The Van Buren press., 1860-11-30
Letter from Col. Rust.
From the Old Line Democrat
RockY WAY. November 70. 1860

ROCKY WAY, November IL, leoU-
To Messrs. Z. P. Alexander. James F. Davis
and others. members Of the General Assembly o
Arkansas
Gentlemen Having publicly announced that ]
had ceased to be a candidate for the U. s. Senate
for the frankly avowed reason that could indulge
no hope of success. might, with propriety, ab
stain from any reply to your note of the 10th inst
addressed to myself and a number Of gentlemen
who are confessed candidates for the place.
Feeling, however. that it was no less the duty o.
man occupying my present position than of one
aspiring to the same, higher one in the present
perllous and threatening aspect of public affairs
to make known his opinions and purposes in re
gard to those grave questions which you PROFOUND
for rdiscussIon-questions upon whose solution de-
pends the welfare and happiness Of the whole
American people. and the hopes Of the votaries Of
Free Government throughout the civilized world,
1 promptly determined to respond.
The Editor Of the Old Line Democrat. knowing
that did not expect to remain here until the ZEN
suing week. kindly rendered Inc the use Of his
columns for the purpose.
1 found upon the very threshold of the argument
which proposed to submit in support or my po-
sitions, that It would more than occupy the whole
of Mr.. Peek's paper and this would be an abuse ol
his courtesy, Of which would not be guilty.
shall content myself here with stating my po-
sitions, and await another occasion, when shall
give the reason 'for the faith that is in me-"
1 believe first that from the adoption of the
Federal Constitution to the present moment, the
Southern people have never had less cause to COM
plain of our Government and threaten Its overthrow
than they now have. If the most experienced and
enliehtenea statesmen Of other countries, could
witness. the universal prosperity enjoyed by the
people If our own and at the same time, the tear,
If not he conviction-which Is almost Is universal
that the government to which we owe SO much
of it, is on the brink Of disruption, they would be
driven to the conclusion that general lunscy had
seized upon the minds Of the American people.
recognize the election Of Mr.. Lincoln, by less,
perhaps than one-third Of the votes Of the United
States. aided by the intrigues of Southern disun-
ioniss as no justifcatioa for thought of revolu-
tion Elected under the forms of the Constitution,
those who would resist or defeat by force his inaug
uraticn. would commit the highest crime known to
our laws. No one who has read the debetes upon
the Constitution and the ootemporafJ political hs-
tory Of cur country, viii maintain, presume The
CoasfaMissAl right Of . State 20 secede IRON the
nion Such presension. u, IN mf opinion, an
insult to The memories of the wise end paff1osic
saaes who framed the Consttltsoo.
Our first remedy, under federal aggression, q
in the case Of the Missouri Comproaaise, which
Ess prosoonced by the Supreme courtof the Uni
ed States nuity, i appeal T. this san1e ssert
This filling u. our enly resort = revolution. Te
his. whenever an agxression il attempted by the
Feder,l Goyernp,ent. ] am ready toeoumit myself.
Vhsteycr moral ilfluenee may be able to exert.
su be in fssor q tie inanguzatien q The elected
President. and she 0fxeement q TIE Ccaaesfatsoae
] Laws Of the Uaited 6fntes. afer his eleefiell
ia eoneluzion, I win cay, tkat Al an, and
.aSs .nd hep< fF. arr idsu'ified With my adoptsd