The Van Buren press., 1876-03-14
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Davies Letter Again.

Joint committee OF the legislature, appothteu
to ascertain, il possible, il Senator Dorsey
used corrupt means to forward his elevation
to the United States Senate. it Ia. perhaps due
the democratic party that stands arraigned,
as well rs the committee, to say that the
chairman of the committee. Hon {. Il. Tobey,
! in the report of his committee. stated that
| they had used all means in their power to OBJ
tain evidence, II any there was in existence,
! but had been unable TO get any worthy of
basing charges upon. 1t is well known that
| the State Was poor and impoverished, no cred :
it and no money, with scrip at 25 cents on the
dollar That Ham, Bowen. Mcclure and 9TH
ers who 1t was claimed, knew of the use OF
money, were out OF the reach Of the commit
tee. This letter of Davies, upon which so
much stress Is now laid, it seems from
the New Era, of later date, was written
in January, 1916 instead of 1875 as published,
nearly n month after the adjournment of the
| legislature. There is no evidence that at that
time the committee or Dell knew any thing of
| the Davie eN idenee.
The editor of the Argus figured in that
dirty business as a lobbyist day in and day
out aud night in aud night out, eating the
lunches, smoking the cigars, and drinking the
wines of the several radical candidates for
| Senatorial houors without stint. II he now
holds up his hands with such holy horror, why
did not he 20 before the committee and tell all
he knew; give some clew by which trail
could have been struck that would have led to
rich developments?
If the editor of the Argus will refresh his
memory, we think he will call TO mind II
good many things in that memorable squab-
ble between the radical candidates that would
lead to something tangible in the way of
charges. and in which, by the way. no honest
democrat could or should have have had any
part or lot 1t was to say the least, dis
graceful reflection on the democratic party to
see men protesting democracy of such high
and pure degree. eheek by jowl with the
men who were the bitterest enemies Arkan-
sas ever had. and it comes with questionable
grace for such men to arraign this committee.
headrd by Hon. G. 4. Tobey, of Pope county
tor not doing their duty, implying, thereby,
that the charge of the New Era. that a
whitewashing report WAS made in the inter-
est of senator Dorsey" WAS true. One of
that committee was Col. Kit. Thrower, the
gentleman to whom the editor of the Argus,
when the State was in a life and death strug-
gle to throw off the yoke that Clayton,
Brooks II Co. had SO tyrannically invested
her, wrote. urging, by every and all means,
Mr.. Brooks and his usurpers to hold the State
House, who, by so doing. would have put off
nses that we now eSijSe enjGSve as as the freedom and
ansas, AiA
As he was then. so he has been ever since
scheming and trading with the opposition to
the Democratic party, hoping that a disrup.
tion may take place, and that in the tumnlt
and commotion, he may come to the surface
| again.
we are As anxious rs any onc-and we have
no doubt this committee were MS anxious
shat alf the evidence should be brougl. to
tight. let the "lightning strike" where II
would democrat or republicans; and we ven,
and the skirts ofdemocrats are found drabblc
in the dirty puddle it will be of that kind
represented by the editor of the Argus who
now processes such great Indignation ana
holy horror
We started out merely to introduce Davies
letter, but were led to extended remarks in
after referring to the Argus entorial on the
subject. This is the letter.
Fort SMITH, AK. Jan. 10, 1876.
Hon, W. W. WILTSHIRE Washington, d c.. !;
Dear Sir--l have been requested to write and
give you what facts ! know in reference to
Dorsey bribing members of the Arkansas
legislature to vote for him foi United States
Senator in 1873. | will state that | was a
member Of the Arkansas legislature in 1923
and that before the election for u. S. Senator
came of, was approached by Judge +. ID
Ham who said that Dorsey requested of him
(ilam) to say to me that he dorsey would
give me three hundred dollars to vote for him
for I, ). Senator. ! agreed to do it, and Ham
! paid me $500 for Dorsey.
After this time, and before the election,
Senator Clay yton sent for me, and we went in
to t, ON IN the Metropolitan hotel to have a
conference. Senator Clayton favored Mae
donald for Senator, aad urged me to vote for
him. While We were talking In this private
| room Dorsey entered without knocking. Sen
! ator Clayton turned and said: Amt this
| impuIcnee.'
the hall, when he said to me; will keep all
my promises, Don't drop me and you shall
have anything you want IN your part of the
State" Dorsey afterwards. and before the
election ordered Peck. his brother law, to
pay me $40. which was done, Dorsey him
self paid me fifty. and Joe. Richards paid me
S}J more.
All this money was paid me for the pur-
pose of procuring my vote for Dorsey, for [, ,
5. Senator. | win also state that during the
| election canvass. DIR. l.. c. White and Strong
members of the legislature from Crawford
county, j. A. Lockhart aud myself. called up
on Dorsey. for the purpose of getting his as
snrance that he If elected would procure the
appointment of United States Marshal for the
Western District of Arkansas for j. A. Lock
hart. | then stated to him that he was not
my choice for Senator, but If he would have
Lockhart appointed U. S. Marshal would
vote for him. and | believe the other two
members mt,le very nearly the same remarks
to him. lie said to us that II we would vote
for him he would have Loekhart appointed
7 =. Marshal, adding do not make this pub
lie; keep il to yourselves. J. A. DAVE