Year: 1859

were known, he dld not attempt to lmpll- cate us in the dastardly manner he has since done in distant parts of the State where he thought contradiction would not overtake him; and as we had brother present in the city, he prudently refrained from those gross personalities he has so freely indulged in where none of the "John- son's' were present. Mr. Hindman is remarkably prudent man, and always selects his time and place with caution when he wishes to give lisence to his propensity for insulting language.

 After this speech he returned again to Helena. and then it was, while we were ab sent from the State, that he gave free rein to his abusive denunciation. He held the editorship of the State Rights Democrat, and in the columns of that paper he char acterized our offenses. whatever they were, as most atrocous ones, and poured out upon us all the bitterness of his insulted feelings On our return in June, knowing

 

 his complaints against us to be groundless, and it being evident that we were dealing with man devoid of truth, and destitute of all honorable principle, and believing he was resolved upon difficulty with us, right or wrong, and only sought an excuse, we denounced him as no gentleman and as man entitled to respect only through the political position he held. He seemed de- termined to fasten quarrel upon us, and we thought it proper to meet him half way Rumors were thick of his intention to resent our insults, but if he ever reall, had any intentions, they evaporated in his usual empty Reclamation and vain glorious boast ings. He sought to appear as brave man, but was determined to incur no risk He had the first cause of complaint, as he alleges, and when we returned to our post we repeated it, that he might have no doubt on the subiect-and yet he made no call | upon us for satisfaction. A man of fcourage would have done so But Mr. Hindman | pursued different course, and travelled through his district, whining over his grievances, and bidding defiance to men he was afraid to meet; and, finally, when we thought, by reason of his pledges, we should at least meet and hear him, he basely aban- dons his promised intention to speak here, elaborats ffalse excuse, and cowdardly skulks off, we suppose, to Washington City.

 His first complaint against us was that we did not denounce the Greene county democratic meeting because 1t did not in stluct for him, and this complaint was made though we had told him we could not take sides prior to the nomination. But. though even bttered against us, he was careful to suppress his resentment until after he had secured his nomination for Congress. Then it was, while we were supporting him as the democratic nominee, and our hands were accordingly tied, that he gave expres- sion to his bitterness. His conduct on this occasion, as in every other, was unworthy a gentleman.

 Afterwards when he desired our assis- tance to defeat Sebastian, he sought re- conciliation, only again to fly off when he found we would not concur in his plans.

 His second cause of offence, he alleges, was the admission of know nothings into the legislative caucus; but as we were not in that caucus, had nothing to do with it, and never even defended it. he alledges falsely. The real cause, though he has not the manliness to confess it, is to be found in the fact we would not aid him to destroy Judge Sebastian.

 If we have given -Nr. Hindman other cause of offence we do not know it, and he has failed to point it out He has no just cause of complaint whatever, and he has taxed his ingenuity to invent one. In a mo- ment of inflated self-mportance, he thought himself the master of the northorn district, and as that was stronger, and could vote down the southern district, he regarded himself entitled to the mastery of the State. He could tolerate no rival, and he intended to have none and, to obtain the entire control of the State, he found 1t necessary to his success to crush out the True Demo- crat. In an unhappy moment for his repu tation as gentleman and politician, he planned and undertook the business. The dishonorable means he has been driven to adopt to accomplish his purpose has forever destroyed his standing as gentleman and his hopes as politician.

 To succeed Mr. Hindman has deliberately adopted. a policy that too clearly indicates the total depravity of the man. His is system of insult wherever it may be safely indulged. It is evident to all, that 1t his policy to establish an impression that he is reckless of his life, and to make his name

 

 occupy, or who seek to occupy, any posi-. tion of political eminence among their fel- low citizens. To establish this reputation, he has sought, by promoting street fights, involving others, and by conduct unknown among gentlemen, to win for himself a character for courage, whilst by noisy slan- der and cunning strategy, he casts the i'm putation of cowardice upon all who oppose him.

 This system of his is fully illustrated by his conduct towards Mr. J. w. Butler, of Independence county. He met Mr. Butler at Batesville, and behaved towards him with great courtesy and respect, and afterwards, in other counties, where he thought himself secure from contradiction, represented that he denounced Mr. Butler in unmeasured terms and Mr. Butler was present and ut- tered not word He has treated others in the same way, and he has attempted to practice the same system upon us. He