Year: 1866




This man, Of modern notoriety, has
been writing few edifying lines from FIT
Smith to his (" friends" on the condition
of the feeling among the people of West
ern Arkansas Judging from his asso.
Citations, We do not wonder at his misap-
/ prehension of the state of affairs, and his
consequent gross misstatemcnts. Blunt
is moving heaven and earth to be made
the " big man of Kansas and of course
as he seeks fame az the hands Of the Rad
ical party, he must pander to their appc-
tite for vile falsehood in reference TO the
sentiment of the southern people. Pco-
pie in this portion of the suffering South
know Blunt too well to attach much i'm
portance to any statement he may make
A man of his denuncintivc calibre, can
be of little service to the Radicals, and
no injury to the South. We give por-
ton of his famous letter, promising that
it is made up of whole cloth and unwor-
thy of the least reliance:


"The political status Of this portion of
Gods footstool" Is deplorable. as regards the
interests and protection of Union men. What
we hear of the condition of things in all parts
of the South. lately in rebellion, is also true as
regards Western Arkansas, which, you know,
we always considered as semi-loyal. The rcb-
els have all returned and are having every
thing their own way. None but those who
have good rebel record. and have done gal
liant service for the :" lost cause" are elected
TO Office, and they are all loud In their praise
of our modern Moses" Andrew the first.
The rebels now claim that all those who op-
pose the President and my pGiicv." are trail
tors and they are now gcmg in with Andy to
put down traitor. aGd treason. This county
/ (Sebastian) wcnt Radical by small majority
/ in the recent election, but this is the only
bright spot in Northwest Arkansas, and even
here they will soon be rooted out, unless the
Presidential party Is Overwhelmingly defeat
cd in the Northern States in the coming clrc-
tion. The rebels are now pursuing mild
policy toward Union men compared with the
treatment they will receive after the fall cleo
tions, If the result is favorable to the Prcsi-
dent. The Union men know and feel that
theironly hope and salvation Is in the loyal
people of the North sustaining Congress
They are waiting for the result of the coming
elections with intense anxiety, knowing that
their fate Is sealed if the verdict should be
against them. u Hu 10
The 'unreconstructed are holding thch
wrath as much as possible for policy, until af-
ter the election in the North. If these Cop
perhead and traitor allies win, as they conf
IDENTIFY expect they viii the work of proscrip-
tion will commence. They already boast what
they will do to put down traitors, (Radicals)
and they claim-ahd, think with good rea-
son for so doing-that the President will back
them in their damnable work. am no alarm
lst, and usually look ut matters very cody, but
from what has come under my personal OBJ
servation since came into this Statc--and
this may be considered as the most moderate
portion OF rebeldom--my conviction daily be.
comes stronger that we are on the eve of {
political crisis the most important in the his
tory of the Government. The Importance O
the coming elections cannot be overestimatcd
Upon it hangs the veal or woe of the nation
and upon the result hangs tie decision of tn,
issue as to whether the victors or the van
quishcd, and whether or not the fruits of fou
years of terrible war shall he now thrown
aXasy.' and in"r' to The h"""S' Of -"" 90


regret to see that so many of the officer
OF our late army, are following the faithles
Moses They, probably have their reason
for doing so; but If Andrew johnson expect
that by procuring few late officers of higl
rank in the military service to labor in his in
terest and for my policy will carry for hin
the support of the soldiers. he is in my opin
ion reckoning without his host The boy
in blue understand the issues involved. an,
have not yet forgotten the struggle through
which they have but recently passed; no
will they barter away the fruits of their yicto
ry. Upon them and the loyal masses of tn,
North, hangs the fate of the Republic, and il
men of the South for aid and succor.


"Iours truly JIG. b."