The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsHISaros, Jan. I.

WASHIu0ION. jan. {.
The President sent number Of nomina-
tons to the Senate to-day.
The Republican Sanators held cacua this
fofeaoon on the 6nancial question involving
th1 eonsidesatioa OF Senator Norton's re-
e1mption of spscis payment bill and Mr.. Ed
mund's resolution declaring that tho 8 20
bonds should be paid in gold. No conclusion
wss arrived at. About forty members were
present.
Senator Stewart received telegram to-day
informing him that he was unanimously
nominated in the Union caucus for re.elec-
tloh to the Senate Of the United States from
Nevads. The Legislature consists Of 80 mem
bers, 9 only Of whom are Democrats.
Okcial dispatches, under date Of Dscem-
ber 20, have been received At Gen. Grant 8
headquarters, from General Horace Porter,
Of his staff, relating to the affairs in Ar
kansas.
General Porter states that himself and
General Babcock arrived at Little Rock two
days before, and proceeds to state at leagth
the facts as far - they have ascertained them.
He says the present State government was
certainly in danger previous TO the election,
and recites number OF murders and outra-
ges committed, and says the Governor, Sen
ator Rice and othaIs were obliged to sleep
in tho State House under guard for fear Of
assassination; that the Governor wisely re-
Trained from taking any violent measures
tillafter election, fearing the opposition might
make capital out of it. But Immediately after
election he organized force Of eight hun
dred men, one fourth colored, and sent thsm
to the southwest and northeast parts Of the
State, with orders to live of the country,
giving vouchers for things taken, his intention
being to pay all loyal holders Of vouchers,
but no others.
Two men have already been executed by
sentence of military commission, seven 9TH
ers are in prison, and . great number have
been run out Of the State. He says there is
q disposition among all the business men to
voluntarily enroll themselves ss . posse,
pledged to assist sherifs in the arrest Of law
less characters il the Government will re.
lieve them from martial law. The Governor
has accepted many such pledges, and martial
law rests now only on portions OF seven coun
ties. The entire conservative portion of the
Republican party were opposed to the declas
ration Of martial law, including Gen. Smith,
U. 8. A., commanding the troops. They ad-
mitted that reign Of terror was established
BY the Rebels, but they wanted the United
States to make the arrests. Governor Clay
ton argues, in defence of his policy, that the
U. 3. troops are not acquainted with the
people and the country, and that the Rebels
are generally anxious 70 have them among
them, - they reap pecuniary benefit from
the necessary expenditures of troops, while
the militia take from them without paying
and extort pledges to respect the laws and
teach them that the State 10 able to protect
itself. The militia have been under tolers-
bly, good control, the plundering report being
the taking ofsupplies under orders. One ne
gro soldier committed rape on . white
woman, but was Immediately arrested by
General Patterson. who seems to be Q very
good man, tried, convicted and executed.
The Governors course has no doubt serious
y interfered with business where martial law
has been proclaimed, and injured the bust
ness Of all parties; hence the opposition to it
among loyalists. 1t has interfered with the
travel, taken of hands for the militia at
season whom they vere badly needed, and
created many panics. 1t has, however, &C.
complshed much more benefit than
the most sanguins expected, and General
Smith acknowledged thst he thought the
Governors judgment vas better than his,
and that the result would fully justify the sc-
ton Of the former. The Governor Is now
Opposed to relieve each county from martial
nv . soon q it can b doas safely.
Tho Governor is certainly man Of intel.
ligence and nerve, and has labored under
difficulties that would have deferred less able
officers Four thousand arms have been
seized By the Ku-Klux and thrown OF I boat
below Memphis. He could seldom secure
good mon for officers, and in The Eastern
counties hs had to depend entirely upon the
negroes for soldiers.