The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-02
Report on ArHansas ATai,s.

General r. B. Ayers, who was appointed to in
vestigste the state of affairs in Arkansas, has suo
mitted his report TO the war department. After
alludinR 10 the great changes consequent upon the
late war, the difficulties attending a transition
from military 70 civil rule at It's termination, aud
tie violence OF lawless men, which even Law abid.
ing citizens at last began TO regard with such in
difference as TO yield no assistance to the civil
authorities. he proceeds TO say that the state of
affairs finally compelled the executive to pursue
some rngent course for re.establisning the su
premscy of the Jaw. Several methods were
adopted. In the first place detachments of United
States troops were placed under tue command of
the different sherifs at the towns. to act as posse
in case OF an en- ergency but this was only tenn
porsry expedient. 1t was followed by the enroll
ment of militia for the same purpose. This plan
failing. the next step taken was 10 place several
counties where the civil powers were unable 10 en-
force their authority under martial law.
The State was divided into districts, aud q nova.
bic force Of militia organized for the pursuit aud
arrest of obnoxious parties. The result of this
step was. that the lsw.abidiDg citizens 10 those
districts held meetings, and pledged themselves
10 assist the local authorities in the performance
of their duties. In every county where these
guarantees were given, the civil law has resumed
its sway end martial law now exists in but one or
two of them. The report characterizss the sto-
ries about the outrages committed by the militia
as exaggerated, and In many Instances pure fab.
relations. None other than the violations OF Or
der necessarily incident to the presence Of such
force have occurred.
In cases where the instructions are departed
from, the delinquents, when deieciei, were pun
isbed according TO the military code. A militia.
man Of the southwest command perpetrated
gross outrage, and he was promptly tried a9d ex-
eCuted. The report concludes: " As fast as the
civil authorityi established. the militia forces are
disbsBded, and it is confidently believed that the
civil law can be enforced in the future By the Off
GERS thereof, and resort to the militia power not
be agsin necessary
In an infe via wit of "a
Associated Press in Memphis, Jan. 2Sth, Governor
Clayton, Of Arkansas, gave the following account
of affairs in that State Il is his desire that the
whole truth should be known, and nothing covered
up:
The militia had committed outrages, but the
ofe ndeTs, as far as practicable had been SUM-
marily dealt with-fve having been executed out
of force numbering 1000. On the whole tue
militia had acted as well as any militia would
have done. Many outrages reported had not been
done by the State troops, but by maranders who
followed in their wake, representing themselves as
militia. As the State was too poor to uniform
them, this evil could not be remedied. but the
officers had instructed citizens 20 shoot down all
pretended militia.
Another cause of the reported outrage was that
United States commissary trains had not been Or
gsnized. 1t being impracticable, and he had or
dered officers 70 subsist commands OF the country
and give vouchers, where claimants could estab-
sh their loyalty to the State, that they would be
psid.
In regard to the policy Of calling out the mill.
tia, be gave his reasons almost identicsliy with
Porier's report 10 Gen. Grant and said many good
Republicans had differed with him in regard TO
that line Of policy but he was determined 70 cure
the evil for all time by making the work short,
sharp and decisive.
Seven counties which had been under martial
law had been restored TO civil rule, and no coun.
ties in the United States now we're more peaceful,
as the military had driven out or exterminated the
outlaws infesting those sections and relieved the
citizens of terrorism. That militia operations and
the inconvenience Of having them ia the vicinity
had Impressed on peaceful citizens who were
hitherto passive and inactive. the Importance Of