Year: 1861

| | announce myself a candidate for Congress for the Third District of Arkansas.

 The almost unanimous voice Of the people of Desha county has induced me to do this, although it is scarcely month to the day of l the election, and am thus placed at great disadvantage. I shall visit as many of the counties of the District as possible, to see the people in person. 1 have no time to prepare an elaborate address.

 I A number of excellent gentleman are can didates for the place. They will have fair dealing at my hands. None of us have any claims to the office. The office is created for the benefit of the people, and the people owe 1 it to themselves to elect their most sound, reliable, and efficient man. They owe nothing to us, but everything to the cause and if it shall not be my good fortune to be elected, it will not alter my southern feelings, nor render me sour and dissatisfied with my fellow citi- zens.

 l have served the people of Desha for some years-both in the legislature and in the con- vention. My course must be we'll known. It has always and steadily been for State rights and Southern Independence. He who does not see that this is our true policy is traitor in his heart. But thank God there are few such among us now.

 If elected, shall seek to strengthen and sustain the government, and give efficiency to our arms in every quarter of the Ccnfederacy. But shall regard it as primary object, and a paramount duty, to urge upon the govern ment to protect the frontier of Arkansas, and as the surest means of success, to press the war in Missouri and Kansas with vigor, and to drive it out of and beyond those States as rapidly as possible.

 Individually, my suffierings by this war are as great as those of others, but look upon it as righteous war which is sanctioned by God, and in which we have had many evidences of His blessings. Therefore, do not grumble, complain or rapine at the war, or it's losses and affiictions.

 am free to say, that if elected, I will do all in my power to promote an honorable and a permanent peace, but equally free to say that will never vote for peace which shall give up to the Northern enemy either of the States of Missouri, Kentucky or Maryland. Those States are Southern States, where white men rule and negroes know their places. To give up either of them would be dishonora- ble. They are peopled by our oppressed l brothers and sisters. To make peace on such terms would not be wise or safe It would strengthen the North for future wars, whilst it would weaken us, and war would be sure to come of it in few years more. If any one would have peace at such sacrifice l let him not vote for me.

 Those you now elect will take their seats in Congress on the 22d of February next. I have strong reason to believe that our ports will by that time be opened. If so, -Four mon- etary troubles will be over, but if not, I think that the government should endeayor to afford some relief But am firmly of the belief that the blockade cannot be maintained a lyear In what way relief may be secured is not so clear to me that could put forward any matured plan; but am satisfied that Con- gress and the Treasury Department might do something to facilitate such policy While | l would not consent to involve our national credit, so as to endanger the ultimate independ- ence of the South, would be glad to support any wise and safe policy in this direction

 The position of Arkansas in the old Union was that of weak and insignificant state, but it is no longer so. The position of Ar kansas now is one that every citizen may justly feel proud of-she is one of the most intelligent and patriotic. It is proved by her history of the last ten years, faithful to South ern Rights, and by the fact that her people are united and sound in every county, and that she has largely more volunteers in the field than any other State in the Con- federacy, in proportion to her population. 1 In this Confederacy, she is as strong as a l young giant-she throws of the foreign own ership and henceforth will own all the public

 

 ton from Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and even the Cotton States. She will increase for years after peace at the rate of 15 to 20 per cent. per annum. Arkansas already stands as the peer of the old States. Her position is greatly ele vated, and it should be our pride by every act to elevate her in her standing and character, and by wisdom and sound policy to promote her prosperity and develop her greatness. Let us unite to feel proud of our State, the birth place of our children, and their future homes There are many other points of which would write, if had the time and opportu- nity to give full reflection and to make up sat- isfactorily my own mind, so as to arrive, as shall always seek to do, at clear and sound common sense policy. Of one thing feel satisfied, that no one that knows me will doubt my fixed devotion to the Independence of the South, whether elected or not, nor my ardent and faithful defence of the rights and inter- ests of the people of this District, if am as- signed to that task by their votes,

 have the honor to be, your faithful citi- zen, J. P. JOHNSON. CoPIEs OF THE AcTs OF CoNGREss.-Pam