper of the l7th instant, in alluding to the manner in which, and the persons by whom you charge, the appointment of my successor already to have been made, you say, let gentlemen look into the facts of history and ask, can they point to one democrat who has ever filled one of these posi-. tions, thigh and responsible offces) in opposition to the wishes of the dynasty,' and answer, no.'- by implication you charge that I owe the position which now occupy to the Little Rock junto and dynasty. Twill not be so disngenuous as to affect to be ignorant of the persons whom you suppose to constitute the junto' and 'dynasty;' and, if what you write be true, by whose sufferance and good will wear the honors of representative from the second congressional district, and to whom am indebted for whatever of political preerment have hitherto enjoyed in the State. If believed that owed my seat in Congress to any power, cause, or interest, other than the favor and confidence t may be but little deserved) of the people who have the nght to bestow it, would resign it to- morrow If accepted upon other terms than these; or, if did not owe all the ctti9o60as which such distinction