New-York tribune., 1872-08-13
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLES.


PeonIe who live in old and well protected
communities can hardly understand such a
state of affairs as that which exists in Pope
County, Arkansas The recital OF facts, 1ur-
nisbed by correspondent of The TRIBUNE,
and published to-day, is calculated to SUR the
indignation of every honest man. Here we
have a county practically in a state OF siege,
in consequence of determination OF the local
government to find pretext for the deciara-
ton of martial law The modified Force bill,
which was whipped through Congress at the
close of the last session. is not sufficiently severe
in its provisions for the eXacting demands OF
the Military Ring; and Senator Clayton, who
is foremost in every unscrupulous scheme for
the benefit of the Administration, is undoubt-
edly the inSpirer of this new plan to coerce
the citizens Of Arkansas into the support OF
the waning cause which he advocates. hadley,
the acting Governor, came into power through
the success of the corrupt bargain which sent
CLAYTON to the Senate, thereby vacating the
gubernatorial chair. He is therefore the will
ling coadiutor and tool of Clayton; and the
narrative of the events to which We refer
shows him constantly applying to Clayton for
orders and advice as the dismal tragedy OF
Pope County wears on to a catastrophe.
1t became evident some time ago that Ar
kansas was lost to the denomination party,
unless desperate means were adopted to Sc
cure some unusual power in the State Inc
old cry of "Ku-Klux" was tried, but the people
did not respond, for nowhere were there any
traces of the once-dread Klan. Determined,
however not to be turned aside from their
plans, the Clayton Ring went into Pope
County, where the settlements are far apart,
and where Lynch law was once ready re-
sort of the inhabitants, and there be-
gan a series of artful movements, de-
signed to create the impression that that
locality was infested with the Ku-Klux. The
evidence on which depends the whole subse-
duent chain of violent events Is so slight as 10
be mere absurdty. A deputy sheriff SAID that
he had been shot at bya man i'll ambush he was
not wounded, and he never pretended that ne
saw any one yet he was sure that the shooter
was a Ku-Klux His only witness, who first
swore roundly that the deputy was thus shot
at. subsequently confessed that the deputy
really fired the shot himself. From this
trivial occurrence, this transparent sham,
came all the train of persecution which
has resulted in the murder of several lnno-
cent citizens the establishment of a reign OF
terror in two peaceful counties of Arkansas,
and n mockery of Justice which is a disgrace
TO the American name. OF the wicked con-
spiracy by which a sheriff7s posse massacred
their captives under pretense OF an attempt
at rescue, we do not now speak. The tulml-
nation of acting Governor Hadley, which we
nublsh with Che story of the troubles in Pope
County. libelous and distorted as it is, bears
on its face irrefragable evidence of the base
ness of the whole scheme. Some allowance
must be made for the free-and-easy ways
of a South Western court OF JUS
tice: but the manner IN which the
nlainest requirements of law and equity were
trampled upon that the murderOus sheriff and
his gang might escape from the hand of the
law can scarcely fail to attract indignant at
tention. And even this pliable Judge May,
when writing of the events in Pope County,
| ignorant of the Misrepresentation made by
| Gov. Hadey, is forced to admit the iniquity
of the proceedings of the sheriff and his gang
| of ruf1ians.
AT last accounts, the cOnspirat0rs hesltated
| tn have martial law extended over the locality
| where they have determined to fix the exist
ence of Ku-Klux. The plot has evidently
been a failure. But the State Militia, sort
| of Arkansas type of Kirke's Lambs" of the
olden times, have been sent into that region
and, if they are sustained there for any length
of time, they will undoubtedly create enough
disturbance to warrant Mr.. Hadley in putting
| Pope and Yell Counties under martial law fol
| A. Of tha Ku- X