Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-09-19
RED FoRk, Ark, Stpt. 7h, lS6l.

MT. EDIToR-
 The people of Arkansas will soon De called upon to select a representative for themselves, m the confederate congress. At moment like this, when mighty nation is spr;nginI from ihe womb of time lluuaht with the dcstinios ot tcn millions of people; and cradIing in it. lap the las. ve,tiSe of constitutional liberty in existence, m the clvl liZed wOrld it bchOoVcs uS to be extremely careful to select such lrcn, as, who, bN peculiar combnl ton, talent, zeal, energy Ot character ana devotion 10 the cause in which we are engaged, render them the men for the crisis. The time has passed when any good tciLoo will do for a member ol congress- when the only qualifications requisite are such as would adorn pot house, or cross road politician A new era has dawnel upon Us, q mighty people struggling for national existence, asalnst mShtler foe armed with all the deadly hatred and hendish malice of internal demons, call loudly for the counsels of their wisest, braycst, and best men. And first among these in this district, let me pre- sent the name ol the lion. J. r. Johnson, of Desha county, as the emincntly and peculiarly fitted for the position of representative ln the conleder- ate congress.
 The mention of Mr. Johnson's name, lfeel con Gdent. will meet with hearty response from all his friends, while 1t must carry cOLvlcton of It's peculiar itRess to t.e minds of all throughout the district. Mr. Johnson is not of that class ot politicians who, with folded arms, quietly await the tide of events; but with the native greatness POti'io''i and while others are carefully revolving which side to take, he is far away i'll the race, battling nobly, maniuly for the right When the first note of the mighty struggle for constitutional liberty Tn which the South is engaged, struck upon hls ear, he waited not to know what others might thlnk, but, girdng on his arm0r, he went forth to dO Dat tie in the glorious cause; and from that day until this he has been unremltting III hls exerhons III behalf of lis country He was the first man, after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presi- dency, to raise his voice, i'll this portion ot the sate iii behalf of southern liberty, and since then, on all occasions, he has never failed to raise his clarion voice i'll behalf of cause so dear to hlm- self so dear to us all.
 But it is not necessary for me to descant upon his course from that time until this. Ills acts are too recent ill the minds of his countrymen to need comment from me. His speeches in the canvass for the convention, i'll this county, last spring, breathed the true fire of the patriot and orator. His acts in the convention are well KNOW 10 lile country, and since its adjournment, hS tune, hs mind, and his purse, has been gwen to hls couh- try; and oht well does the writer of thiS remem Der, upon his return from the hrSt session or tie conyention to have heard him, in an assemblage of his admjripo constituents, make the noble ex clamation: Gentlemen, this is no time Tor south erners to stand back, myself, my property, my all is at the service Of the SOuth.
 This. Mir Editor, is the man Desha county would present as a candidate for representation Tn tht Confederate Congress, and if merit devotion to principle, profound talents, and great energy, o character, be duly appreciated, feel confident tha he will receive the hearty support of the people, the district Mir. Johnson is now n kentucky performing the last sad duties to his late dl8tln ouished relative the Hon. Thompson B. Flournoy He will soon be among us. and hope Will cohsen to the use of his name, for its use will insure hi election. Yours truly, r