The Arkansas Advocate

OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT OF A. H. SEVIER, AT LITTLE ROCK.

On Monday, the 15th instant, Col. SEVIER, and a party of his friends, had a dining, or Champagne drinking, in Little Rock. About 2 or 3 o'clock, they came into the street very much excited with Champagne, as they said, and one of the company began a quarrel with a citizen of the town, of different politics from Mr. Sevier, which resulted in a fight. By this time a crowd had assembled, and several of Mr. Sevier's partizans were laboring to stir up the crowd and make a party contest of it. One of his devoted adherents commenced the most WANTON and UNPROVOKED attack on Mr. Cummins that I ever witnessed, no doubt on account of his true charges against Judge Johnson. The RIOT continued until night. There were three or four fights; but no material injury done, the assailants generally being repulsed. Mr. Sevier and his friends were mostly armed with pistols and butcher-knives; but few of the others had arms of any kind. The HONORABLE DELEGATE himself, was in the crowd during the whole time, encouraging his "boys," and stirring them up to acts of violence. There no doubt would have been very serious and sanguinary results, but for the pacific exertions of Col. Taylor, the Sheriff of the county, Col. Fowler, Maj. Field, and a few others. When the attack above mentioned was made upon Mr. Cummins, Mr. Sevier stood in the door of the Coffee-house, a few yards distant, and stimulated his friend to commit violence upon him. This same friend of Mr. Sevier's labored all the evening to excite the parties against each other, and insulted several gentlemen grossly against no other reason than that of which they quarreled. In the evening the HONORABLE DELEGATE came late to his rescue, [the friend] seized the SHERIFF, drew his KNIFE, and swore that he should hold the Sheriff. A prudent MAGISTRATE placed himself between some friends in the SCUFFLE about the Delegate and advised the Sheriff. The man submitted to go peaceably on condition that they... They started, and when about 80 or 100 yards from the crowd, [the rioter] insulted the Sheriff at his head. The Sheriff saved his life by instantly throwing him to the ground and holding him down, and [someone] parted them. The rioter then arose and again attempted to shoot the Sheriff and MR. SEVIER bawled out to him to "SHOOT THE DAMN'D RASCAL." Thus did your DELEGATE TO CONGRESS, Samson Gray, and a few others, attempt to RESIST AND CAUSE TO BE KILLED, while in discharge of a sworn DUTY, the Sheriff of the county, elected by the people. Mr. Sevier, during the whole evening, was encouraging the rioters by his presence, conduct, and advice; and frequently bawling out "hurrah boys;" "hurrah for Sevier's party;" "give'em hell;" "do your duty;" "fight well and don't be whipped;" "SEVIER'S boys never were whipped;" and other expressions of like character. An Honorable and dignified course of conduct for a MEMBER OF CONGRESS! The Representative, at the Capitol of the Nation, of the whole character, intelligence, morals, talents, decency, and gentlemanly deportment, of this extensive Territory! I know of but one palliation for his conduct on this occasion—that is, that he was about one-quarter over half-seas over the whole time, or at least, affected to be so. The magistrates and constables of the town did their duty. The facts above stated, can at any time be PROVED. For their publication I am responsible to Col. SEVIER alone.

A Citizen of Little Rock.