Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-28
ARKANSAS.
Tsrr0rs Of Anarchy Anticipated asd De.
finsd-SsuEd Suggestions Of Proper
Public PsllCy-A PlaH Of Compro.
Mise PropsSsd-A Model
Chief Justice.

E1ief Justice,
From the Little Rock Gazette, Saturday. ]
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF
THE PEOPLE.
With an earnest desire to promote
at least that degree Of peace and har-
mOny which are essential to the pros
| perity and welfare Of the State, we
have diligently sought for some such
basis Of arrangement as might lead to
an adjustment Of existing differences,
and put q stop to the conflicts that
now threaten to Overwhelm US all in
! one common ruin and disaster. We
/ have put the matter in every con-
! Ceivable shape, and looked at il from
! every stand point, and, to save our
/ life, without a complete surrender and
! back down Of either one party or the
other, we can discover no mode of
/ escape from present troubles and COM
] pliCatiOns, no adequate remedy for
! existing evils, but that of q cOnstitu-
/ tiOnal convention of the people, to
/ whom, as the source of all political
power, all matters and things in con
! JrOversy and dispute may be referred
| for final and complete settlement and
adjustment.
| THERE MUST BE A COMPROMISE.
This present warfare cannot 20 on to
! its logical and inevitable results with
out inflictiug the most serious and ir-
l reparable damage and injury upon the
/ vital interests Of the country. Should
/ this Legislature adjourn without max
/ ing the necessary appropriations to
support and carry on the Govern
ment, we would not recover from the
! injurious effects thereof for twenty
/ years 70 come and yet unless there
! Is some sort OF compromise made
{ between the different branches and
departments Of the Government, we
I can see no possible hope Of a general
appropriation being made, or, indeed,
of any other kind of satisfactory legis-
latiOn being effected.
But what prospect is there Of any
such adjustment being made? None
that we can probably see or imagine,
except that Of a Constitutional Con
ventiOn, which all parties might, with
great prOpriety, submit to as a COM
mOu arbiter Of all matters and things
in controversy and dispute, without
involving the sacrifice Of anything
I
upon the part Of either side.
WHAT CLAYTON OUGHT TO DO.
We would suggest, if this PROPOSE
ton be fdvOrably received by all par
ties, that Governor Clayton accept the
position of United States Senator, to
which he has been elected, and that
he leave the State Government ia
stOtu quo, and let the people, through
a Constitutional Convention, settle all
matters in dispute, and put the Gov
ernment upon such a basis as will
insure peace, happiness and prosper
itY. This, it seems to Us, should be
the desis2 Of every man who loves the
State and longs for her prosperity
We make these suggest tiOns in perfect
good faith, and with an eye single to
the best interests and future welfare Of
the State, believing that it affords the
best, speediest and most satisfactory
method that can be devised for the
solution of all the knOtty problems
involved in the present disOrdered
and complicated condition of our pub |
lie and political affairs. We submit |
the proposition 70 the consideration Of |
all parties concerned, and hope that Il |
may be fayOrably received, and calmly /
and dlspassionately weighed and /
pOndered.
SKETCH OF THE ARKANSAS CHIEF
JUSTICE.
From the Cincinnati EuQuirer1
TOLEDO, OHIO, February 20, ISL
The telegraphic reports of the i'm
peachment muddle in Arkansas has
peculiar interest to parties living in |
this section OF Ohio, which claims the |
honor Of furnishing more 'recOnstrUC- /
tiOnists" than any half dozen States /
n the Union. South Carolina, as is |
well known, is differed by men from /
Northern Ohio, from Governor down /
to COnstables. John Mcclure, the 1
Chief Justice Of Arkansas, is a native /
Of Putnam county. His legal abilities /
were all acquired in bar-rOOms. at {
poker tables, and on the race course. !
He joined the army early Ana the late 4
war, and by mere exhibition of I
'cheek" rose to the rank Of Major.
At the close of the war he 'Esquat- /
ted" on 3 c0nfscated Arkansas plant /
alton, and lngratiated himself into the /
good gr8ces of the Radical crew who
controlled that State, politically. He 4
wrote 10 friend in Ohio that be could /
T.
come one Of the Supreme Judges Of
the State, and asked his friends adj
vice as to which office he should ac-
cept. His friend advised the Judge
ship, as promising more picking"
and McClurB followed this advice.
He is now said to be very wealthy.
Ten years ago he could have Cfammed /
all his wealth, if reduced to green
backs, in the hollow Of his rotten
teeth.
1t is not a matter Of surprise to peO-
nIe who know Mcclure that articles Of
impeachment have been preferred
agslnst him, bat rather that be has so
I6pg escaped. He Is a bold, reckless
nan. and would not scruple to sell /
~ best friend, provided he could put
money in bis purse, No one aq-
1uainted with him would dispute his
in horse flesh, or doubt that
,a would back q ffulW OK "hush" for
all tbav were worth, If he was dealer;
but no would be the last person to
whom they would refer 3 case lnYOlY-
ng principle Of Law
A farmer in Bristol, Conn, whose
art, loaded with wood, caught on
railroad crossing Wednesday In such
! manner that his oxen couldn't start
Il, unhitched his cattle, remembering
hat a train was due, and calmly
awaited results. The cars came on at
lul speed, the farmer doing nothing
10 stop it, and the engineer, in the
binding SNOW, falling to see the OBJ
stTuetion until toe late. Its speed
probably saved the train, for it swept
the obstruction from the track with 8
crash, scattering the wood like straw.
The escape Of the train from a serious
disaster was most fortunate. The
farmer Wss infuriabed, because he
-hamuhf the Lononnllun hal 1879 |