New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-19
POLITICAL.
ARKANSAS.


OF THE TRmUSEs readers may look underStandnsH
upo, the field political Arkansas it becomes necessary
TO take somewhat retrospective view OF the same NO
have here in Arkansas, as elsewhere In the eOuIn'
serious division In the Republican ranks. IL may moss
truly be said TO be fight between the ms ana tne
outs" since 1t Is nothing moro or ess than an opeu
warfare between the great majority Of the Republicans
aud their generally admitted be mfsrepresentaves In
Office Though signs of dissatisfaction were manifest
before the division proper may be said to date from tho
last ceneral Assembly. Here there gradually spran8
into stence two rival factions destined 70 enectuay
cause breach In the party. The respective leaders OF
these dissenting factions were Governor Clayton anu
Lieut. Governor James NJ. johnson.
Gov Clayton from his position as chier representa-
tive OF the party and from his absolute control OF
all the offices Of the State down even to usIees OF the
the peace and town constabes, for long time carried
the palm. Leut-Goy. johnson, however having
record BOTH personal and political second 70 tnas VI
no man in the State, and one In marked contrast u
that OF his opponent. gradually rallied around MN
strong opposition to the administration This opposition
finally eliminated In open and bitter war over tno
State printing As explained IN previous letter, We
have with two or three honorable exceptions none Dut
VIGOROUSLY subsidized Republican press IN ArRansao'
This press through subsidies In the way OF oc'a PRINT
Ing Is under 1.-THE complete and absolute cOntroi Oh
Gov Clayton At this time the only Journal claiming
exemption from this rule was the central State organ'
State Government special constitutional provision was
made authorizing the Legislature to with Mr
John O. Price for the state printing for period OF I'VE
years tho chief condition being that no remain edtor
and proprietor OF The Lille Rock Republican Mr Price
naturally supposng himself secure In his contract ran
somewhat independent journal As consequence nc
became one Of the recognized leaders In the socaed
Johnson movement Being at the time Speaker Oh tho
House "a we'll as editor Of the official organ no wass
nowerful opponent OF the Governors AS
consequence, at the behest OF Gov. Clayton In
direct violation OF the constitutional proVison
mentioned bill introduced into the General Assem-
bly, repeating the contract for State printing aud proVd
ing for Board OF Commissioners authorized 10 make
new one Here arose the grand fight that finally cu-
minated in open rupture with and direct REPUTATION
of the administration. Price with the assistance OF the
Lieutenant Governor fought long and well. For q long
time the result was extremely doubtful with tho chances
apparently favor OF Price The real purposes OF tne
administration to secure at any and every cost 70
the State complete and unlimited oontroi OF tho
State organ The LRus Rock hpuotiodn were
effectually concealed by making the direct
issue hinge upon the question OF Martial law
Price had taken open ground in opposition to the meas
ure Though there is now ttle doubt that in doing lac
took his from Gov Clayton himself who was hppa
reny afraid stand by the responsibility OF his inaug
ration OF the was secretly willing to throw the
obioauy cOnnec tod Herewith upon the Legislature un
iii frightened therefrom by the fear Of It's entire deser
ton Of himself Nevertheless. Price was remOrseessly
slaughtered" for the BY ringing this In all It's
changes and secretly barteug the State printing In pros
pect 10 several distinct combinations OF wirepuers
In the General Assembly, the Governor finally, at an eK-
pense to the state OF about $4,000, succeeded In annu
ling the contract OF Price aud having board OF com
msoners with himself President OF the same, author
lied 10 make "a new one
At this the socsed johnson faction rallied Ia strength
nd itiont 10
administration The fight became hot and heavy that
the Governor placed IN n somewhat desperate posi-
ton Not only there serious danger that the wheels
OF tho state Government would come to a deadlock
through defeat OF all necessary appropriations but also
OF itse At this juncture, while the award
Of contract for printing was In aooyanee Frce
with hls journal desered his former friends aud took
sides with tho Governor calculating To still retain the
state printing thereby. As result OF this change or
front the oppOsition turned upon himself ana
put him OF his position As Speaker
OF the House. About this time new Journal made us
appearance. owned aud edited by hessrs Jones Blu
chanan aud called The Liberal. The original under
standing was that 60 be recognized as the organ OF
the Johnson suoh, in fact. was the agree
meut between themselves and the friends Of IeutGoV
Johnson who pledged themselves 10 aid in It's support
It's first issue contained pronunciamento" from
the Lieutenant Governor aud IL members OF
the General Assembly who had made themselves
CONSPICUOUS In their opposition 10 boV. Ilayton
This prOnciameno was an open repndlaton OF Tue al
minstraton OF Governor Clayton, and looked 10 tho
formation of organization OF the Republican party
Unfortunately for tho OF the movement at the
time. however the makeup OF me Lt6erdI comprised
or three Democrats who had invested To some ex-
tent In the same Naturally enough they wished IL TO
play into the hands OF the democracy As result me
johnson movement refused 10 have aught To do with
The Liberd at ALL and II left ~ thrive as best IT
could upon what II could CLEAN through simple nght
Johnson wing n the party for the time were forced
subsde" leaving Gov. Clayton master OF the situation
As Price had deserted the opposition In s hour OF need
aud come To the rescue OF TIE Governor was expected
that the matter of the state Printing would remain IN
sdfI quo. In this, however he had reckoned without
his host The Governor had caused the outlay Of
$4,000 Of the peoples money to obtain control OF the
the subject Of his future elevation to the United states
Senate, nothing short OF the utter conversion OF the
State organ into bellwether Senatorial grinding ma
chine Of his would satisfy his demands. The new
Board OF Printing Commissioners let new con
tract for the State Printing To Mr. Barton. brother
law and Private Secretary TO Gov Clayton It requiring
considerable capital TO start publishing house, pres.
nershp with the new contractor. Mr. Barton. Price not
liking tho arrangement, resort was had To the thumb
prevail OF the Commissioners The Governor Presidents
OF the Board. Naturally enough, the bills renamed UNI
paid and Mr. Price was forced TO listen 10 reason AS
result the contracts merged into under the
OF Price Barton. Now, 10 show the pith OF the
arrangement, but short time previous Price had
refused $4,000 for hafnterest In hIs business. He
forced TO cell 10 Mr.. Barton the same interest
worth not dollar. so to speak, IN the world.
As money, however. forthcoming. the presump
that II from Gov. Clayton himself, possibly tho
State In advance and that the Governor thus not only
half In the State organ, The Le Rock Republican,
but has like interest In the State printing well Thus
at last complete master OF the press and consequently OF
the field well, the administration carried matters
with high hand. Thus matters remained until IN
July last the Governor suddenly appeared In
New York City secret mission In con
nection with the funding Of the old state debt BY the
provsons OF the Constitution In all OF removal
from tho State the duties and authority Of tho olce de-
yoye upon tho Lieutenant Governor. Common courtesy
at least should have demanded that In absentng himself
fha ifV gEa
Governor OF his intention In the premises Instead OF
this however, have q removal In secret and mystic
from the State and the installation Of his
brOthernlaw and private Secretary In the hitherto
heard Of capacity VI Deputy Governor"