Pine Bluff Weekly News, Arkansas Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Mary L Brown Date: 8 Mar 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** 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.