Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-30
From the Fort Smith Times. The Gubernatorial Discussion at Fort Smith.

The Gubernatorial Discussion at Fort
 Smith.
 In compliance with the published ap- continent, the opposing candidates for the gubernatorial chair of Arkansas addressed the citizens of Sebastian county on Friday last, at the Fort Smith Theatre. The au- dience was large, and the discussion ani- mated. Judge Rector led in the debate.- His effort was characteristic one-replete, as was anticipated, with perverted facts and figures, apparently plausible and correct; but when dissected, the metaphysical jar gan with which he secured the attention of his audience can be laid bare to the public mind, and his subtle arguments swept away with facts as potent and as sweeping and unrelenting as the torch of Omar
 A majority of the citizens of Sebastian. county heard the discussion on both sides, but for the benefit of those who were not so fortunate as to be present, we will, in all fairness and candor, review the remarks of both gent]emen-awarding to each his mer- ted deserts. Judge Rector has, from his experience and familiarity with political tactics, a decided advantage over Col John- son upon the hustings, and, as a matter of course, being conscious of that superb ority, his utmost efforts are brought to bear, and no stone is left unturned by which an. advantage can be obtained.
 The principal feature of the speeches was the discussion of the merits of the State convention which nominated Col. Johnson-Judge Rector assuming that it was unfair and in violation of demo- cratic usage. His arguments were, that several counties had been misrepresented in that convention, and that fradulent and villainous assumptions had been exercised by the friends of Col. Johnson in order to obtain his nomination. He referred par ticuarly to the cases of Benton and Van Buren counties producing the subsequent protest of the people of Benton county, signed, as he alleges, by Mousand names, (there are only nine Hundred and .ftty-eight voters in that county,) and exposed the forged proxy by which Mir. Yerkes was per mitted to cast the vote of Van Buren coun- ty, and argues from the figures that with out the vote of those counties, Col. John- son would not have been presented to the people as the nominee of the democracy of Arkansas. This assumption, as the fgures now stand, is a correct e; but the facts do not sustain him. We are willing to grant that, as the matter now stands, upon Me ballot by which Col. Johnson re- ceived the nomination, he would not have had a majority without the aid of those counties; but let us take one step further and we will see that even cuhoutMe vote ot Hose counties, Col. Johnson is the legiti- mate choice of the democracy of the whole State.
 There were in that convention number of counties whose delegates were instructed to vote for Col. Johnson as their second choice. Upon the ballot by which he re- ceived the nominations none of those coun- ties, whose delegates had been instructed to vote for him as second choice had yet o-operated with those favorable to Col. J Johnson's claims, and whose duties direct ed that when the probabilities favored the | failure of the particular favogite of their constituents, whom they represented, they must support Col. Johnson as the second choice. There were six or eight of the most prominent names in tlra State before that convention for preferment. Upon the first ballot cast by the counties represented, Col. Johnson received a plurality of the entire vote of Me State; hence. 1t was the duty of those delegates who were instructed to vote for Col. Johnson as second choice, seeing that their favorites must De rejected, to hare gone over immediately 10 him; J Mis step had been pursued, tie tongue of slander and vituperatjon acould hare been hushed, and Coz. Johnson uould hage gone ouer the demo- cratic course aoithom opposition; and even as 1t is, we do assert, without fear of success fu contradiction, that the present candidate is de facto the nominee of that convention by a majority of oper stx thousand ootes. = With these facts before us, we are con strained to characterize that portion o1 Judge Rector's speech which discusses tht merits of the State convention, as mere DO luicoi 6osh, and unworhty he serious consid eration of any voter who heard him.
 Again, Judge Rector springs question of veracity between himself and Col. John son in relation to the latter gentleman candidacy for the nomination, and charge that he was an overt aspirant for the posi- tion which he now occupies, for eighteer months prior to the assembling of the con vention which he asserts unfairly and frau dulcntly nominated him; and argues tha in view of this fact, if Col Johnson wa' either the first or second choice ot ma jority of the counties represented in tha convention, it would have been indicated through their delegates. Col. Johnson de nies having sought the nomination. Bu leaving this matter of veracity out of tho question: we claim, and can prove by the do cuments, that Col. Johnson went into th' convention with an overwhelming plurality which in fact, in all local or State elections is equivalent to a majority. Let us ex anime the facts The whole number O votes represented was A 1929, making 12, 415 necessary to choice. We give thu result of the first ballot:
 FoR R. H. JoHNsoN-Ashley, (Benton,) Clark Columbia, Hampstead, Izard, Johnson, Lafayette Montgomery, Ouachta, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline Searcy, St. Francis, (Van Buren,) Washington an | Yell 10, ,79
 
 | senting vote of. 40
 Leaving 9,39
 FoR THos. FLETcHER-Arkansas, Chicot,
 Conway, Desha, Fulton, Jefferson, Greene,
 Monroe :. 3,O9 | FOR Mathematician, Phillips, White l, Fl
 FoR B. c. ToTTEN-Prairie. ............ 4o
 FoR MIrcHELI-Carroll, Mississippi. ,l4
 FoR GoULD-Bradley, Calhoun, Drew... ,l4
 FOR RoANE-Crawford. d........... A
 FoR WATKINs-Hot Spring, Pope, Sevier ,62
 FOR w. R. MILLER-Independenc e...... l,U6 FOR FLoyp-Scott, Sebastian ........ ,57 FoR QUILIIN-Union. 6e FoR HAMPToN-Pike. ................... 2I'
 FoR w ATTs-Dallas. ~
 FoR FLoURNoY--Lawrence. ......... 9I' FOR HLL-Perry. ..................... I9' Total vote for all other candidates. .... ,e5 It appears from the above that Judg Fletcher received the next largest vote upol the first ballot, which was, as matter o