Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-08
ARKANSAS.
Report of Gen. Porter, OF Grants STAFF
embarrassing the Outrages of
Gov. Clayton and hts Militia.


Report of Gen. Porter, Of Grants STAFF
-WhItewashIBg the Outrages OF
Gov. Clayton and hts Militia.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE following
official report, relating affairs in Arkan-
SaS, has been received at Grants head
quarters from Gen. Horace Porter, of his
staff:
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Dec. 26, 1865
| Gen. Babcock and | arrived here two
days ago. So many contradictory re-
ports have been in circulation in regard
to Gov. Clayton's militia that it may be
well for you to know the facts. The
present State government was certainly
in some danger. Previous to the presi>
dental election, Senator Parker had been
shot and wounded badly; Mr.. Upham,
of the lower House, wounded Mr..
Haines, member of Congress, and freed
mems bureau officer, killed, and United
States Marshals driven from their posts
by threats the Governor, Senator Rice,
and others, had to sleep in the States
house, under guard, for fear of assassina>
ton. The Governor wisely RETAINED
from taking any violent measures until
after the election, fearing that the oppo-
SitiOn might make capital out of it. As
soon as it was over, he organized a militia
force of about eight hundred men, ones
fourth colored, under Gen. Cameron in
the southwest, and Upham in the north
east, with orders to live off the country,
taking what was absolutely necessary
and giving vouchers. His intention is to
pay all loyal holders of vouchers and no
others.
Two assassins have already been exc
cutcd by sentence of military commits
sion. Seven others are in prison and
O great number have been run out of the
State; but the best result is the disposition
of all business men to voluntarily enroll
as q posse pledged to assist sheriffs
to arrest lawless characters if you
will relieve them from mental law He
has accepted many of such pledges and
martial law exists only in parts of seven
counties. The entire conservative wing
ofthe Republican party were opposed to
the declaration Of martial law including
Gen. Smith, United States army, com
manding troops. They admit the reign
of terror established by the rebels, but
wanted the United States to mako the
arrests. Gov. Clayton's argument in
favor of his policy, is as follows:
The United States troops do not know
the people and the country; the laws
less behave while the United States
troops are in the vicinity, and break out
worse than ever when they leave. Tho
rebels are generally anxious to have
them as it creates an expenditure Of
money in their midst, from which they
reap a benefit The militia Furnishes all
the disloyal and EFFORTS pledges from
them to respect the law, as these people
have threatened to break up the State
government as soon as the United States
troops are removed. 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 a rape on a white woman, but
was Immediately arrested by Gen. Cat
tersOn, who seems to be very good
man, and tried, convicted and executed
The Governors policy has no dOub
seriously interfered with business where
martial law has been proclaimed, and
injured business men of all parties,
hence the opposition from loyalists. 1t
has interfered with travel, taken of
hands for the militia at a season when
they were badly needed, and created
money panics 1t has, however, accom~
plished much more good than the most
sanguine expected, and Gen. Smith ac-
knowledged that the Governors judg-
ment was better than his, and 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
intelligence and nerve, and has labored
under difficulties that would have de-
tered a less able officer. Four thou-
sand arms were seized by Ku-Klux and
thrown off the boat below Memphis He
could seldom secure good men for off,
GERS, and in the eastern counties he had
to depend entirely upon the negroes for
soldiers
Very respectfully,
| Hon .Cr poprrp A n n