Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-01-09
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLES.

nj Grants stall, III reference to the
troubles in Arkansas, fully justifies the
view we have uniformc1ly taken of the
subject. 1t shows that for months pre-
vious to the Presidential election the
ex-lebels of the State government had
sworn to overthrow the radical State
government, and for that purpose had
commenced II sweeping system of muir
der. Senator Barker had been shot
and badly Mr.. Upham, of the lower
House, wounded Mr.. Hines, mem
Der of Congress and Freedman Blu
rtau agent, killed, and other agents
and a United States Marshal driven
from their posts by threats. The Gov
ernor, Senator Rice and others had to
sleep in the State House I'M
der guard Tor fear Of assassination.
The Governor wisely refrained from
taking any violent measures until after
the election, fearing that the opposi-
ton might make capital out OF it. AS
soon as it was over, however, he organ
lied militia force of about 800 men,
one-fourth colored, under Gen. Chat
terson in the Southwest and Upham in
the Northeast, with orders to live off
the country, taking what was absolute
ly necessary and giving vouchers His
intention is to pay all loyal holders of
vouchers. and no others. Two assassins
have been executed by sentence of
military commission. Seventeen Others
are in prison and u great number have
been run out of the State Col Porter
adds:
But the best result | can see is the
disoosition of all business men to vol
UNFAIRLY enroll themselves as posse
pledged to assist the sheriffs to arrest
lawless characters if the government
will relieve them of martial law. He
has accepted many such pledges, and
martial law exists in only in parts of
seven counties. The entire conserva
tive wing of the Republican were OPP
posed to the declaration of martial law.
including General Smith. United
States Army, commanding the troops
in the State. They admitted the reign
of terror established by the rebels, but
warranted the United States to make
the arrests Governor Clayton's argu-
ments in favor of his policy are as fol-
lows The United States tooops did
not know the people and the country.
The lawless behave while the United
States troops are in the vicinity, and
break out worse than ever when, they
have gone. The rebels are generally
anxious to have them, rs it creates an
expenditure of money in their midst
from which they reap benefit. The
militia Furnishes all the disloyal and ex-
torts pledges from them to respect the
laws. AS the people have threatened
to break up the State government as
soon as the United States troops are re-
moved, this teaches them that the
State is able to protect itself. The
militia has been under tolerable good
control, and the plundering reported
in the press Is the taking of supplies
under orders. One negro militia man
committed rape on white woman, but
was Immediately arrested by General
Chatterson, (who seems to be very
good man) tried, convicted and prompt
ly executed. The Governors policy has
no boubt seriously interfered with bus
mess where martial law has been pro-
claimed and injured business men of
all parties, hence the opposition from
loyahsts. 1t has interfered with trade,
taken of hands for the militia at O sea-
son when they were badly needed and
created many panics. 1t was, however,
accomplished much more good than
the most sanguine expected, and Gen.
Smith acknowledged that he thought
the Governors judgment was better
than his own, and that the result would
fully justify the action of the former.
The Governor is now disposed to re-
lieve each county from martial law as
soon as it can be done safely. The
Governor is certainly a man of intelli-
gence and nerve, and has labored I'M
der difficulties that would have deferred
less able officer. -Four Thousand arms
were seized 10y the Ku-Klux and thrown
le Al. lnnE Icln.., Anrnnnahir IL no,,l IT.