Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-20
CONSPIRACY.
Astounding Developments.
The Governor of Arkansas at
the Head Of n Conspiracy.
He Secretly Advises Bloody
Work.
Arms Already Distributed.

The conspiracy against the peace of tn,
country, which has rami6ed throzohon
the South, and broken through ali r..
stralnts prematurely in various sections n
the South, has made more headWay. anna.
rentiy, In Arkansas than anywhere eise
The reason Is difficult to conjecture, unless
there De common cause, and 1t has de-
VOWED upon the carpet-bag Governor of
Arkansas to inaugurate the darkest day
that ever dawned upon the United States
the commencement Of open and updis-
| guised hostilities. The intentions of "a
called Governor Clayton to involve the
people Of the State, whose Interests he
should protect, have been apparent all
| along, and il denial were made. the evil
deECe Is irrefragible that such has bsen the
case. The negroes are armed and eager
for the onset. The arms DESTROYED from,
the Hesper did not constitute tilhe of the
weapons drawn from abroad to the State
and which escaped the scrutiny of the
closest vigilance. All the arms that they
wanted have been procured, and secretly.
through the Leagues, the following procla-
nation has been promulgated. We have
a copy by US now, and have not the most
remote doubt OF its genuineaess. A more
conclusive illustration of the rascallv and
tendish design, could scarcely be made II
came from Sheriff of an eastern comfy
in Arkansas, aud passed through the hands
OF a Federal soldier, and is but one Of
countless numbers that have been dis-
tributed through the State. We give the
secret order, issued to the Sheriff. IA II
was sent from Gov. Clayton. If this be not
treason, and do not deserve condign nm.
ishment, then there never was a vile con-
spirator merited death. In g time of pro-
found peace, to issue such an order and
expect it to be obeyed, and to use official
zeal to bring II 10 eliminating point. il a
crime that should be summarily dealt with
We make this disclosure as soon az aware
OF It ourselves, so that the Federal author
tiles may make ready to interpose TO pre-.
vent the bloOdshed anticipated BY the
heartles5 miscreant and unprincipled scoun-
drel, who, through infamous frauds, was
folsted upon the people of Arkansas AZ
their Governor. Read it:
CIRCULAR LITTER TO THE SHERIFF AND o7ura
COUNTY OFFICERS.
l have transmitted TO your county comics of
my proclamation declaring martial iaW IN CO..
tam counties OF this State The election being
over. the time has now arrived when the STATE
government must sustain itself at the o ,inT Of
the bayOnet If necessary. The American people
have, by overwhelming majOrities. declared in
favor of the validity of the RECONSIDERATION
measures and the government set up thereun-
de-. The United States authorities, in defer
ence to this decision of the peOpIe nust nov
give US protection. out before we ask for help
from ABROAD we must show q willingness to help
ourselves. The enemies Of the State govern
ment are demOralized By the effects OF the stTn-
ming blow received on The 81 instant Now IS
the suspicious time flr the officers Of the gov
eminent, state. county and municipal aided by
the loyal people, to recover their lost authority
and by one grand, thorough effort establish
peace ana order permanently in this State. Il
10 the intention of the Executive to lend every
energy toward the accom- lishment Of this de-
sired end. Ii the Ulcers OF the various depart-
meats IN the state, and the lEw abiding people
VIII but heartily second him in his Efforts iL
Will DO accomplished. 1 therefore urge upon
the officers Of your county to put forth a united
and determined effort in the enforcement of
law. and toward bringing criminals 10 punish
ment. You MUST make your authority re-
spotted, or bring on an open issue. If after
making Vigorous attempt, you fail then mar
tlal law will be extended to your county anu
upon the heads of the people thereof the dread
full responsibility must rest. You are requested
TO perfect the organization of the militia IN your
county. IT the lOyat people do not volunteer
in the State Guard, the reserve militia must
DE organized. When called upon you must
furnish your quota Of militia to operate in other
portions OF the State Urge upon the citizens
not to set up their own opinions against that Of
the authorltles. A general plan iS determi1 ed
upon, and all must render cheerful assent in or
der to make II successful. Warn the people Of
your county against unauthorized interference
in the affairs of other counties, and report
promptly all matters ofimDortancs.
POWELL CLAYTON. GOvernoR.
Could anything be more dastardly aud
infamous? The midnight prowIer that
robs the hen-rooJt may have some mitiga-
ting circumstances in the inducement. The
thief who steals your purse, or the high
wayman who demands it, may be urged by
motives that in the code OF morals would
lessen the crime. But Clayton, the wretch
who thus prepares and provides for the
slaughter and plumber of the people whom
he has sworn, and it is his official az well
as moral duty 10 protect in all their rights
and privileges, there il, there can be no
apology. A bsser exhibit has never seen
daylight l. is a scheme Of murder before
which the night of st. Bartholomew sinks
into iusignilielnce. It is horrible to con
template. OF what material il the creature
made? Surely there il more of the NOM
ster and fisnd in his nature than man. The
order in itself is lie. Il refers to lost
rights which are to be regained by murder
and arson and rapine, and all the engines
that may be set to work, in which mothers
and wives aud daughters and children are
to be sacrificed. Its well the plot is dis
covered. Now we know for what arms
have been secretly conveyed 10 Arkansas,
as well as into other Southern States. He
goes on the principle Of the iusl,iate
Glo5ter:
Thrones bought with blood, must be by blood
maintained"
Forewarned, forearmej. Weare glad that
it has been placed within our power to
warn the people ofArkausas and put them
on their guard. They will be derelict, ia
deed, if they are supine, nov and do not,
with every energy, prepare for the worst.
There Is no time to be wasted The Sc
cret is now exposed, and there Is no tell
ing how sOOn the demon they call Gov
ernOr may precipitate his Internal work
Rome had CIIigula, Tiberiu5 and q
Nero; Austria had her Hlyniu; Massa-
chusetts has a Butler; Missouri Mcneil;
Tennessee 4 Brownlow, and 1t seems that
Arkansas has her CllytO This last
named tyrant is unquestiOnably The most
wicked and heartless monster that ever
disgraced the earth. 10 ancient history
we read of brute 80 load Of cruelty that
he spent all his leisure moments in catch
ing insects and piercing them with sharp
Instruments, in order to afford himself the
pleasure Of witnessing their suffering.
Clayton, the black hearted, foul, hellish
fend, who disgraces the name of Governor
of Arkansas, is a cruel rascal of the same
| despicable kind. With brave men, the hour
Of victory is the hour Of magnanimity
but with such redemplionless and diaboli-
cal towards az Clayton it seems to be the
hour of cruelty, tyranny, rapine and muir
der The circular which we publish above
will place the name of Powell Clayton"
| high up in the ,ntheon of infamy.