Timeline
1843 New Newspaper
The economy's difficulties continued in 1843. The State Bank of Arkansas officially went into receivership with liabilities placed at $1,910,023 and assets at $1,176,810; the treasury of the United States announced it would not pay federal Land Distribution funds to the Arkansas State Treasury because of the default on Arkansas bank bonds bought by the Smithsonian legacy; and Arkansas notes fluctuated at less than 50 percent of face value.
William E. Woodruff used the state of the economy as his excuse to sell his newspaper, and, with the Gazette now in Whig hands, the Democrats had no journal to influence public opinion. This came at a time when the Johnson-Conway-Sevier family faced increased criticism, including an article in the Batesville News which listed 18 office-holding members of this "dynasty." The General Assembly's censure of Sevier was also used as ammunition by "dynasty" opponents and Elias Conway and Robert Ward Johnson needed a sympathetic press in their plans for seeking higher offices. The Democrats established the Arkansas Banner and imported Dr. Solon Borland, a combative editor from Louisville, Kentucky, to represent their cause. Borland arrived just in time for the Democratic party convention in which Elias Conway was nominated for governor, but only 16 of the state's 42 counties were represented at the convention.
For the second time, Woodruff established a library for public benefit. The "Little Rock Circulating Library" had membership dues of two dollars per year and continued in existence until the Civil War.
After inflammatory editorials in the Whig and Democratic newspapers, the editors, Dr. Solon Borland (Democrat) and Benjamin Borden (Whig), fought, first with fists and then in a duel. Borland dominated both engagements-in the duel, coolly wounding Borden in the side after Borden's pistol misfired.
Trying to bolster their chances for the coming election, the Democrats dropped Elias Conway as candidate for governor in favor of Dr. Daniel Chapman, their candidate for congress. Chapman was replaced in the congressional race by Governor Yell who resigned on April 29 to stump the state against David Walker. Chapman later withdrew from the governor's race due to ill health and a hasty party caucus picked Thomas Drew as the Democratic nominee.
Another variable was added to the political picture by the demise of Senator Fulton, whose death was attributed to sleeping in a freshly painted room. Yell was known to have a strong interest in a Senate seat, but Chester Ashley immediately pitched in as a candidate, visiting 40 counties in 40 days. Woodruff joined the campaign by actively assisting Drew and Ashley through his voluminous correspondence. In the election for governor, Drew won with a plurality of the vote. Yell beat Walker handily in the race for congress and the General Assembly elected Ashley to the remainder of Fulton's term in the Senate.
The great flood of 1844 prompted a public meeting at Arkansas Post to propose a system of levees for the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. The General Assembly incorporated the Arkansas Railroad and Transportation Company.
The Texas question dominated national politics this election year. Anticipating problems with Mexico over the possible annexation of Texas, the Army transferred General Zachary Taylor from Fort Gibson on the Arkansas frontier to Fort Jessup, Louisiana, on the Texas border. In June, the Senate rejected a proposed treaty of annexation, but James K. Polk campaigned for the presidency on an expansionist platform. The Democrats won with Polk narrowly defeating Henry Clay, the Whig candidate.
