Pine Bluff Weekly News, Arkansas Co, AR

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Submitted by: Mary L Brown <marybrownrn@alltel.net>
        Date: 8 Mar 2004
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Excerpts from the
PINE BLUFF WEEKLY PRESS
Volume 1, No. 4
Thursday, February 11, 1869

Devoted to Politics, Agriculture, Literature
and News
Wyatt C. Thomas, Editor


Municipal
The following are the officers of the city of Pine Bluff 
for the present year:
Mayor:  H. W. Reynolds
Recorder:  David Aschaffenburg
Constable:  J. W. M. Murphy
Adlermen:  F. G. Smart, M. T. Powell, Gave Meyer, Nimrod 
Lowry, Eugene Nordman, Jacob Bloom, and E. W. Martin.



"MOUNTAIN BEN"

A Reminiscence of an Arkansas Senator, So-Called"
(From the Lexington Observer and Reporter)
     Who is "Mountain Ben" Rice and what of him?  
Ordinarily, we take little in such men, but as he has 
lately turned up as United States Senator from Arkansas, 
and is busy just now in the effort to establish a new 
Federal District in Kentucky, he deserves passing notice.  
A number of years ago "Mountain Ben" took his hat from its 
appointed peg, beneath the ancestral shieling in the state 
of Maine, and made his way to Kentucky.  A fondness for 
pines, or it may be a "distant dearness in the hills" of 
his native State, impelled him to seek the mountains of 
Kentucky, and there he made his home.  After awhile he 
seems to have succeeded in obtaining, to a considerable 
degree, the confidence of those among whom he had cast his 
lot.  At any rate, he found himself, some time about the 
year 1858, in possession of several thousand dollars, the 
property of two or three widow women, who had given him 
claims for collection.  This was more money than "Mountain 
Ben" ever had hold upon before, and being of a naturally 
weak moral constitution, he could not make up his mind to 
pay it over to the rightful owners.  Having, through some 
inpertinence, given offense to Theophilus Garrand, a 
difficulty ensued and "Mountain Ben" was shot.  This 
accident gave him time to mature his plans, and also 
furnished a pretext for a flight and shortly afterward Ben 
off to the Northwest, carrying with him the money belonging 
to the afore mentioned confiding beliefs.
     This ended the first chapter of the public history of 
"Mountain Ben" who sought to shake off this title, with the 
dust, from his sandals when he landed on the safe side of 
the Ohio.  During the war he was camp follower in the 
command of General Curtis-being a loyal man from the 
necessities of his organization, and its length, he 
squatted with the "animus remanerdi" at Little Rock.  Here 
the fugaccous Ben abode in safety.  And in the fullness of 
time, through the patent influences of Radical Negro 
sufferage and military rule, was foisted upon the 
unfortunate State of Arkansas as United States Senator.  
Like that prince of bummers, the Emir Abjdullah, he thinks 
that Paradise to be found only under the shadows of swords, 
and is a reconstructionist of the strictest seet.  As such, 
he not only proposes to prolong the days of his congener in 
Arkansas, but he must pay his respects to his "Old Kentucky 
Home."  He is was who introduced the bill for the partition 
of our state into two Federal Districts and it is only 
right and proper that our people should know who their 
friend from beyond the Mississippi is.  It is "Mountain 
Ben" done up in the Senatorial toga. Of course, he ought to 
be a pillar of the Kentucky penitentiary at this very hour, 
but beneath the fostering care of "the best government in 
the world"—for thieves and robbers, he is in the Senate, 
and will vote to penalize the holding office by those 
falling beneath the restrictions of the fourteenth 
amendment.  Those in the mountains regions of Kentucky who 
have claims upon the United States Senator had better look 
them up and send them on to some attorney in Washington.  
He may not care to contest them, or to plead limitation.  
Those who know him best, however, may regard this as a very 
violent presumption.  Thus leaf by leaf, chapter by 
chapter, slowly but inexorably, the true history of the 
reconstruction infamy is being evolved.


                                        X Y Z






DEATH OF EX-GOVERNOR PICKENS

     Late dispatches convey intelligence of the death of 
Ex-Gov. Frances W. Pickens, of S. C.
     He died recently in Edgefield District in that State.  
Gov Pickens was a representative man, "one of the olden 
kind."  He was a youthful, but not an unworthy compeer of 
McDuffie, Langdon, Hayne and Cheves.
     He belonged to the old school of patriots and 
politicians.  A class now rapidly disappearing.  We are of 
those who have never believed in the South Carolina school 
politics.  Though Southern in every nerve and fibre, born 
and reared in the "Old Dominion," yet we have never 
followed the teachings of Mr. Calhoun and his co-laborers.
     It is, however, only just to say that Gov. Pickens, 
has filled many and important positions, and has never been 
found untrue in any.
     Years ago he was the American Representative at the 
Court of the Czar and among all the courtly "diplomats" in 
that grand old world beyond the sea, he did not have his 
superior.
     Of a truth, may it be said of him, that in all the 
varying vicissitudes, a chequered and eventful life, he 
always "bore, with reproach, the grand old name of 
Gentleman."




"DUST TO DUST, ASHES TO ASHES

     We are pained to learn through late Memphis Papers of 
the death of Major W. J. Somerville.
     He died on the 22nd ult., in Haywood county, Tenn.
     "Those whom the Gods love" 'tis said, "die young."
     In the early morn and dewy freshness of life, he has 
gone down.
     Nor does Mother Earth, upon her kindly breast, enfold 
the remains of a purer patriotic spirit.  The deceased was 
Major of that gallant Regiment, 2nd Arkansas (Col. Slommons, 
commanding).
     Long will we remember the young, but departed officer, 
and that gallant command.
     He was a brave soldier, and kind, Christian gentleman.
     Throughout his brief, but useful career, he followed 
the noble advice of the poet-
"Who misses or who wins the prize,
Go lose or conquer, as you can,
But if you fall, or if you rise,
Be each, pray God, a Gentleman."

SAD ANNOUNCEMENT

     Recent Memphis Papers contain the sad intelligence of 
the death of that veteran Editor, Col. J. H. McMahon.
     Col. McMahon has for years been connected with the 
Memphis Press.
     His name indeed, to the whole reading public, is as 
familiar as a household word.
     Col. McMahon, was some years since Editor of that 
Stauch, Sterling paper "The Memphis Eagle & Enquirer" 
paper, whose editorial columns is days agone, have been 
illustrated with the writings of such Boanerges of the 
Press as the Hons. Jeremiah Clemens and Solon Borland.
     Col. McMahon subsequently, also became the Editor of 
the "Bulletin" and finally of the "Appeal" and throughout 
the war was an officer in the Confederate Service.
     Another veteran of the Press has passed away.