Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-06-02
The Discussion-Johnson's Triumph.

candidates for Governor, addressed large audience of ladies and gentlemen assem- bled in the Representatives Hall. The discussion was brought about in advance of the regular appointment for this place by call upon the candidates, originated and circulated by the friends of Judge Rector As Col Johnson was known to be utterly inexperienced as public speaker never having made speech since his boyhood-it was doubtless thought by the friends of Judge Rector that the latter would achieve a glorious triumph by vir- tue of his experience and ability as pub lie debater. Well, the discussion came off and the defeat, chagrin and disappoint- ment which then and there followed to the friends of the independent" disorganizlng candidate is matter which has become proverbial with many who were present, whilst oU admit that |" Johnson made the best speech" We speak conscientiously what we write will be read by many Ii not by all who were at the discussion and we are willing that every one-friend and foe shall bear testimony to the correctness of | the facts we state. We can willingly par don the account of the discussion found in | the local columns of the Old Line Demo- crat upon the ground that that journal dared not make fair and candid represen- tation of contest wherein its candidate come out " second best"
 It was the pleasure of many of Col. Johnson's friends here to listen to his open ing speech of the canvass and we now take occasion to express their full and complete satisfaction, indeed their great delight at the result of the discussion. It is impos- sible within the time and space allowed us for this issue te give a detailed account of the different topics and points discussed by the candidates. We will advert briefly to few of them.
 The opening speech was made by Judge Rector, who consumed nearly an hour in the vain effort to make some point that might elicit the enthusiasm or applause of his hearers. He lead off in a hrade of abuse against the True Democrat and the "family"--a platform on which he vainly essays to become the Governor of a free and intelligent people, This part of his discourse was a first rule rehearsal of the stereotyped abuse of that much dreaded ' dynasty" which nobody has ever discovered but demagoguing politicians who are afraid to venture their claims to office upon any merit or ability ot their own. From his abuse of those whom the people have delighted to trust and honor with position he turned his batteries upon the recent democratic state convention the immediate representatives as well as part and parcel of the democracy them selves. He argued that the nomination ot Richard H. J ohnson was brought about by fraud. because, forsooth, in the case of Benton county the committee on creden- tials, excluded the nonresident prory ot a drunken rabble and admitted citizen of the county as delegate to cast the vote thereof in obedience to the instructions of large. respectable and orderly mass meet ing. He did not, however, altude to the action of the same committee in excluding the delegates from Phillips county who were instructed to cast her vote for Richard H. Johnson-of which he Johnson does not complain He argued that the nomi- nation was fraudulent because of certain false papers sent from Van Buren county
 -an act evidently concocted and perpetra- ted by some enemy to Richard Il. John son.
 Upon the subject of the old Bank debts Judge Rector was very unsatisfactory He signally failed to '' loreshadow" even @ plausible policy, much less a practical one, for, the "propUiation'' of these debts, and seeming conscious of it he dismiss ed the subject by declaring the debt of over three millions of dollars hanging over the state to be "small matter" The editor of the Old Line Democrat says that his policy struck him the editor) as be- ing mot only novel but eminently prac- tical and of great merit" Why didn't the editor ventilate the boasted "policy" of his candidate in the columns of the Old Liner, in order that his readers might judge of its novelty as well as of its practica- bility and merit? There are hundreds of voters who will not have an opportunity of hearing the candidates and they of course will have to search the newspapers for some "' foreshadowing" of the policy of each one of them. As the editor of the Old Liner failed to say more than to announce hiS opinion of Judge Rector's "polcy' we will state that the effect of tiff indeed it could be eifected-would be to precipitate the state into greater debt on account of railroads with no earth ly hope or prospect of building them upon such basis as he proposes. To encum- Der our railroad interests in any manner with the old Bank debts is an idea that every rational man will instantly repudiate. And yet, herein lies Judge Rector's plan of state aid to the building of railroads.- It is hard enough to get railroads built without putting upon them, in advance, the responsibility of the state debt-yet such we believe would be the effect of Judge Rectors plan of state aid to railroads.
 In justice to the Judge we will state that his speech was characterised with no bitterness toward his competitor; on the other hand he paid MT. Johnson hand some compliment and congratulated him. self in having fair and honorable com petitor to deal with in the canvass.
 When Judge Rector concluded. Col.