Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-02-01
Letter from Tototot.
NAPOLEON, January 21, 1860.

Dear Sir: Detained here day or two, waiting for boat to go up White river, l embrace the opportunity to write to you. No speaker yet, and no hope of one, until the South Americans go over in a body to either of the two great parties. There IS very little talk of secession or dissolution here, or on the river. In fact, one must place himself near one of the great arte- ries of the country and see the regular beat ings of its great pulses to form an adequate idea of its immense vitality. Here, on the Mississippi, the great aorta of the confede- racy, it requires thought and calculation to the great intertwined and dove tailed interests, the mutual and interlinked and the closely interwoven relations of each part of the country with the other. The vast floating warehouses and palaces with their immense freight of both northern and southern commodities; their crowds of men and women from all sections; the interchange of thought, cour tesy and sentiment, are so many strong, visible links that it will require immense force to break. Back, in the interior, in the planting communities, out of the cur rent of trade and commerce, the farmer or planter entertains different feelings. He views the aggressions upon the south, the persistent efforts of the abolitionists and the unceasing fire kept up till he feels that longer submission to such insults involves degredation. Separation, indeed, inde pendence of any kind, he feels is preferable to alliance with partner who bullies, robs and insults him. And this fact should be borne in mind by those who travel in the south and form an estimate of the disun- ion feeling here by intercourse with our merchants and river planters. The pocket nerve does not always convey the true feel ing To understand that, one must go up among the people and see and talk to them at their homes, in their meetings at their county towns, and gather their sentiment in that way. In other days, great deal of money was bet and lost by those who gathered political sentiments on steamboats and railroad cars. They could always elect whig president on the boats and cars, but the stay at home people of the and hills valleys told different story. The masses are slow to move, and once in motion, their progress cannot be arrested The na- tional conservative feeling predominates, but another John Brown foray, or like de- monstration of northern hostility, may turn the scale and then disunion is inevitable.
 l find here IIindman's Helena speech, or rather a speech written at Washington and printed there, which differs very widely from the speech actually delivered. It is in his egotistical vein, the great burden of his song being the caucus. It is consider ed here a " let down." inasmuch as heputs himself entirely on the defensive and en- deavors to justify, explain and clear up his former course When the little fellow start ed out full of classical quotations concern ing carrying the war into Africa, crossing the Rubicon, Catharge, and others of like import, his friends little thought he would now be found holding up his arms, point ing to his self inflicted wounds and asking for sympathy. In humble imitation of Gen. Scott, he complains of fire in his rear. There are one or two things in this speech worthy of note. It appears that he is clairvoyant. He says secret can GUS was held at the Anthony House one Sunday night. Yet he knew all that was and was able to see through closed doors. Wonderful man, isn't he?
 Further on. he states there were thirteen members of the congressional caucus who were oppositioniSts, "not democrats" " anti-democrats, etc. This he has to as- sert in order to make out his case This is an awful stab at some of his friends who now huzza for him, and he stigmatizes them as oppositionists. Who were these thirteeen? Let us have their names. Is Baxter counted in or out?
 He abandons the per diemists to their fate, says the taking of the money was wrong act, and admits the position to be that the taking of the money can not be justified; but, in the next breath or two, attempts to justify it by showing our members of Congress take pay for Sun lays? So you see that to his clairvoyant he adds logic.
 The people are sick of this egotistical Here are sixteen pages all about himself and everything is viewed in relation to Hindman Matters of national interest; questions of grave import are pre- to make room for the same old worn out song about the caucus. It is an in 5eniously contrived affair and capital spe- 'imen of political pettifogging.
 Johnson & Peay arc here and flourish ng as they deserve. Their wharf boat or boats do fine business. Exsheriff John s yet unmarried and an oppositioner;;" wo unhappy states for man to be in at 'ne and the same time, but both, fortu- lately, easily cured.
 met w. A. Irwin, esq, who was as. istant secretary of the Senate at the late session. Billy looks older and graver, as f he had turned in to hard thinking and lard work
 The Mississippi is full and yet rising There are some apprehensions of an over- low and the levee men are hard at word for 1t.
 Yours truly,
 TOTOTOT.