The Van Buren press., 1866-12-07
Our Little Rock Correspondence.
LITTLE Rock, Arxs., Nov. %, sc.

AsN'~ ~ RA.Aor %'S'' ~ W.
DEAR DuNHAM:-Aiter a long, tedious Sc
ries OF ballotings we have two Senators chos-
en- by the Legislature. Judge j. T. JONES,
was chosen for the short term; Rev. ANDREW
HUNTER, for the long term. The desire to
FORM and the party TO be Of equeL strength
with the old johnson family" party is very
prevalent. The combination formed for this
purpose set out with fixed determination to
defeat the Northwest and prevent her from
having one Of the Senators. In doing this, it
was necessary to combine with the friends of
Judge Jones to defeat U. NJ. Rose. Jones was
put forward because he could take the ~Tron-
clad" at the first of the balloting but finding
this card rather poor one, they promptly
deuiei his ability TO take the oath. All went
very well men of sense, (so-callcd) wercrn-
duced to support him, and, now, after they
have defeated 4 man uncqualed In the state,
for polish, ability, and refinement, U NJ.
Rose) they are chagrined and mortified by
the announcement, rcitcrating the statement
that Judge Jones, sean take the oath" The
Northwest do not sympathise with the victims
Of this imposition, because they became such
ONLY in order to defeat Batson, Walker, Tur
ner or any other man from the Northwest,
and elect their pet from this city-Judge En-
glish. English IS a man of ability, and had
he not been in the hands of men who would
vote for any body, save man from the North
west. in order to secure his election, he might
have been chosen. Members from the North
west, finding it impossible to elect their men,
determined to join the friends of Rose for the
purpose of defeating the combined forces OF
Jones and English. To effect this, Walker
was kept upon the track for time, in order
to distract and mystify the supporters of
Jones; and at the proper time his name was
withdrawn and all centred on Hunter. This
move was so entirely unexpected, that Hun
ter was elected before the proposed new fam
lily could recover and rally. SO now these
astutc politicians find themselves with Jones
and o,ithout English. .....
| have little doubt bat that the Northwest
could have elected one of the Senators, ifthey
| had not been governed too much by their in
dividual personal feelings. Batson was kept
| on the track for good while and some of the
Northwest men would not vote for him, al
though they voted for Jones, who is from
some county on the Mississippi river. If the
sons of the Northwest had been true to her,
| she would have succeeded; and the people.
should hold them all to a strict accountability
for their conduct in this matter. The North
west has been sacrificed and needlessly, for
nothing was easier than to elect Senator if
the members had preferred her interests, to
| this thing some of them voted for Jones, who
was Il am told,) violent secessionists at the
beginning of the war-afterwards went over
to the fedcrals, and while those who were
true to us, were bearing their breasts to the
storm and leaving their families to the tender
mercies of non -combatants, or the interested
benevolence of federal shoulder-straps, he
was snugly located, making plenty of money
and living in luxury. Ii the people intend
to give honors to those who can take the
"iron-clad," why not give them to consistent
union men? The present case seems to indi
cate that the Legislature, wish rather to honor
desertion, lavish favors upon turn-coats. while
they neglect those who served them. A man
who deserts one cause. may readily be induc-
ed to bctray another; and what assurances
have we +? that the legislature of Arkansas
have not assisted in swelling the already over
grown ranks of the "Thad Stevens faetion.n
In Andrew Hunter, we have one Of natures
noblehlan, man upon whom we can fully
rely. He,has not'yet determined to accept
the position, but all are anxious Except the
Jones mem for him to accept, as it is beliey-
ed he will do credit to the State, anf be, Of
service to the people. PHI.