Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-10-31
A Circular to the Voters of the Second
 Congressional District.

OhAEA"OOb, Nct D. loOl.
 TrtLow.Cl .ClTIZEXS:-At the earnest solicita- tiou of many warm persouai friends, who have heretofore supported me, 1 haye cUnoeuted to become a ct!nGidaic for Congress In the 2nd congressional district In pernitling my name to go before the pu:l.c In Couuectluu with Con grcss, must freely confess that do so with 3 sincere dlsiruSt ot my capacity to discharge the duties uf the responsible place seek. It seems to me that al 8 lime like the present, when the South Is struggling to maintain her ndepen- dence and to preserve the principles of free gov ernmunt the plrest hearts, the coolest and wiscst ads, should be selected to omp )se her councils. or, in other words. our first Constder- ate Congress should be---like the old Roman senate, or the continental congress of '76-(om posed of the wi,est ahd most patriotic siAes men in the country. This s distinction tlat i can never hope to attain. If have taithtul' ly, and to the utmost of humble abilities, served my native State in the legislature for series oi years. and labDrousIy ende&vored 10 advance her general interests l hope my countrymen will not think too presuming in presenting my nsa lt before them for a seat III Congress The time for the election benge0 near 'It hand, and 1t being now imp osSIble for me to make aS thorough a canvass uS wonld under other cir' cumstances desire 10 do, have thought it due to you to lay before you, briefly and candldy, my views in relation tO the most important q lcs lions which will likely claim the attention ot the coming Congress. I. is is due tU you, especla! lv now, when Inc country IS engaged m a strug .le such an one as has never before been Wit messed on this continent.
 When it was ascertained that Lincoln was elected President, 1, in common with hundreds of my countrymeu, fondy hoped and vainly be- Il. ..; <,C yield to common Sense, justice, and patriotism. In this, however. ] was doomed to disappolnt- memt. So far from its being the desire of Lin coln to preserve peace and do justice to the SJu!h, subsequent events have clearly shown that It ua, the settled pollcy If his party to make au lnhJiy. unnatural, and unconstiuton .l var of su libgatlou on he South. 1 most de. vuutiy wi h,d, In lie language of he Scriptures hat "ihs cup mi sht pas rom u7, atd that the country might be eav,d from civil var, ii Il could have be Fl q n. win honor and ileIy to he South. Ever,thiH that pa rlofI,m could suggest or Justice devl,e, has b, en done on our nsrt to avolu the pres nj troubles. and no alirr native Is left u, bui to maintain our ndepe' del C and |. separate pohtieal existence, or sub "lt to l.., ana ny and di,honnr in $ Union that Was always bIrdenaume to ihe S'u'h
 Il eiecieA shall, 70 the utm st Of my abili. -ie& supUuit and ain all such mcasui 6 d. will nsure ye. mane tand at irrevocabl- se! ara,i ion i tife,n s,cthtru states 1T, m the Norli.
 Perhaps hIat' IT does not I"r.lsh al acc punt i a war that has been sU successful d. the pre- pnt war wl.h the North, and my opinion is that ,hl!t our arms are triumphant. the Seat o' war ,houid be Transferred line n-rthern Sta'es, ami prosecuted with energy and viscr untlt We arc tbic to make our terms o peace.
 By reevlng Mary land ant Delaware, and -i,ing thtm ap opp rtuniIy |" unite their d.-tl
 es with us, We wll have pos ,eaoIOu ut thr 1n. tpeake and Delaware B.y-, nnd all thr ,lo.t Imp,rtant bay, and harb ,r. on the AraIam t and Gulf coasts, and the Fo-e-aipa ui th. nouihs oi the Mls>i-.ipp', Sn>qu"hauua and D, laware rivers, and be able lo conir, he com lnsrcr of tie Iuteror U! the whole cpunlrY.
 am also ut inc opinion ihat, if our voun. te,.rs were better paid clothed. aud made more conf, rjabie, fewer number would be more ei' ticient than the present number, and perhaps | ~oud be infinitely better to call cut fewer oUl. tiers. and provide for their comfort.
 When Gen. McCulOch issued his first call for volunteers buntre's pa rio icaliy respond q to that cali, lat could not be It ceyed into service for jhe Wan, oi arm,; and thi''k II would D" lust to pay lhtm tur tLelr time and tlt, and ,houId l b. elect q, l ahl give that my special atIpation.
 This congressional district being contiguous Q ihe indian Nations, il $ tor our interest to establish permanently the most friendly rel:, .lons with then and for this purpose, l should. the Indian, q, sired it, be in favor ot giving hem d representation in Congress. This Is out just t. them, since they have 50 cheertuily anited their fortunes with the south.
 shall visit in person aS many of the counties as well can bet wpen lhls and the election.
 Yours, truly,