Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-10-24
To the People of the Third Congressional
 District of Arkansas.
NAPOLEON, Ark, Oct. 10, 1851

UlSGTlcL or ArKaOSaS. | NAPOLEON, Ark, Oct lO 1851.
 announce myself candidate for Congress for the th,rd district of Arkan ,as.
 The almost unanimous voice o the people o1 Desha county has induced me to d. this, al though 1t is scarcely mouth to the day of the election, and am thus placed at a great dis advantage. 1 shall Visit many ot the coun- ties of the district as possible to See the people in person. l have no time to prepare elab- orae address.
 A number of excellent gentlemen are can- didates for the place. They will have fair dealing at my hands. None of us have any claims to the office. The office is created for the benefit of the people and they owe 1t to them selves to elect their most sound, reliable ,and eff cient man. They owe nothing 70 us, but every thing to the cause; and if 1t shall not be my good fortune to be elected, it will uot alter my south ern feelings, nor render me sour and dissatisfied with my fellow citizens.
 1 have served the people of Desha for some vears-both in the legislature aud in the con vention. My course must be we'll known. 1t has always and steadily been for Stdfe rights and Southern independence. He who does not See that this is our true policy Is traitor in hi- heart. But thank God there are few such among now.
 If elected shall seek to strengthen and sus- tail the government, and give eff :ency to our arms in evey quarter of the Confederacy. Blu. | shall gard IL as primary object, and a l paramount duty, to urge upon the governmenf to protect the frontier of Arkansas, and as the surest means of success, to press the iu Missouri and Kansas with vlg)r, and to drive 1t out ot and beyond those states as rapidly as possible.
 Individually, my sulftrings by this war are as great those of others, but 1 look upon 1t as righteous which Is sanctioned by God, and in which we have had many evidences ol his blessings. Therefore, l do not grumbe. complain or replne at the war. or it's losses and atllictionS.
 1 am free to say, that if elected I will do all in my power to promote all honorable and q permanent peace, but equally free to say that wili never vote for peace which shall give up 10 the northern enemy either of the States ot Miss ,uri, Kentucky or Maryland. Those States are Southern States, where white men rule and negroes know their places To give up either 1 of them would be dishunurabe. They are peo pied by oppressed brothers and sisters. fo make peace on such terms wou not be Wise or safe. It would strengthen the N 0rth for tu tlre Wars, whilst it would weaken us, and woad b. sure to come of 1t ln few years more. | let him hot vote for me-
 Those you now elect will take their seats in Congress on the 22 February next. l have strons reason to De ieve that ports will b, that t.n. be opened. If SD, our monetary | troubles will be over, but If not, l think that the government should endeavor to afford some relief. But am firmly ol the belief that the bIockae cannot be maintained 8 year. ln what way relief may b. secured Is Ut clear l to me that 1 could put forward any matured pan; bat 1 am satisfied that Congress- aud the treasury i p,rJnrnt might do s'mething to facilitate such | p ,licy. While l would no c cpnSent u ilvolve our national credit, as [" en1anger the ulunaie independence ot th~ Soutn. would be glad |" support any Wtse dn4 safe policy in this direction.
 The pooiti Ju ut Arkansas in the old Union was that of d weak and insignificant state, bu' 1t ls ID lon5er 50. Tn. p ,siti,n of Arlsnsas now is one that every citizen may justly fe-' pruul ot-,he Is one of The most intelligent and patriotic. IL Is proved by her history of the last ten years, faithful to SJuthern rtghts, aud by the fact thai h-r people are united ani sound in every county, a"d that she has largely more volunteers in Ihe field than any other State in the Contederacy, in proportion to her popula ton.
 h this Confederacy, she is as strong as a young giant-she throws off The foreign owner ship and hencetorth wil own all the public lands--,he will be the great point of emigration from Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Vlrs sinia, North Carolina and even the cotton States. Shc will increase for years ater peace at the rate ot , to 20 per cent. per annum. Arkansas already stands the peer of the old States. Her p)- sition Is greatly elevated, and it should be our pride by every act to elevate her standing and character, and by wisdom and sound poIcy to promote her prosperity and develop her great ness. Let us unite to feel proud of our State, the birthplace of our children, and their future homes
 There are many other points of which would write, if 1 had the time and opportunity to give full reflection aud to make up satistacto rily my Own mind so d, to arrive, as l shall always seek to do at clear and sound common sense policy. Of one thing feel sati>tiel, that no one that knows me will doubt my fixed devo ton ot the independence of the South, whether elected or not, m; ardent aud faithful defence of the rights and interests of the people of this district if l am assigned to that task by their | votes.
 | have th. honor to be, your faithful citizen, J.. P. JOHNSON.