Washington telegraph., 1863-09-30

number Of our CT liens bad deserted our e.usa
Z in the North and North West. and gone into
the lines y: the enemy. The defeat Of Col.
johnson would have been construed ani re
Ea-del hy our enemies rs an indication fhlt
the Confederate canse was abandoned and gwen
up in Arkansas. The Convention Of hrkans -
which severed our connection with the Govern
meEt of the United States and had seeded
from il, had elected members 10 tine Prori-
sional Cong. ess without regard 70 former po-
lit.cal positions or organizations. Mr. Garland
and Mr.. johnson had both been elected ami
chosen By that body as portion OF that dele
CATION. They had occupied opposite sides inr
years in the great political questions OF the
day. and their selection therefore. well the
selection of other members of the Provisi Onal
Congress, showed that the Convention had Oh
liberated former party lines, and therefore
manifested n desire 10 secure and preserve
unity Of action nd sentiment in The commence
lnent of struggle. then in its infancy, which
las grown and spread until il has reached
every fireside and hearthstone within the lin
its " the Confederate States. To keep down
political excitement, as well as to give evi-
dence to the world, that they who had been
once so Jealous for the GLORIOUS Union" had
now become the warm, firm and uuyaveriug
Supporters Of the Government of the CUnfede-
rate States, must have Influenced the action
somewhat Of that Convention in their selection
Of the members Of the Provisional Congress,
and that their selection had been made with
ont reference to their former union or seces.
sion proclivlties.
During the existence Of the Provisional Gov
ernment, the people OF the Third Congressional
District. on the 9TH day of November, 1861.
elected Mr.. Garland a. their representative IN
the Confederate Confederate Congress for two
wears from the 18th day Of February. 1867,
and the General Assembly Of the State Of
Arkansas. in q very few days thereafter, elect
ed Mr. johnson to the Seaate Of the Confede-
rate States. for the period Of six years. Under
the provision Of that article in the Constitution
of the Confederate States, requiring the sena-
tors to be divided into classes, Mr. JohnsOn's
seat became vacant at the expiration of the
second year after his election. They were
both therefore members of the Provisional
Co gress. as well : members Of the first Con-
cress unier the permanent Constitution Of the
Confed, rate States. Ii. therefore, Mr.. John
son had Deen defeated before the expiration Of
his term, his influence q a member of the Con-
federate Congress would have been paralyzed
aud DESTROYED for the remainder Of the term
fJr which be was elected, and tile interests of
the people of Arkansas then efore neglected or
eopardized 20 an extent that the personal pro-
motion Of no ma could compens te. Colonel
johnson was the only member of the COnfede-
rate Congress from Arkansas known to the
Lincoln Government. HI al been for years
= warm, consistent, firm and unhinching ai-
vocate of the rights Of the South-ts a mem
Der Of tie House Of Representatives in the old
Congress, rs well n member of the Senate
in the Congress of the United States; and 70
have defeated him, in my Judgment, would
have induced and encouraged the invaders of
our State 10 have organized h0rdes, and scores
of brutal and mercenary soldiers 70 invade and
pollute the soil Of State. that would not
have dared to 10 50 If our action was such a.
TO show them that were united and deter
mined to susti lin the public men Of the cauntry
then ia position, and known A. prominent ad-
vocates aud supporters Of the. right Of seces-
sion In my intercourse with the peopls.
was induced to believe. and did believe, that
they did not desire to have Mr.. johnson re-
tired from the Senate Of the Confederate States
His long puNlic career as a representative and
a senator in the old Congress Of the United
St0tes. had given him a character of promin-
snce and influence that j. acquired alone by
long and faithful public service. Had Mr.
Garland hllel the position occupied by Mr.
Johnson, 1 should, under the same circum-
stances. have been equally desirous for his
continuance in il | for the election Of
Mr.. Johnson. Ny anxiety and action was not
frlummt
Of the great contest for liberty aud indepen-
dence, and the protection OF our homes and
firesides from invasion and desolation, and our
wives and children from insult aud brdtal out
rage desired the action Of the people and
their representatives to he such a. 10 exclude
the absurd idea promulgated BY our enemies.
that there was strong Union sympathy OF
feeling remaining with the people Of Arkansas.
ani 70 show to the world their united aud de-
termined opposition to the Government Of the
United States, and their willingness to submit
cbeerfully to every privatiOn and sacrifice
rather than be suhjngated. FOR politically afil-
late with people guilty Of invasion OF their
soil Ouichery Of their citizens" I could see
no good, therefore resulting 70 the success ~
our great struggle by putting Mr.. johnson out
of his position in order 10 put Mr.. Garland Ina.
IL in this | have given offence any. | can
but regret I, but can never repent Of having
lost sight Uf my personal interests for the
maintenance Of the unity and virOr of our
Government in the crisis OF It's fate Ii II
were indeed necessary that Mr. johnson or
myself should be sacrificed ~ appease party
vengeance, | am the filter victim Nv defeat
will be less remarked at the North. ami less
depressing IA H. consequences than the defear
Of one 50 eminently marked as one Of the earIy
advocates of States rights nd Southern inde
euntHCt- a Was the non Senator. 4 shall a Z
least be consoed BY this reflection. and enter
tain the hope thst my retirement from the
councils OF the nation viii be attributed 70
other motives on the part Of the people than
dissatisfaction with the war measures which he
as vel as | have ardently supported Myown
comparative obscurity in the beginning or this
struggle will at least prevent the impression
at home or abroad. Il at the people of Arkansas
repent Of their movement. and are prepared
for some other course than a firm and deter
mined adherence TO the cause Of Southern in
dependence and honor
The report that introduced bill in Con-
gress TO prevent persons from voting unless
they were worth q certain amount OF money or
property, il ridiculous absurdiry, and un
qualiiedly false Each State by it, Constitn-
ton declares who shall vote, and Congress has
no power TO interfere with the elective fra a
chise. There are various other reports put in
circulation, intended TO operate 10 INV preiu-
dice, among which are, that had a special
Act Of Congress passed TO exempt my son from
military duty That l refused 70 take Con-
f.derate Treasury notes in payment of debts
due me, and refused TO sell the pro iucts of nv
plantation for Confederate money, and refused
TO let soldiers families have corn unless in
exchange for bacon or clothing. That I hal 4.
law passed 10 NY slaEeholders s25 per month
for the hire Of their negroes to the Government.
&c, and other reports equally ridiculous. false
and without the shadow Of foundation They
can have no other object than 10 alienat. ths