The Van Buren press., 1860-04-27
From the True Democrat
Letter from Philadelphia.
Pu, ,Dr,puIA- March 21 1864

The task Of letter writing to newspapers
is truly difficult one, and l acknowledge
nv inability to perform it. To select from
among the numerous incidents and on dite
of daily occurrence in large city. to suit
the expectation or tastes Of the newspaper
reader, g AMI his wife," and to condense
matter within the limits of prescribed
space, are things impossible to me, and
henceforth.I shall contine myself to one sole
subject.
In my last ! was unsparing upon tho
unpatriotic and objectionable course of
southern merchants in purchasing goods
from abolitionists and regret that since
the date of that letter. Arkansas merchants
have been in this city, and have laid in
their stocks that stink of treason aud
higher law dcpravisy. There are in
tiis city men, as TRUE to the constitution
aid the rights of the Sonth. as yon will
| find in any southern State---they are no.
this seasons swarm I" brought into life
by the excitement that followed the recent
riot on the Potomac, but old and staunch,
constitutional democrats and wings of old
en- times men whose skirts have been FREQ
! from fleesoilism from the beginning to the
These men sustain, the constitution and tho
laws, not only by voting but they con-
tribute from the purse and lend the moral
aid Of their open and undisguiscd advocacy
of the rights of the South. Such men
have stood up to the South in every emer-
gcncy and fought our battles in the midst
of our enemies Among the merchants here
are to be found just such mcn whose stocks
are unsurpassed, and whose prices are Just
as low as can be found in any Of the aboli-
ton houses. Southern merchants can find
all the various articles to make up their
stock, and at the lowest prices in some
houses, yet to my modification and shame
, drhonsas merchants have been here. passed
these establishments, and have purchased
their goods of the rankest abolitionists.
The back of my hand to all such would
suffer the peltings OF wintry storm to
bleach my back before i would buy from
! such sOutherners. Their example and con-
duct do more to build mp abolitiondom than
all the efforts of abolitionists. VIII not
the people of Arkansas combine and put
down this kind of trade.
Before / arrived here I thought It was
hardly possible that there was any leaven
in the body polite Of Pennsylvania the
few weeks of my soiourn in this city ihavc
convinced inc that there as sound men in
this place as are to be found any ywhere. A
little experience soon enables me to slit the
chaf from the sound portions of this com.
munity. There are hundreds Of substan-
tial conservative men in the mercantile cir
cles here, such men as II. G. Martin. Of the
firm Of Martin e. Smith, hardware dealers !;
Martin was tue defeated democratic can Ii
date for Congress at the last election and
VIII DC the successful one at the next Elias
Simpson, of the firm Of E. Simpson g. Co.
wine and liquor dealers Simpson is a
whole souled Georgian--a hIgh-toned, Chi
valric southerner; if | am a Judge Of any
thing, 1T is of a mans politics and wine ;
both Of these commodities at simpsons
are genuine and Of the highest flavor. An
other trump is to be found in "Bob South
mayd,' Of the firm of Henderson, d. South
mayd. hat and cap-dealcrs whoever, in
lPhlladeiphia has taken an interest in poll
/ tics that don't know Bob? He is al
ways in the front ranks of every democrat
/ &c procession regular in attendance at every
democratic meeting, and inst as punctual in
his attendance on the abolition mblagcs
Bob " must always be there to supervise
and criticise "higher law " proceedings.
Where is the true southern man who would
not prefer having his cranium covered with
one of &" Bob's " orthodox hats ?
These are only some of the trumps of
large pack Of good and true men in this
city, who sell as good AMI cheap goods as
their abolition alversaries. Then why do
no. all southern men deal altogether with
these men?
l have referred TO the above named gen
tlemen and houses without their knowledge
az a merited compliment to their worth and
! patriotism in politics. and their high intcg-
rity and amenity as gentlemen. If it should
do them any good by turning Arkansas
trade to them. it is no more than they de-
serve, aud / will think that have Ionc q
good thing. True men are precious in these
days of political depravity, and should b,
cherished. ARK ANSAS.