Des Arc weekly citizen., 1869-02-09
A Correspondent of a Leading Radical Journal on the Situ- alton In ArNansas.
Special Cor. Cincinnati Commercial
 MARION, ARK, January IT.

0tiOn In Arkansas.
 Special Cor Cincinnati Commercial
 MARION, ARK, January IT.
 Governor Clayton holds the life of every man, woman and child, in Ark ansas, in his power. It is only neces- sary for him to throw the entire State under martial law, and the property and existence of any one becomes un- safe. Indeed, when such men as Cat terson and Upham are appointed to command such bands as I have previ- ously described in the Commercial, an innocent man stands but poor chance to escape their vengeance for imagin- ary wrongs. This turbulent spirit has been manifest for many years--long before the war murders were frequent, and since they arc of almost daily oc- curreuce.
 No political party can be made res ponsible for them, as all parties suf- fered equally. The remedy selected has been worse than the disease. if the militia were intended as q remedy, or l can now be considered as such. The | criminals whose acts called fofpunish- ment, were no sooner aware of the or ganization os State troops than they chose one of the two avenues of escape from justice, to leave the country or to join the ranks. Now, any one who 1 gives moments attention to the sub- ject canno. fail to perceive how inetfec- 1 tive an army of troops must prove against lot of struggling desperadoes, with all the advantage of position and perfect knowledge of dens and hiding places. In the Southwestern District, all that was necessary for Bakers men was to cross the Red river into Texas, and laugh ill the faces of Cattcrson and his force.
 The punishment, which was legal ized in one. State was murder in the other, and even Catterson dared not step over the line in pursuit of the viii lains. In such case how much more 1 effective would have been the United States troops, whose proflered services were declined by Governor Clayton. They would not have been compelled to respect the State line, and the coun- try would now be rid of the outlaws who only wait for the inhabitants to recupcrate from the losses experienced at the hands of the militia, to bounce on them again. This is the way the assassins are run out of the State, as 1 Colonel Porter observed in his report to General Grant. How trifiing and absurd for Colonel Porter to allow such reason as Clayton gives for the non- employment of the regular troops to have any weight with him. He says "the rebels are anxious to have them, as it creates expenditure of money in their midst, from which they reap great benefits" Therefore, in order that the poor broken down rebels may not reap ''great benetitsY from the immense sum of money which soldiers usually have from their pay (Sl6 month), and throw around with such reckless prod igality as to cause panic in the money markets of the countries where they are stationed. another course. is pur- sued, which does not pay the people for their own property, but robs them indiscriminateiy ofall they possess.
 Ever since the war the people of Ark ansas have regarded the presence ot even corporal s guard of regular sol diers as surety of protection. The villains l heve described dare not resist the United States troops. This fact plainly shows that it was the policy oi the State Government not to qucll the real disturbance, but to provoke resist ance on the part of innocent men and thus obtain sanction for any tnrth~" ---.--.,,u si,au inIgnt be necessary to es- tablish position and power. ltraveled extensively through the State, aud did not meet a man who was not in favor of the plan ofGeneral Smith, to garri- son the lawless counties with United States troops.
 The evil result of the militia meas ure, as precedent, is beginning to be seen in Tennessee, where the bill fer organizing State troops has met with favorable consideration at tie capital. Were it not for the subdued and broken spirit of the people of Arkansas, the militia would have stood q poor chance against superior numbers there, but in Tennessee it is safe to predict that q terrible retribution will follow the per petration Of similar outrage.
 What can be more distressing than a fair land dIspoiled by legalizcd des- potism, an industrious people obliged to passiyely view the results of their labor consumed by lawless men, 4 complete revelation in the government of Arkansas will alone bring peace and quiet within her borders.
 It would be ungracious, indeed, to leave the State without some tribute to the good quality which even her people possess. A more hospitable people never existed. They do not offer much but the best they have is as welcome to the stranger as the air is free to the bird. Facilities for travelling were ux- tended on every hand. No one wished me to take their view of the matter. but to seeT myself the actual state of affairs.