The Van Buren press., 1876-06-06
Wilcox's Mares Nestf

1t was left for the editor of the Argus
to hatch out and publicly set anoat the
oft-repeated story that has been slyly in
circulation, that Hon w r. Miller was
the candidate of secret legislative eau
Gus, as well rs the candidate of the
Estate House Ring" BY private let.
ter from Little Rock, of the 29th ult., we
learn that there is no truth in the asser
tions made that there was n legislative
caucus, or that there was State House
Ring, or any other attempting to inhu
encc the gabcraatorat election The fact
that Little Rock and Pulaski county are
opposed to the nomination Of Mr.. Mill
er is evidence of this fact II there was
no other.
We are opposed 10. and shall always
condemn the species Of electioneering
for q candidate, that has to array the
country against the towr, or the counties
against the capital Of the state, If the
country does not have that representa-
tion to which it is entitled, it is their own
fault in not suiting the action to tho
word. " and coming out to the meetings
for making nominations
The country are to apt to slumber and
sleep, and if, by chance, they do not get
the representation on ticket they desired,
they too frequently set up the cry of
state house rings town rings and
+. seoret caucnsses
This species Of electioneering, Of ar
raying the state against the capital. is but
the tricks and trades of demagogues and
aspirants that want to crawl into office
by pulling down their betters.
The Gazette replies to the Argus as
follows:
The Van Buren Argus, Of May 25th,
puts into definite shape charge which
has been vaguely floating about in some
quarters. for some time, concerning
F" secret caucus that was held during the
session Of the legislature, last winter, for
the purpose of making a slate for the
state officers to be elected this fall. The
Argus says" " the charge was made, we
lit learn, by Col. Hughes, in q public
speech at Malvern. Whether Col.
Hughes made such a speech, there or
elsew here, we are not positively advised.
We do know that in the circulars he is
sued, announcing himself as candidate,
he said: IF therl be rings, I know not
of them If he has since learned of
their existence, it is his duty to expose
them by positive proof, and not by insin.
uations which are too vague to deserve
an answer.
As far as the Gazette is concerned,
with regard to this secret caucus" or,
with regard to any ring with which it is
charged with being connected, we deem
1t unnecessary to say more than to de-
nouncc the charges as base slanders en-
anating from men who are too jealous to
be generous and too envious to be truth
ful The political record Of the propri-
etor and editor Of the Gazette has been
an open book. We have nothing to apol-
ogize for, nothing to reverse. We have
ever acted, from the lights before ns, for
the best interests of the state of Arkan
sas, we shall continue to do so, regard
less of the Establishments of friends, or
the malignity Of foes. AS to the charge
contained in another article in the same
issue of the Argus, and which has been
made in other quarters, that the Gazette
has been unfair or ungenerous to Col
Hughes, at any time, is without founda,
ton We have never uttered word 10
mis- disparagement. We have ever said
that if he was nominated he would re
ceive our cordial support We have tried
to be impartial to all the candidates for
every office. But, when we are censur-
ed for having preference for any candi
date, the parties who censure us, unwt
tingly, perhaps, refuse us the same priv
ilege which they claim for themselves
That we are more restricted in that line
than other citizens or other papers, we
have yet to learn"