Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-09
HoT STRINGS, ARK,

The failure of the Philadelphia Con- gressional Convention to make a choice of a candidate to represent the 2d district in the next Congress, has left the field open for a free fight" between all who may as pire to this office. So far as the democ- racy is concerned, I believe the opinion is general, that Mitchell and Can't should be suffered to fight 1t out alone; and in this case the battle will be with the strongest, and the race with the swiftest In this contest, between Mitche and Can't, the voters are left to free choice by the action of the convention, and that choice, 1 pre- snme, will be made up from considerations of personal merit, and political services The writer of this article has long and we'll known both these gentlemen. Mir Mitchell is an old citizen of our State-Mr. Can't, comparatively a new conner, his residence amongst us, dating not more than 8 or 3 years. Mr. Mitchell has proved himself democrat on all occasions-ever ready and able to defend the party, and to advocate its principles. In the palmy days of know nottingham he took the field against this insidious and dangerous foe, and contribu
  and exposing its deiormity. His labors in this respect, were not confined to his own county, but he went elsewhere, and every where, where he could get hearing, and boldly proclaimed the new party cheot, attempted to be practiced upon the demo- cratic party for its utter destruction, and this he did without hope of fee or reward. 1 When man, who has the ability to be useful to his party and to his country, voluntarily, upon all demands for his ser vices, battles in its defence, he lays foun- dation for the exercise of gratitude from his party when occasions demand Such an occasion has now occurred.
 1 During the entire contest, preceding the convention which failed to make a nomi nation, Mir. Mtchel's course prooed htm democrat from principle. He every where, yublicly and privately declared himself willing to abide by the decision of the con vention; that, if he was not nominated he would submit, and support the nominee, be he who he might In the various county | conventions, So far as 1 am informed he, nor his friends sought any undue or dis tguised advantages He went before the people, proclaimed his views and left them to act as their judgment dictated. In only one county that heard of, did he say he had injustice done him, and that was the adjoining county of Clark. In Clark no township meetings had been held; and OH the first day of the circuit court mass meeting was got up Mr. Mitchel's friends were evidently in the minority, and his op ponents finding this to be true determined to have every thing their own way. committee to select delegates to the con gressional convention was appointed. Mir. Mitchel proposed, that, before the com mlttee retire the candidates should be al lowed to address them, and to set forth their views upon governmental policy. The request was not only denied but scarcely listened to with respect. The delegates were appointed by the committee, with in- structions to vote for Can't, and the mass meeting adjourned without hearing or hnow- ;nq the views of either candidate These facts | learned, both from the published proceedings of the county meeting and the relations of friends of both gentlemen who were present. Mir. Mitchell complained only that he was refused a hearing before his condemnation. Notwithstanding this was done by some ftfy-hiree voters of Clark presumng to speak for over sixteen hundred voters of that county, Mir. Mitch I el nor his friends, attempted to get up a counter meeting to set aside the mass meet ing proceedings; as 1 have been informed Mr. Gantt's friends in Mitchel'S counties did, and tried to do-as in Ouachita, Union, Columbia, etc. Mr. Mitchell's forbearance and sufferance in allowing few of his op- ponents to rule him out of so large and inn portant county as that of Clark, will make him friends there and elsewhere when the facts become generally known.
 Of Mr. Gantt l have but little to say. He is young man of something more than a mediocrity of talents in his possession- that of the law. He is good lawyer for so young a man. Of his proficiency in politics, 1 nor any one else in this state have means of iadging. Previously to his entering upon the race for nomination be- fore the congressional convention, l never heard of him making a political speech, nor writing political article. What ser vice then has he done the party? What clains mas he upon It's generosity! Has he always been even consistent democrat? What speech did he ever make in deien e of is principles? If he has rendered no I'signal service to the party, he has no claims upon It for such service. And must old and tried emocrats-those who have stood by its principles in the darkest hours of its diversity. be set aside to make room for young and untried men, whose principles are not firmly fixed, or, if fixed, are not yet made public? l think not. Ithink, when tte voters of the various counties have time to cool off, after the excitement of their county conventions, they will give these things calm and an unpreiudiced attention and then vote for the right man. In my next l wilremark upon the views of Mitch el and Can't, touching squatter sover- eighty.
 AN OLD DEMOCRAT. I - -----~---s