The New York herald., 1867-04-29
AR X A N 8 A s
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE HERALD.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE HERALD.
Arrival at Pine BIuG-Accommodationsa at IN
Arkansas HoteI-An Ancient Barrosm and
Barkeeper-Conversatio ON Poiitics-A
Novel Gunboat Exterminat0r-Death Of an
Ex-Governor of Arkansas. Ne.
PINE BLUFF, Ark, April 10, 1857
II lacked yet three hours Of daylight when the
steamer landed here and 1t had been raining
heavily during most of the night; the impeneTaeivs
darkness suggestive OF the deeper depths OF Tararus
the mud ankle Deep autumnal chiiness In the
air full half mile to the hotel not vehicle to DO had
not porter or even juvenile negro to take ones Dag
gage and only . few struggling, dimy burning oil
lamps the main street TO tighten the way. BY good
luck and aid Of the steamers pitch pine lights found
night watchman He was wrapped 70 the chin In very
shabby looking overcoa with his wet hair sreakng In
matted looks al over his face keeping guard over some
cotton bales.
"Where win I find hotslls inquired.
"Jest 60 up thar" he replied pointing away from
the river "and the fust street yer cum ter and
thsn ysr'n hev to 90 ON to ole Dave Newens lumber
yard and beyond thar u the hotel It's . right smart
distance but thairs light in 'front.' and you can't miss
it." Guided BY this information. accomplished at
length safely the Journey the hotel banged At the
door several minutes routed old darky, and gained
admittancs. asked FOR room and bed.
"Plsnty oh rooms sa" said tho dusky ssrvitor "but
hab ter put yer In bed wid 'nodder gemman."
care you sure there's bed can have 10 myseff'
"Psnscs sure. sar; .nsbsr tells gemmen what isn't
'zAckiy So"
"wslI, IL must stay with another gsntlsmsn pre-
for staying with you TO any other gentleman in tho
house"
ssWhat, sleep down dAr on dc 10 long wid mef" no
inquired. glanolng towards his blanket couch the
floor and look Of the utmost astonishment gieam ng
from the whites Of his syeA "You'd be mighty onkum
fubsl dar" Somewhat to the relief Of the perplexsd
Ethiopian, a. have doubt explained to him that
regards sleeping would attempt practical iustrs.
ton Of the moral Of John G. Saxes philosophical poem
on euchre, and Ego II alone" He accordingly built
blazing nre in the large fireplace, and, seated in
straight backed chair with heels at comfortable eleva
tion, lighted my pipe The cracking. CHEEKY blaze
and the gradual dying out Of the flames till only the
Charrod embcrs remained, and the full v0umod smoke
ps Ssm. r n
nifty for soaring into those ideal realms where SOUL
thought fancy and feeling reign in glorious quadrupe
alliance, that might have been good thing for Ike
Marvel but it not half good thing for .
good bod n my fancy had got into versifying vein
and subject been Arkansas hotel afraid that
should have named q very hot place as the rhymng
word. am only writing this to show what travellers
In this country may expect and frequently have to put
Pine Bluff as may be readily guessed, gets its name
from being situated on high blur on the Arkansas
river and the great abundance of pine trees in tho
vicinity. Tho bur is some thirty feet high, aud no
overflow from tho river has yet reached the
being negroea Most Of the buildings small
frame AFFAIRS and therc is really no handsome dwelling
and business just wofully dull. There are four
churches, court house and billiard saloon. Only
into the poess o ns
this is on extremely limited scale But dull as bus
Is, and apparent the lack Of commercial and me-
chanca enterprise there Is NO lack of other lively fea
lures that partially make IN, such exciting horse
races extended patronage OF the two hotel barooms
card playing and talking politics Afavorite resort OF
those who feel It thor duty discuss national affairs
the barroom OF the hotel where am stopping. This
barroom is an ;nstituton Old age marked il long
ago as his own. flavor Of antiquity pervades
it, In tho first place the bartender ia little old man,
who little old clothes. smokes little old pipe,
and what little hc says IT In an old fashioned way.
He despises shirt collars and II he has pcrtnacous
weakness beside II must ba for spshod slippers for he
invariably pair and invariably they much
too large II he believes in big shippers he also believes
In big drinks for he ia most liberal dispenser Of hts
quicker than at the rival establishment il is no fault OF
his Bar, dccaners and tumbers show like simitude
In age with their guardian genius Lemons there are
inverted wine glasses for years There IA large nre
place. which is very old and cracked and the wall above
and about 1t black with smoke Remnants OF old circus
of the antc-beium period map Of
Arkansas OF $780, placards Of New York and New Eng
and railroad notices dated before the war; are still on
tho walls In corner washstand bowl and pitcher
which have evidently been in from the time that
the memory of runncth not back the contrary,
and To Judge from appearances tho same his
torca fact would be predcated of the SOAP
Last in this barroom inventory nearly dozen split
bottom chairs which not only positively shine with
but to glory in their glossness whie
tobacco stained floor has thnt usrous hardness that
only decades OF years mpart Not to find crowd
here all hours OF the day and evening would
be an unusual event Drinking bad liquor and dis.
cussng politics ia bad grammar ara indigenous with the
Arkansans Stepping in shortly after breakfast. on
my first days arrival, found an animated discussion
going on
about this reconstruction business, sass large, bury,
full whiskered man wearing gray overcoat without
any vest undc- H. dark pants with the legs in
has boots aud light felt hat aud altogether wearing the
look OF ALWAYS ready, IL c,asion required 10 back
up hs views with knock down argument; "but it's
my opinion it's all damned humbug, Imposition on
the South aud II is bounding dooy not 70 submit
Congress as has passed the bill Is made up OF Of
damned fools and they think damned fools too
Thar ain bigger knave going unhung that ole cuss
Thad stevens. His actsshows IT, Jus; SEQ what he
does He puts in the bill demntty clause 70 pay loyal
Union for their losses during the war; Why did he
do tY Cause hc had hisself some iron works burned
and he to get 'dcmnity for them. He's just
working tor hssclf, and let the devil take the hinder
"But the ooustooshunalty Of all these ar Congress
going be tried by the Supreme Court inter-
aud no began throwing an immense quid OF tobacco
the fireplace ns II preparing himself lot an extended
argument Its my view tnai the suprsne ,,s oours
the constooshun those ar acts can't stand They
strike at the principle OF our government They over.
turn list wha, our revoooshunary forefahers fought
and died for and won They subver the liberties Of the
people, They takes all power from the balot box.
They place under military bayonets instead OF under
free usttooshuns It's robbing us of our 'a.enabe
rights"
sYou arc right thar broke in the first speaker "As
TO robbng alenable rights, agrees with you;
but hows the question about the Supreme Courtf Amt
that court made up OF Northern mens Amt all North
ern men down on Southern men? IL II not onreasona-
bic 70 suspect Northern will do justice TO South
srn menf VIII they DO justice to us think yous No.
What does they care for 1ust,cef II they can make the
South suffer do YOU spose they going to the
constooshunt Not Bit OF t. toll yer there's no
principle among any OF them. They are all working
asin, the South. They have got niggcrs from us
They mean now coniscate our lands and not let
vote or hold os and do nothing but jst lay down and
let them stomp their feet on u.s. For one shant sub
But what else can you dos" asked small man with
q small voice and wearing closely hting thread bare
dark jean suit.
can leave the d--d country. can go TO Mexico or
somewhar Amt going 70 stay here that's certain
shure and slapped the face and spit and be
able 70 say word agin' il without some other bully