The Van Buren press., 1861-02-22
Letter from Washington County

BooNsBoRo. ARK, Feb. Is, 1861.
Mr.. DUNHAN: Ii not uninteresting, will
offer you a few items. in the way of news,
from this portion of northwest Arkansas,
believing that it will be welcomed as q
voice from obscurity-at least, so far as
being cognizant of the operations of our
national affairs at headquarters is concern
ed. We are off the telegraph line, here,
and. therefore. are blessed with its facilities,
only as transient vagabonds. in passing. de-
liver 1t to us, verbally, after swelling it in
70 the proportions Of thunder, for the pur-
pose. ii possible, of arousing the people here
more fiercely against their northern breth-
Ien #; but am happy to say. that they are
too decided. already. to be shaken by the
artfulness Of southern fanatical aspirants.
There is. now. in circulation here. an ad-
dress issued from Fayetteville, over the
signature of " Southern Rights" whose
object or purport is to instruct the people Of
their true position. and the reason why they
should dissolve their sacred allegiance. with
the Union. 1t is a weak thing and will
have little effect; as they have been told
the same tale over repeatedly, and nc new
arguments being offered to sustain their
position" repetition spoils wit" 1t is
rendered less efficient, too. owing to the
glorious results of those patriotic sentiments
embodied within the patriotic address of
Mr.. ID. c. WILLIAMS. of your city, to the
citizens of Arkansas. 1t has thrown off
the veil that has SO long been dimning their
vision, and disclosed their just and indie
pendent rights As citizens of the United
States. 1t may be likened to a guardian
angel. entering the most shadowy districts
of Arkansas enlightening and arousing
her noble and chivalric sons to their duty.
1t is proper that every individual, however
obscure. should exert himself for the per
petuation of this Union Are we weary OF
peace and prosperity, and desirous of min
CLING for awhile in the excitement and com
motion Of civil war; for the purpose of ap-
preciating more fully, on its restoration, its
value , If SO, let US relinquish our sup
port of the Constitution-that link which
binds us so strongly together-and allow
this noble structure to fall by its own
weight. and burst into thirty three petty
republics. Such a time as will then be, has
never been recorded in the annals of history.
there will arise a thousand and one dis
putes about boundaries, jurisdiction, duties,
.kc. DC, which will result in an almost
endless war, surprising. by far. the revolu-
tion in France We should, if no other al
tentative than dissolution presents itself las
spoken of in the address referred to above
withdraw in one solid Dhalanx, as brothers
equally oppressed. demand our share o. the
public property, and maintain our rights IT
st the expense of our life's blood.
Judge Walker and L. NJ. Gunter, candi-
dates on the Union ticket, for the position
OF delegates to represent Washington coun-
" m our State convention, addressed the
citizens at this place. last week. Judge
Walker made grand effort. Being great
ly affected, himself from the warmth of his
patriotism, he started the tears flowing
from many hoary founts- l will not neg
lec, to notice the merits of Mr.. Gunter's ex-
ertions. They partook. strongly. of the
spirit of the subject. Since those speeches
We're made, many union men are distin-
guishable by handsome badges of Red,
White and Blue. They make their appear
ance. like blubbers resulting from the fall
of huge stone into the water. Mr.. Rea-
gan had an appointment here last Friday to
Eo I;.,n,o, ,roa,b brf Aid not vpoot
It The people are too decided to have
their patriotic opinions shaken by the pres
sure OF disunion gas.
Respectfully. ISFASs.
\. B.. Monday. 1sth.-The election is
now proceeding-the day pretty well ad-
Sancsd. The number cf Union tickets and
no convention. are known to be double
those of the opposite side They are great
y encouraged with the news OF kentucky
holding no convention, and result of the
conventions in Tennessee and Virginia.
Eternal Hope INFASs.