New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-26
ARKANSAS.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

LITTLE Rock July est is, | believe, IN lie
Saces inimitable novel that character Is portrayed
whose principal object is plundcr, and who, to ac-
complish his ends, assumes all sorts OF dlsguises-a
valet do chambrc, Father COnfessOr q servant OF
the Inauistion-he arrogates 70 himself the most
pretentous titles in order the better to deludo those
whom he proposes to rob- This sort of thing con-
tinues with varying success until at last his little
game is discovered, and Ambrose dc Lamela cX-
plates at the stake with his death the crimes he has
committed and departs cursed with the excavations
of the people whom no has deceived IL mas been
some wears since il was my good fortune 20 read Gil
Bias but since my residence in Arkansas II has often
occurred to that tho Democratic leaders Of ihis state
must have selected the cOnsclcnceless Ambrose a. thelT
political prototype. Immediately after tho war; ana
while they we're stll feeble from It's effects, the Rebel
ccftans proclaimed their willingness to do anything
which night be required Of them by The 'ietors. lno
succeeding years OF peace, however restored lheIr
strength redcd their purses, and waxing fat ana hso
lent the former peneuts commenced patng about teF
rights under the Constitution which they had No''d'
and their position in the Union which they had cause
lessy endeavored destroy. When the present state
Constitution was submitted TO the people, every impcni'
tent Rebel in Arkansas urged its rejection upon the
ground that 1t proposed equality Of tho races They
would recognize none Of rs provisions, and 40 high ana
mighty were these gentlemen that they even refused 10
vote for the officers TO be chosen BY s terms US per
haps unnecessary that Notwithstanding the pro-
fuse expenditure OF money, the intimidation OF the poor
whites and the outrageous assaults on the colorod
people by the Democracy all the state the Constu'
ton was adopted and presto change Last year these
same gentry had denied tho obligatory force OF the
adopted instrument from every stump and In their moro
congenal forumhe bar room-announced the necessity
Of every voting under 1t but once more they were
"Oh dear What can the matter BE-"
was for long time the fayorIte chant Of the Rebel plot
tiers after their overthrow Last Fall They had conducted
the canvass ultra Union grounds, and In the two
doubtful chat is surely Radical Congressional DlstIcts
had nominated eI-olcers Of the Federal Army In the
one Mr. Cameron who quit the service "by order for
conduct not especially graceful to rece, defeated by
close vote; while IN the other, capt" L. Is. Nash who
had served not in the tented field" but IN the moro
cong al sphere Of carpced headquarters, received his
quietus to the tune OF majority exceeding 5000 The
meeting OF the various candidates and the State central
Committee after the election was, am Informed, quite
interesting At first the prevailing sentiment was pahos
Of the most affecting description, but pretty soon crlmi
nation and recrmInaton fonowed-the Exsecesh OH
insisting that 1t the EHFederals who had de-
feated the ticket while the latter retorted that the former
had acted fahessy In not endeavonng 70 get out tho
full vote Three months rolled around, and after much
caucusing, it announced to "the faithful" through
out the state that
CHANGE or BASE
had been determined upon IL will be recolccted that
Immediately after the election last year, Gov. Clayton
was called upon by the officials OF counties for
aid enable them to discharge their duties II was al
legged and has since been confirmed beyond peradyenure
Of doubt that the Rebels In those localities had driven
OF Union men, and had prevented the officers Of the law
from its execution. Clayton, who was OF the most
brilliant officers Of Western Army, and who Is en-
dowed with JacksOnan hrmness, Immediately called
out the State militia, and by virtue OF his constitutional
authority, declared martial law in the nsurectonaIy
districts. THIS procedure had the effect Of very soon
quoting matters and consequence Of this sautary
inerposition the State Is tranquil than II has
been since It's primary organization. It perhaps
needless 10 state that this act OF Gov Clayton evoked
general howl among the late sOcaled" who Ouchngy
alluded to this infringement of the constitutional rights
Of the various bushwhackers, murderers, and other
"pickersup Of unconsdered tribes" only one more
evidence Of the hearess character OF the Radical party
In these expressions they were Joined by few men who
had been elected by the Unonsts to the Legislature but
also pqued by the refusal OF the majority to grind GER
tain Of their axes and seduced possibly by the Terpslcho
rean delights and cOnvyia entertainments OF Little Rock
secessonsts issued protest signed by is against the
conduct OF the Governor and the Legislature, and then
went over body and breeches TO the Democracy. 1t
fact and most remarkable evidence OF the circumstance
that the traditional ingratude OF Republics extends TO
the citizens thereof that the allies Of the unrecon
structed did not receive that cordial welcome which they
had doubtless expected This was IN q great measure
owing TO the truth that the recusant members brought
nobody with them and before they had openly renowned
their allegiance TO the party which had elected them,
council OF war was held. This meeting attended by
Gen. Churchill, Gen. Fagn, Gen. Cabe Col Newton,
MAJOR Borand, and other officers Of the Rebel army and
1t was then and there determined that the dscontented
spirits should sti profess Radicalsm but should organ
ize new pary-upon the principle Of opposition to the
dominant State administration and in favor Of Universal
Amnesty. The impecunous condition Of the aggregate
excheluers Of the apostles Of the now light forbade the
possibility VI newApapeE organ, but tlls UA promutY