The Van Buren press., 1876-04-25
Letter from Col Craven's.
OZARR.Aprll 18th 1876.

oZARk. AHfh iati le1o'
| Ed PRrss-Dear Sir: In your issue of yes
terday yau endeayor TO tasten it upon NE
that am soft material in tie hands of "the
leaders in the old Brooks war aud the very
men that refused t. support Judge " ilshife.
Til, is untrue, Further, yon onght to have
/ known II 10 be untrue. Having assurances
| from demoerats'in franklin, Logan. scott ana
| Yell that ! was the choice OF the party there,
| and information That | was not particularly
| Objectionable to the democrats OF Crawford
aud Sebastian, saying nothing Of johnson. |
concluded to makethe race, believing that |
woald not bring myself into ridieule, because
| OF the failure OF respectable support VI
| those assuring me Of their support. the action
and conduct OF aany is not known in the
matter tn which you allude; but of those
whose sentiments and conduct Is known, a
large majority held views with you In TIC
first named matter and supported the nomi-
nations throughout. We're II otherwise iccr-
tainly should not be In the field. You are
aware that many of my especial friends have
abused me- ut home and abroad, beeause OF
my (Which they chose to terml siavisb adhe-
Sion to party nominations Ion know that
in the late campaign. when the utmost frenzy
prevailed rs to gnbcrnatorial candidate, that
proposed to stand hy the choice Of the party.
no matter upon whom its choice should fall,
You know that later when the choice fell up
on Judge Wiltshire. the nominee OF the Clay
ton wing of the republican party, two years
before, supported him. white opposed to my
personal friend, Gen. Thomson. You further
knew that had always clamored for organi
zaton and discipline, and supported the nom-
inees agai st friends and foes alike.
Knowing this, 1t is indeed stiange that you
should thus enaeavor to couple me with bolt
ers In the late Congressional race, or any par
ticular faction Of the democracy in times
past. Indeed AM more astonished at your
l. l. ,.t tt,,,
of the west, with singular unanimity, sup
ports one of your distinguished citizens for
governor, who was conspicuous IN these DIFF
ferences of the past to which you allude l
fear some one Is supporting me that you hate.
Democrats in this region have no particular
fle-leadcrs orevil stars, but claim to keep in
view the public good and strive to be guided
by the mperishabc principles of the party.
II the nominee of the party thus guided, It
would be esteemed great distinction, and !
would feel called upon to labor increasingly
to honor the choice by faithful public service.
Unless thus confirmed. do not want it. Judg-
es Stewart and Brown are both personal
frien Is Anything written or said by mc,
concerning them. in this campaign may be
told to or shown them by the hearer or re-
ceiver of the communication. | undertook
to run this race fairly, and hoped | would not
be called upon to vindieate my self against an
unjust attack. intending to attack no one un-
Justly. In the article alluded to. you take
occasion to deliver me a personal lecture, l.,
therefore, answer Had you pounced upon
Mcclure and given him Hail Columbia it
would have been legitimate and right. and ac-
cording to custom. In your blind attack up
on me, II seems yon overlooked the true sense
of the independents article. Read again 1t
Is hoped that you will give this notice n place
in the columns of the PREss.
Your servant, JORDAN f. CRAvENs.