The Van Buren press., 1872-10-22
Pope County.
Report Of the Special Commission Az
pointed By the Govers0t 10 Inresiigate
the Pope County Troubles.
ITTIT RnCE ApE


10 HIS EXcKLLENCY, o. A. HADLEY, Gov
ERSoR OF Arkansas
Sir: In conference with your excellency
on the 4th inst, in which YOU freely stated
/ your views and desires in regard to the trou-
Dies IN Pope county, we were houOred with a
! request to proceed to Pope county and ascer-
| tan what steps might safely be taken to dis
band the militia OF that county, and the more
speedily restore quiet and confidence
We were assured that, from the commence
ment OF these difficulties to the present. ii had
Deen your aim to protect the people Of that
county against violence and bloodshcI. and
avert any conflict between any member OF her
cltlzens and the government We were further
assured 10y your eIcellency that qui,, aal
good order was desirable for il, own ,tkeauI
To assure the people that the general election
soon to take place would be, so tar a. I,y i'm
the power of your administration, free. fair
ana without restraint or intimidation by the
presence OF a military force. We also under
stood you, that whether wisely and well or
not, strong feeling pervadcd the minds of
many people f that county against Sheriff
Dodson, acting as sheriff; that by advice he
had appointed deputy, believed to be ac-
ccptablc TO all classes; that military force
under Gen. -. +. Upham had been organized
to aid the civil officer, in the enforcement and
execution Of the laws.
Charged with the pacific intentions fyour
cNcellency, we together visited Pope county
not for the purpose OF arriving ut the rgin
of these unfortunate difficulties or ascertain
ing who was in the right and who in the
wrong on both sides, but to determine by
conterring with the people, how best peace
and good order might be obtained
We were most cordially met by every one,
and the object Of our mission highly appre-
ciated by the people of that county.
There seemed TO us to be an indelinable ap-
prehcnsion. widely existing, which the mere
prospect of quiet and peace relieved.
Many good citizens had left the county and
are still absent. fearing that on one side or
the other they would be drawn into trouble
We are satisfied that much of the bad feel
ing existing in Pope county has been engen-
dered and fostered by unscrupulous politi-
clans.
Reports have been industriously circulated
among the people of that county that your
e1cellency's object was to prevent registra-
ton. or permit only your own political
friends to vote; that Gen. Upham was a bad
man, and unworthy OF confidence, and that
the life Of a citizen falling into his hands
wOuld be insecure. These various reports
can be traced to the capital, and fnot intend
ed ~ aggravate the trouble, have had that cf-
feet.
On the other hand, Judge Mays court be-
ing in session at Dover wrts were being is
sued by Il magistrate for the arrest of men
who have heretofore stood high in the com
munity, and who have not been in arms at
any time against the civil authorities. This
was adding to the general uueasiuess
The attention of bic honor, Judge MAY. be-
ing called to these cases, he promptly restored
them to liberty.
sheriff Dodson having resigned his office.
and declined to be candidate for election
has of itself in a great measure, restored con-
fidence, and opened the way to q peaceful ad-
justmcnt of the trouble
Without desiring even to suggest who
should be appointed to succeed in the Office
OF sheriff We may bc permitted to say that
Mr.. Ewing. the present deputy, as also \ ).
Fowler. OF the governor, guards, enjoys the
confidence OF all parties and either. We be-
lieye. would be satisfactory
We made an appointment to meet those
who it WAS alleged were in arms against the
civil authorities. bat owing to a misundcr-
standing rs to time and place, we did not see
all them we however met about forty, and
Mr. Clark attcrWard met about twenty five
others. who claimed that they were only en-
deaNoring TO protect themselves We inform
ed them of the pacific intentions of your er-
crllency. tina: sheriff Dodson lad resigned
tlat some person not objectionable to either
party would be appointed, and could we be
hdll~ldtlolllN ASNUINh liltt no lhlAiifI loitltp
would he attempted, the militia would be dis
banded that whatever trials were had in the
courts would take place Gftrr all excitement
had died away; that all citizens, save PuluI,i
and Hale. would return to their homes with
out molcstation. and that these two, il they
saw tit to surrender themselves to the ciVil
authorities, or were arrested by them would
be protected in their personal safety W bile
under arrest ~ zcal0usy As would be any
other citizen of the State.
Each one scvcrally pl dyed himSelfto OBJ
serve the peace toward all the people, whether
in militia or not, and that they would return
to their homes. and do all in their power to
aid in the preservation OF peace.
1t is due Sheriff Dodson aud these men to
state that they would not pledge themselves
that no one would not molcSt him; that some
being absent who had s. le,ial anmOsity to-
ward him, they did not want to hold them
selves responsible for any collision that might
possibly take place betwceL him and them,
Mr. Clark. who afi ierwald saw others includ-
ing Pointer and Hale and who stated the
above substantially to them, informs us that
they all pledged themselves to preserve the
peace toward all the people of the county
without exception. So taras we could asCer-
tain. it is desired by AL parties that the GOV.
crnor's guards, who, by their manly and cor
rect, enjoy the confidence Of the people,
should remain, at least until after the election.
Judge Nav. We understood would adjourn
his court the day after We left, having already
discharged the petit jury. No ease had or
would have been tried at this term OF the
Pope county circuit court, except Old ones,
and then not against the expressed wish OF a
We are satisfied from our exam
nation that the Pope county militia may
safely be diSbanded, and this not so much
from the pledges given us by those who had
banded together. as from the people, who are
In no manner mixed up with the troubles.
We therefore recommend to your cXccllency
that the Pope county militia be dishandcd;
that the governors guards remain in said
under Gen Upham. or some other dis
erect person, with strict injunctions To pre-
serve the peace between all parties, and that
some worthy citizen, ENJOYING the confidence
Of all the people, he appointed to succeed in
the cilice OF sheriff
Trusting and believing that such n course
will Immediately restore quiet and confidence,
we have the honor to be your obedient sel-
wants,
W WARWICK,
r. II. ENGIIsu,
Sol +. CLARK.
JAMES $. WOLFE.
WILL SAID We d. not believe that
we have any readers to whom the follow.
Ing is applicable; yet, for fear we might