Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-09-08
Tbe Washington Telegraph and Captain pika's Letter.

| Tbe " asn1ngton IeIegrapn anu Oap'oin |/ Pike's Letter.
 The issue of Au; % of ths above pa per, contains critical review of Capt. Pikes letter; if anything IS wanting to prove the impregnable soundness and ele' vated patriotism of that letter, 1t IS Just such attacks as this review. So far as we know and believe, the editor of the 1eie- graph is an intelligent and clever gentle man. but we cannot refrain from saying, that his spunk is much more to be com mended than his judgment. In the preface to this critique some curious expressions appear; none of the least of which IS, the declaration that "he constitutional Union marty is mev birth, springing from the eri- gencies of Me country." So was the know nothing party just as much of "a new 6irth springing from the exigenicies of the country
 After lamenting the "hasty impulse ," which must have induced such an incon- siderate and foolish step on the part of Capt. Pike, and after regretting that the writer did not have an opportunity Of reasoning with him face to face before he crossed the Rubicon," the reviewer makes this singular announcement:
 "But he-Pike-is now found in the ranks Of those whose success must believe would be fatal to the peace, if not the integrity of the country
 This is new " tack;" we had heard It argued that the election of Lincoln would be fatal to the peace and integrity cf the country, but this is the first time we have seen or heard it said that the success of Breckinridge and Lane would endanger the peace of the country; pray in what manner and by whom will the peace of the country be destroyed? It can't be by the southern fre-eaters, for they will then have no occasion to put their threats of secession into execution; it can't be by the black re- publicans for they will be defeated, and no attempt on their part to disrupt the Union is anticipated; neither can 1t be this new birth of know nottingham, chrIstened the "Union party," for they disclaim any purpose to disturb the peace of the country
 But we will scan hastily the argumenta- tive portion of this review; one would think after reading the patronizing sentiments relative to the good heart but false logic of Capt. Pike, that an intellectual feast was to immediately y follow.
 We make quotation:
 "Mark his argument, as we will fairly condense it. He divides the political opinions Of the day into three classes.
 lst. That Congress has power to prohlolt or abolish slavery in the territories.
 2d That Congress has not the power, but the territorial legislatures have.
 Sd. That neither of them have that power, and that it is the highest duty of the general govern ment in all its departments, Legislative, luu!cial, and executive, to make efectau the constitutional right of any citizen to go into territory and enjoy his property in slaves.'
 Cant. Pike does set out, indeed, in the work of superroGa to prove the Sd of these classes to be the only true one. This conclusion, which might have been received in Arkansas as a sell evident fact, as it is not denied, the Captaln sus- tains through re array of the old States-rgnts arguments, occupying four columns of the True Democrat. It may be here remarked again that there was no necessity at this day and in this State to establish this point by so labored an effort. All admit it, to whatever extent they may deny the process by which it is reached"
 This is news to us; if we are correctly informed with regard to the present politl- cal issues, there is but one party which de- fends this third proposition; two of the other three openly war upon 1t, and the remaining one is either entirely mum upon the subject or occupies both sides of the fence. It is the avowed principle sf MT. Douglas that the territories have a,right to prohibit slavery; he calls it popular or inherent sovereignty; his followers from Maine to California advocate it as the only true doctrine; his friends in Arkansas, the newspapers advocatinghis election, and the orators canvassing in his behalf, all, war with unrivaled bitterness upon this third position; yet our cotemporary sneerlngly remarks that 1t is received in Arkansas as & self-evident fact" and that "no one denies it." and that call admit it," quite a singular mistake for an editor and politi- clan to make.
 But this writer goes on to say-"aoe be- l;eve Mat his third class of opiuions is Me true one.'' It is unfortunate for the cause he espouses that his candidates, Mir. Bell and MT. Everett don't believe so too; for unfortunately their platform-that IS to say, their political record, shows that they both recognized the first opinion as the right one, entirely ignoring and repudiating the third; this MT. Bell did, we conceive, when he announced himself willing to vote for the abolition of slavery in the district of Col umbia; and this MT. Everett unequivocally did when he indorsed the Massachusetts res olutions, declaring that 1t was the duty of Congress to prohibit slavery in the terri tories, and that no more slave states should be admitted into the Union.
 But even if the record of the "U Union " candidates was not in opposition to the principle as embodied in the third class of opinions, their silence and refusal to ex- press themselves upon so important point must drive from their support thousands who regard the principle as of vital signlti- canoe, and who only find one candidate for the Presidency committed to it; yet the Telegraph calls the very natural conclu- sion of Capt. Pike "lame and impotent."
 There is another branch of this review which we will notice; there is no solidity orgood sense in it, though favorite weapon with the Douglasites, and their sympathiz- or, +ba Roll;toc r. ;c uroad that hecause