Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-02-27
Letter from Hon. R. w. Johnson.
& RICHMOND, Feb. 18th, 1862. Mr. EpIToR- %

Mr. EDIToR- E The law authorizing the President to or- I ganize regiments and battalons and to appoint | field officers is repealed Such officers must BOW 1 be elected in all cases for new regiments sent you telegraph to this effect to publish, trusting all our papers would publish it. Many of our citi- zens had received authority to raise regiments with assurances that they would be appointed if they would undergo the labor and expenses to get up the reg iments or battalions. Under this change ot the law, it is now impossible to appoint, and thls 1 day the Secretary of war declares to me that Tn future all field officers must be elected under the law. We had two systems of organizations to raise troops. one by election, one by appointment Both worked we'll. We need every system in this that would work well. But now we have re- l pealed one system, and have but one left. It IS unwise, and I only pray that it may not be unfor- tunate. opposed it bitterly.
 We are to have terrible contest next campaign withthe enemy. They cannot make more than | the one more campaign. But it will undoubtedly be one of a terrific character, and we should brace our souls to the task. To be subjugated is i'm | possible This war and all its circumstances show us tOo lUe NOrtU are our cQeifiltS, anu that negro equality was our destiny, with the | North. If they could be successful the southern people and states would be wretched subj ects; we would stand a conquered and degraded people, equality of states and equality of people and con stitutonal rights, all lost; prosperity and respecta bity gone, with one equality and our destiny would be lower and harder than that even of Ire | Inn6 and tho Tricb md al; would be mixed in the cup by voice of the world, to be drained to the dregs by ourselves, wives and our children forever.
 We must look for some misfortunes in every great war, and however severe we must never be downcast when they come. The only motto of a people that are to be damned by a conquest and submission to 1t, must be Independence, nothing less, will never serve as the slaves of Yank ess.> On one or two points 1 wish to warn our people. It is not impossible that Memphis could fall. If 50, the enemy would seize Helena and Napoleon, and, perfectly isolated from all assistance, we should have the Missouri war, besides other evils, on our hands. No help for Missouri but Texas and ourselves This leads me to protest against the mistaken notion of so many of our volunteers and their officers who desire to go or have gone east of the Mississippi river Our place is in the Missouri war. The old states ought to defend Virginia, Kentucky, and the Mississippi river, not The west of the Mississippi is dependent mainly on the young men, whose homes and fami- lies live est of that rievr; and of what value is the glory they go off to win, if those alone who would feel proud of it for them, and if the homes they leave behind them are imperilled forever by the loss of Missouri, if not destroyed by the enc my. There will be fighting plenty in Missouri. It is the post of honor, as it is of duty, for us, Next, wouli say to our people, in forming regiments do hope they ,ciH take their officers from own citissns. Our own people are as good as any in the world in spite of all the vile spirit which leads politicians always to decry Arkansas. and every thing that is of Arkansas. They are as brave, as intelligent, and as capable of commanJ' as other people We have been degraded before the world by the bitter animosites that make men revenge their own disappointments upon the good name of our state, and the honest pride of our people, whose character and prosperity are involv- | ed in maintaining it.
 i Then elect our o,on people 10 command our olcn 1 regiments and bqttalionS. We ought to do it. l Strangers not for us like people. We l owe nothing to them. They come not to us but for their own sakes. They should raise the men they want to command where they come from, and where they known.
 l have been repeatedly asked for letters by per sons to recommend them to you all declaring their | purpose to go to Arkansas to raise troops Why do they not stay ill the old states and raise troops if they are fit for it! Why don't they go to other old states to raise troops, if they can't raise them where they come froml Plainly, because these old states elect their own and the best of men. Let an Arkansas man go to Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, or any other old state and they would spurn his call on them to muster under his lead Fight under your own men, if possible, if you die for it, but if not pos sble, in Gods name, fight any how for your Goun- try and leave the next generation to yindicate the name of the state
 Give us no more nonresident commanders for Arkansas. will support the bitterest enemy on earth have, before 1 will support nonresident l to take charge of our Arkansas troops. Much more, yes, very much more, could be said of this wrong Too many non-residents are already in command of Arkansas troops, and to continue this practice is to declare that own people have not the sense or courage of all other people, and to put the seal of our own solemn testimony on the public outcry of those who deride and ridicue and defame the state
 call attention to the fact that we have record evidence here of twenty-one regiments, eight bat talions three batteries and one company in service now know we have more l beg the Military Board to inform if we have more, and to send me list of the regiments etc., and the command ing officer of each, and where they are to be found, ard in whose brigade. 1 know there are some regiments in service of whom there is no muster roll or record here. The state loses the credit of them, the officer loses his prospect of promotion and the men cannot be paid nor officers get commissions without their muster rolls are here But where are the troops we know of will tell vou so far as regiments concerned. Eff teen regiments Q5,0O0) Arkansas men are cast of the Mississippi river, and only six regiments (6,00o mem are in the Missouri war Our men nearly 1 all away, and if Memphis wcre to fall, let our old men and boys prepare for the field, for let what destiny come that may, Arkansas men are brave and true and faithful to the end, and they will die before they will yield up their homes to such an | enemy.