Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-08
ARKANSAS Co.,, ARKs., April l6, 1869

ARKANSAS Co.,, ARKs., April 16, 1862. Cor. R. H. JOHNSON
 Dear Sir: Inotce in your paper of April 10th, an article taken from Memphis paper, under title of " Burning," one passage of which here insert. l C But on the other hand whatever is proper to | be burnt shouldbe. An memorable pubic opinion, should in the absence of law, enforce it. Not by violence. That never does any good If plan ter for instance, for love of money, should prefer keeping his cotton until it fall into the hands of the enemy, do not mob it or burn it for him. That | would have worse moral effect than any injury we could sustain by the enemy's getting it.. But | it is perfectly legitimate to make such the object of scorn and contempt-to visit him with | that whitening odium which would repel from him | all social intercourse, and to make him feel that | the stigma of popular disgrace rested on him and 1 his, for generatons
 | Now sir, the advice is to 'Snub,' or as the writer puts it, treat with scorn and contempt any man who refused to burn his cotton, but was will ing it should fall into the enemys hand. and trust to luck to get paid for it. As though < snubbng'' treating with scorn and contempt, or any other pacific course, could reach being so lost to honor, to every attribute that adorns our nature, to his own debasement, that could look over the graves of his country's honor and all that long array of martyrs who have poured out their ife-bood for the sacred and ennoblng cause of southern inde pendence-and espy in the distance, the bright glimmer of the almighty dollar"
 " Snubbing," or scorn and contempt would fail to reach such sordid minds.
 'Tis a settled axiom, " that a free press should be the truthful exponent of public sentiment" And with your kind indulgence, Twill state what knoc to be the sentiment of this community, and what most sincerely believe to be the preponderating re- solve of every cotton planting community in the Southern Confectionery
 While we aware that military commission has been established, whose duty it is to destroy our chief staples to prevent their falling into the hands of our common enemy, we well know the arm of that commission may not be able to reach all points in due time; approving that law, we are detrmined it shall be obeyed in letter and in spirit We have looked this matter fairly and squareIv in the face, and from our hearts reSoloed, that when the necessity comes for burning cotton al shall fare alike. And if there should be any cravens, whose arms are palsied-whose cowardly natures, and hope, and greed for gold will deter them from applying the torch, then strong right arms nerved by patriotic love of lberty will do it for them To this end they pledge their lives and lortunes- how otherwise could true men act? They prove their sincerity by first burning their own property, and any who supposes that his cotton is to es- cape thereby lessening the effect of the free will sacrifices of truer men, is simply a foo-it must all go together, all must fare alike--nothing that will strengthen the enemy, that will gratify their cupidty, or enable them to forge fresh chains for our countrymen, must be allowed to fall nto their hands.
 We know the trelcherous nature of our common foe aud we will euleavor to promote their honesty by not trusting them. Even now, we know of twenty cents per pound being offered for cotton in Mis county, by federal parties at Nashville They .-ieht aa w4l have offered double that price, for we all know they steal cotton wherever they find it, and would not hesitate to lie for it--n all hu- man probability the owner would get nary red" still the enemy would be getting cotton, exactly what he wants, and what he is fighting for and what we are sternly resolved he shall not have.
 Lured on by the siren voice oC the willy Seward, foreign governments have been led to believe, that by the power Of, and through the United States, they would be in receipt of their usual supply of cotton by the first of May" whispered to the hope" Can there be one man n the South so base, as not to resolve that tha, promise shall be bro ken to the heart?' There is a lcqitimate way by which France and England can get our cotton, but not through northern brokers, or more properly speaking northern stcalera,
 Right here, some "tender footed, ""whte feath ered' individual may ask, " do two wrongs make one right?" Most assuredly not; but where two wrongs are about being committed, if in our power, it would be sound policy to choose the lesser; in this case, the greater wrong, in our view would be, to allow any cotton to fall into the hands of our enemy--we therefore choose the least, and with ouy ovn, destroy your cotton, so that all may
 FARE ALIKE.
 P. $. 'Tis but just to state that we heartily dorse your views, as to the impropriety of burning cities-let the odum of all such acts rest with the enemy.