Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-03
MAJOR JOSIAH rARLE's CASE.
Who He is at Home and Why He Is
In Memphis.


EDITOR PUBLIC LEDGER: The arrest Of
Major ]. F. Earle, upon o requlsition is
sued for him. by the Governor Of Arkan'
sas and the attempt to turn him over to
the tender mercies OF the Arkansas mill
tia, having developed the fact that the
good people of Memphis feel great SYM
patby for the victims of Governor Clay
toms persecution, am induced to be-
| lieye that few words in regard to Msjol
Earle's history and past career will mol
be uninterestipg, and may tend to cor
rect a few of the calumnies which have
been so freely spread abroad concerning
him.
Major Earle is an old citizen of Crit
tenden county, Arkansas, having lived
| there from his boyhood, and has always
borne, and still bears, the highest repu-
,ation for. honesty, fair.dealing and
morality.
In 1858 he was elected by the people
to the position of Clerk of the Circuit
Court of that county, and so well and
faithfully did he perform the responsible
duties of his office that in 1860 he was
almost unanimously reelected. AT the
outbreak of the war he volunteered to
sustain the cause which he believed just
and right, and led from Crittenden
county as good aud brave company OF
cavalry as was to be found in the armies
of the "Lost Cause" Remaining in the
army until the close of the war, doing
good duty whenever and wherever called
on and rising to the rank of Msjor, after
its close he returned TO Crittenden county
and com menced earnest work to earning
good support for his lovely family, and
doing all that in his power lay to sustain
and build up the best interests of his
county aud State.
At the first election after the war the
people of that county again, and without
contest, elected him to the Office which
he had so worthily filled before. Many
of the best citizens Of this city can vouch
for the manner in which be performed
the duties Of his ofice Being ousted by
the new Constitution he again returned
to private life, and devoted himself to his
private affairs, in all things deporting
himself as o moral, correct and upright
citizen. His friends openly challenge bis
enemies to point out single spot upon
his character. The charge that Major
Earle has ever committed, or counte-
nanced assassination, or has ever perse-
cuted negroes, Radicals, or any one else,
is so palpably untrue and absurd, that it
has not even the shadow of probability
as foundation. On the contrary, there
is no man in Crittenden county more
popular with the negro population than
Major Earle.
He has long been recognized by them
as their friend. While he has never de-
meaned himselfto their level or protested
to consider them superior to himself, be
has always treated them literally and
fairly; paid them honestly every dollar
be owed them has interfered to prevent
them from being cheated by others, and
has contributed literally to every project
for TIE erection of churches and school
houses for them, and to everything which
really advanced their interests. When
some negroes we're killed near Kingston,
10 that county, be went to the Sheriff OF
the county, insisted upon an investlga-
ton, pledged himself to protect the
Sheriff with his life if need be in making
it, accom- panied the Sheriff to the scene,
assisted in holding the inquest, and
did all in his power to discover the perpe-
traitors of the crime. These facts are
we'll known in Crittenden county and can
be proven by irreirsgable testimony OF
both whites and blacks.
10 conclusion, we say TO Governor
Clayton and all parties interested, that
Major Earle is perfectly willing to return
to Arkansas and stand trial upon any
charges which may be preferred against
him, as soon "a it can be shown that he
can have fair trial according to the
laws of the country. He is willing to
appear before Radical judge and ne
gro jury, SO confident is be in his inno-
cence. Let Governor Clayton revoke bis
manifestly illegal proclamation Of mar
tial law in Crittenaen county and dis
band his militia, and not only Major
Earle, but every other citizen of that coun-
~ will return and face his scepsers. But
neither Msjor Earle or any Of his friends
are willing that be shall be surrendered to
the militia now controlling affairs 10 that
county. The fate of Harry McAllIster,
Tien, Woford Wallace and Organ is a
sad warning, which to disregard would be
selfmurder. b.
Secretary Welies will re tain his pre-.