Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-26

We had the fortune to fall in company, last
week, with young man direct from Arkan-
sas, On his way to visit relatives in Deoorah,
Iowa His name is II. Dayton. He is a na-
tive Of Saratoga, n. Y, but has spent the last
two years with relatives in jackson county,
Ark. He reports an apparently unanimous
sentiment in that region in favor of the rebel
lion, (fevtlution, they call it, and a determi-
nation to succeed at all hazards He estimates
the number Of troops raised in that State at
80, ,O00 most of which have moved in the di-
rection of Missouri Since the Pres lent 5
proclamation of the 10th Of April, no Union
man has dared speak out. Previous to that
time public sentiment appeared about equally
divided between Union and secession. The
Union men $50 called) went over to the seces-
sion side because,as they said, they were never
in favor of coercion This shows how shall
low and unreliable were their professions Of
loyalty.
The crops in Arkansas are good, and the
country is generally well supplied with pro-
visions, as also with arms and ammunition.
Some of the Home Guards content themselves
with shot guns, of which each farmer seems
to have three or for
Mir Dayton related to us two almost incred-
ible instances of barbarity towards men sus-
ptcted of infdelity towards the South. One
was the case Of minister who was hung at
Sersey, in White county, some time in May.
1t appears that some IS negroes had been ar
rested in that county, on charge of plotting
insurrection Some of them insinuated that
this minister had lnstisated the plot Although
the testimony of negro is not received under
oath against white man in Arkansas in Or
dinary cases, these insinuatlons We're deemed
sufficient evidence for the summary execution
Of the accused. After he was hung, his scalp
was taken, with piece of skin from his back.
1t was then tanned and cut into shoe strings,
which were distributed throughout the country
as wonderful trophies. Another man, a Mr..
Wheeler, from Ohio, neighbor to Mr.. Dayton s
relatives in Jackson county, was shot dead on
his doorstep by concealed foe. He was a
Union man but had taken no part in political
matters for some time, though only short
time previous he had difficulty with seces-
sionist whom he shot in the back of the neck,
inhicting severe but not fatal wound. The
secessionists had previously fired on him
twice without effect Seven buckshot enter
ed Wheelers body, either one of which would
have killed HIM.
Mr.. Dayton being an invalid, had no diff
Guilty in leaving the State He says people
there are sanguine of the success of the con-
regard was marching with his entire command
at the rate of four miles day towards Wash
ington and would soon take the city. 1t was
also reported that fifty newspapers in New
York were advocating peaceabe separation
ten or fifteen in Ohio ditto, and that the Iowa
Legislature had passed a joint resolution to
the same effect. A report that Gen. Scott
had resigned caused great rejoicing. Its con
tradiction soon after caused the remark thai
he was getting too old to be Of much account
anyhow. Douglas death was received with
demonstrations of joy. The only Northeu
paper suffered to circulate through the mails
is the New York Day Book.
Such being the facilities for information II
Arkansas, we do not wonder that its inhabiL
ants have relapscd into anarchy, barbarisr,
and rebellion.
A ToUR-We returned on Saturday las
from trip of nine days to Chicago, Indian
apolis, Dayton, Nenia, Cincinnati and st
Louis-traveling to the latter point by rail
and thence home by water We found busi
ness everywhere as stagnant as here, if no
more so. In ST. Louis, especially contir.
ucd Sabbath dullness prevails On the levee
which we have seen so crowded with drays tha
pedestrian could with difficulty get from tt
landing to the sidewalk, only few struggling
halfloaded drays can now be seen in the busi
lest part of the day. But three boats left tn
day we were there, and the passengers on al
would not have made a respectable trip for on
boat st. Louis is now reaping the bitte
fruits of secession among some Of her leadin
citizens.
Our passage up the river was made on tn
elegant Northern Line packet Kew CITY