The Osceola times., 1873-07-19
OscEoLA, ARK,
July 18TH, 1878.


EDITOR OscELoA TMEs,-Sir: i
notice in your issue of June II, q
scIrriloHs attack upon me from the
gifted pon Of that eminent and wor-
thy divine. Tie Rev. Leroy Jackson,
WHO seeks to gain little notoricty
by rushing "pell-mell" into PRINT,
with a.slanderous attack upon me
and others. Were it not that many
Of my warmest personal friends are
implicated in this controversy, |
would treat this slandcr0us article
with silent contempt, but duty com-
pels me to cXoncrate my friends of
Chckasawba township from the vile
thrusts made against them through
me, vizi my reported sworn state
mcnts to Governor Uadlcy, repre-
senting and alleging frauds in the
registration of illegal voters, which
| am represented as having been
forced to do by intimidation, all of
which is n palpablc falsehood, with
out the slightest foundation in fact,
and could only exist in the chimer-
ical crack -bralned visions of our
Reverend Pastor.
My only report of the registration
was the official returns made in com
pliance with the law, no such irrcg-
ularitics MS reported ever existed,
my connection with the citizcns of
Ch;cliasawba were ofthe most peace
full and friendly nature, so far as |
was officially, or Individually con-
cerncd. Tie Rererend Jackson $
statement that told him and others
that the people ofChIckasawba had
treated me like n gentleman is true,
| have frequently expressed myself
in like manner, and this is the only
truthful feature in the whole COM
municatou. As to his accusing me
of being "carpct-bagger," let the
citizens of Mississippi county decide
i am willing to appeal to their de-
cision and abide by the result. ]
will simply say, that | have been a
citizen of Arkansas for years, and
was resident of this state before
the war, | have legally obtained
the right to citizenship in Mlssis-
sippi county, and mean to maintain
, it for years to come, by cndoavor-
ing to be at all times peaceful and
law abiding either, cn,-fUrthormore |
am not ashamed of my past record,
and am not afraid to return to any
place ] have formally lived at. Can
, the Reverend Leroy Jackson say as
f much? | think not. The people OF
Upton county, Tenn, his former
residence, do not desire lis return,
to say the least. But | do not wish to
malign my prosecutor, | will for the
present let his antccedents pass
; Suffice it to say | fear he has mis-
, taken bis calling and would figure
r better in some other sphere of life
AS to money-making propensities,
, | think my worthy opponent has
his share of the spoils, for he frank.
ly confesses to having received
. $40 from Richards for services rem
dcred in our Osceola troubles also
money from both parties engaged
in the late campaign, and it is well
known that he was actively cngag
| ed in reporting and causing the ar
. rest of various parties concerned in
that campaign. After such rec
, ord who can believe him. for he ha.
, been vainly trying to "tote water
on both shoulders" until at last h,
! has completely "slopped OVER
In reference to my instrumentality
in blowing away the churches, / an
astonishcd to learn of my poten
influence in that direction,:and wa.
! not aware that | could control the
elements before. Perhaps God il
his immaculate wisdom caused thu
$ churches to be destroyed in conse
!. lucncc of the corrupt nracticos O.