Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-07-28
From Crawford County.
VAN BUREN, CRAWFORD COUNTY, !
 June. 1860.

VAN DUREN, CRAN oOUN41,f
 June, 1860.
 MEssRs. EDIToRs: Knowing that you are in the habit of keeping your readers posted in reference to the movements of distinguished democratic leaders, l will in form you, that on Monday after the candi- dates for Governor spoke at Van Buren, two very distinguished gentlemen might have been seen starting from Van Buren- not on horse back, but in carriage, ln an eastern or north eastern direction; they ap- peared to be in high spirits, and well might they be; the carriage was drawn by par of splendid animals, and every thing neces. sary for journey provided in profusion. Their departure has created quite vacuum in society, and cannot be filled until they return. l do not know how much money they had along, perhaps about ninety-six dollars apiece-do not be too anxious to know who those gentlemen are, be patient, I will tell you directly. They are two ot Col. Johnsons warmest friends-no less personages than the Right Honorable Col. Benjamin T. q do not know what the T stands for, tarnation perhaps,) Duval. The other is, or was, Il am not certain of the grammar) the equally distinguished and very Honorable Major, John Joseph, or Joseph John Green. l presume they have gone out to electioneering for Col. John son-this opinion is based on the fact, that Col. Johnson has given those gentlemen a degree of celebrity through the medium of the True Democrat, that they never could have attained otherwise, and permit me to add, they are democrats of the old school, and invariably support the nominees of our party. Both of those gentlemen were lead ing members of the last legislature, be it remembered, Col. Duval came very near being elected to the United States Senate, and was actually elected speaker of the House last session-his genius soon settled the vexed per diem question. Maj. Green was also candidate for senatorial honors last session, but waived his claim in favor of his distinguished friend, Col. Duval. Such magnanimity and disinterestedness will long be remembered and appreciated by the democracy of Arkansas; and further more, the Major was a candidate for the speakership at the beginning of the last session.. and came within considerable distance of being elected.
 Col Samuel Mercellus Hays, think he was named after the man that besieged and took Syracuse, is candidate for the State Senate, and of course will be elected, as he is another of Col. Johnson's warm and dis interested friends; in fact. he is in the same predicament as the two distinguished demo- crats that have already alluded to-he is indebted to Col. Johnson for his present prominent position. Col. Hays is one of those unadulterated democrats that invar- iably support our nominees from presi- dent down to constable; indeed, he is very great convention man, and in fact great man at all public meetings; wherever two or three meet together Col. Hays is one of them, and always a leading one-in proof of this, let me point you to the last Bates vile convention; he presided with uncom- mon dignity over that august assembly, and at Dover he offered the very first reso- lution. At present he is the leading spirit in getting up barbecue for the 4th of July, and such is his enthusiasm on the subject of railroads, that he has actually driven that zealous railroad champion, Col. Og- den, into obscurity. Last session of the legislature he asked by resolution, the leg