Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-02-15
The Viator Letters Again.

At last, Mr. Hindman has deemed it i'm portant to notice publicly the charge cop< corning the authorship of the Viator letters. The last Old Line Democrat contains let ter from him on the subject. Had he felt innocent of the charge, he would have de- nied it long ago. He has shown more alac- rity in less important matters-less reluc tance to appear in the papers on more trivi- al occasions. His hesitation in this affair, which concerned his reputation so nearly, presumptive proof of conscious guilt
 After this long delay, and after proof of the must incontestible character has been produced against him, he attempts to escape through the only creep-out- hole left him. He says it is a forgery!
 The proof consists of the manuscript of one of the Viator letters, in Mr. Hindman's handwriting It has been shown to the world, and all who have seen it have un- hesitatingly pronounced the handwriting to be Mir. Hindman's. There is no doubt of it, and Mr. Hindman's denunciation of it as forgery, at this late day, will not avail him. It only throws darker shade upon his character.
 He accuses Mr. Boudinot and Mr. Wood ward of the deed Mir. Boudinot, he says, hates him with a "deathless hatred," and MT. Woodward writes hand similar to his, and is capable of any villainy. This is strong language, but it will not relieve the author of the Viator letters from the shame of having written them. It is not true that Mr. Woodward's hand writing is similar to Mir. Hindman's. The assertion is mere fancy conjured up to suit the oc- casion. The manuscript is in MT. Hind mans handwriting, and came into Mr. Boudinot's hands through the post office, in the presence of several gentlemen, wrap ped around some numbers of the State Rights Democrats, the paper to which the letters were written. After the letters were published, the manuscript was used in the office as wrapping paper to send the State Rights Democrat through the mails.
 We will not attempt to vindicate either MT. Boudinot or Mir. Woodward from the charge made by Mir. Hindman Even if they were not known to be honorable men, the accusation, coming from such a source, would do them no injury. Mir. Hindman's habitual language is incorporate and incon- siderate, and his denuciations carry no sting with them.
 But Mr. Hindman acknowledges hand in the Viator letters. He says:
 MT. Martin of Helena, was my travelling com panion, during my late canvass. As an act of friendship to me, he frequently addressed commu nications to the Old Line Democrat and State Rights Democrat. Some times, but not always, 1 would, at his request revise his communications, which purported to be reports of my speeches; mak ing such alterations as seemed proper, sometimes striking out part, and sometimes adding part
 That is the right of every public speaker, and is universally practced. Here, in Congress, for in- stance, whenever a Senator or Representative makes speech, the reporters notes are submitted to him for inspection and revisa, and he alters, amends, adds to and takes from the report, as he thinks expedient. This is done every day by the most distinguished men, of all parties, and no ob jection is made or thought of.
 That is precisely what I did, in respect to Mir. Martins Viator letters. 1 have nogapologv to offer for it; would do the same thing again, under similar circumstances"
 The confession was unnecessary. That Mir. Hindman made many and large alter ations in the Viator letters, no one who has seen the manuscript in his handwriting entertains the slightest doubt The at tempt to justify those alterations on the ground that public speaker usually revises his speeches before publication, is mere quibble. 7He Viator letters were not notes of IKr. Hindman's speeches. They were full some eulogies upon them and upon the man himself, and the proof is clear that he was their author He sang his own praises he wrote his own puffs! Shame! where is thy blush?
 Mr. Hindmans conduct is the first in stance in the history of the State, where one of our public men have stopped to be his own eulogist. His conduct IS without parallel, and well might his constituents feel mortified at it.