The Van Buren press., 1867-09-20
PERRY COUNTY.
RACcooN foRp. PovEETN BRANCH
"WAl VI IL PTRRy Co."
f.,l Isls-
September 9th. lS61 \

J September 9th, lS67\
! FRIEND DUSHAM: You will doubtless think
MgstdRgn Is out of hi' range, and will nat
urally enquire how hc came here, and what
business he is on. Although, you, a' an cdi-
tor have no business TO ash any questions
your duty being TO publish everything that is
sent you, furnish papers to everybody. and be
duly thankful for fs,ors. without asking ques
tions or thinking of pay. Yet ] AM Kind
enough TO tell YOU, secretly, how | came here
what my business is etc, etc. Well, ! came
here on the hurricane deck of mustang pony,
after passing almost urpasSablc swampS, deep
muddy streams, high rocky mountains, and
"sojournng" two days at the "Gcrman ho-
TEL" in the purgatory of the lth Judicial Cir
cult /. c. Perryyille. Just imagine, big mud.
hole, surrounded by high hills and partly filled
up by dozen negro cabins, thrown together
without order, and, you have correct opinion
of Pcrryville. Then think of a roof covering
dwelling house, kitchen, we'll house, dining
room, parlor, dressing room, corn crib, barn,
pig sty, dog kennel and chicken house, with a
stable joining it on the south, and COW pen
on the west, and further imagine, loungers
honest men, radicals, dutch children AUD dogs
in one room, hogs in mud up to their knees in
the door, horses with their heads in the win
dows on one side, and cows on the other, and
a croaking old Dutchman with his pantaloons
inside his socks, pipe in his mouth, and NUT
tering in gibberish between low Dutch aud
bad English and you have a correct idea of
Buckingham Palace" in the city of Perry
vile.
l went there to attend Court and came
here to attend to cowting. Now, don't tell it
as am too modest to let it be known. and only
tell you because know you can keep secret.
Knowing your anxiety to get reliqLle news
from all quarters, and being certain you never
have got any news from Raccoon Ford" and
sincerely hoping you never will get any more,
ifyou have to depend on me to come here to
give it. shall proceed to enlightcn you about
matters in Perry county. First let me inform
you that Perry county is in the State of Ar
kansas, has, about 200 white and 20 colored
voters. As to politics cannot say much but
as to all other kinds of ticks can testify, they
are abundant. The political cauldron is but
little agtated, owing to the facts that the ne
gro vote is not of sufficient importance to
elict the patriotic attention ofLoyal Leaguers
The result is the negros (if that word is trea-
sonable please insert Freedmen or Loyal citi-
zens) are quiet, and Industrious and quitet
and good order prevail. Crops are remark
ably good owing to the fact that the season.
has been fine and neither drouths nor Loyal
Leagues, have cursed the county. Wherever
these leagues are established. the negro, is at
once changed from an industrious, inoilensiye
citizen to lazy, )oatiDg turbulent vagabond.
But shall discuss this question in my next
letter when, shall write of Yell county.
The Court at Perryville, adjourned after a
laborious session Of te0 days one of which was
taken up in impannelng Grand and Petit ju-
ries. One jury case was tried. The Grand
jury found two bills, one for violating the
"Estray law" the other for not knowing an
other mans hogs.
| Two men, one named Moore and the other
named Ivey were killed in this county, about
two weeks ago. Moore and others, went to ar
rest lvey and Others on charge of hog steal
Ing, Moore and Ivey were killed. The Grand
body was to blame.
understand that political feeling had moth
ing to do with the killing. The citizens of
Perry deserve credit for being the most peac-
| able in this Circuit. They are scattered over
so much country that they seldom get togeth-
er to quarrel and fight, and as they let politics
alone the most prolific cause of disagreement
is removed.
Court will commence in Yell county on the
9th inst, and from what learn, there will be
a great deal of business before the Grand jury.
| know oftw murders in that county, but
shall not, at present give names or circum-
stances, as they will doubtless be investigated
before the Grand jury. must close my letter
as am going on deer (dcar) hunt this eve
ming. Ifyou get my letter you may know
got through safe, as the letter will be In my
pocket till | get to Danville to mail it.
Registration is completed in this county
N'iei 'Aih iiioiiuNu tiC
their duty impartally. In Yell county, a
more illiberal, unjust, and proscriptve course
has been pursued than in any other part of
the State In my next | propose to give
"charcoal sketch" of the Registrars of that
county, which will be enough to satisfy all
honest men, why so few votes were registered
in Yell county. Had it not been Tor the in
reference of Gen. Arnold, three fourths of all
the citizens of the county would have been
disfranchised by the Registrars. In their
opinion, none but negroes and renegadcs were
qualified to vote. But must not write any
more, for fear OF being charged with disloyai-
~ and "hindering reconstruction"
Respectfully, MUSTANG.
1T The King of Sweden got into pre-