New-York tribune., 1872-08-28
Total. S,1Sl.2c5 81

and other members of the Government nng came
here poor after the war and are now rich. On
salaries of $4,000 or 5000, they have managed to
lay by $4,000 or 100000 year without practicinS
any very rigid economy. 1t is plain enough YheIJ
the money went 10.
THE RULERS OF CLAYTONs PROVINCE.
A FEW OF THE CHIEF cARPET-BAGGERs-wHO
THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE
MADE-THE PROFITS OF POLITICS IN THE
SOUTH.
tFROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiDUSEl
LITTLE Rock Ark, Aug. 13.-It is tho general
opinion in the North that South Carolina is tho
worst plundered and worst governed of all the re-
constructed States Arkansa, has, however, Jared
as badly in some respects the hands Of the carpet
baggers and worse in others. The commonly re-
ceiyed idea aboat South Carolina is doubtless owing
to the fact that from her accessibility to the news
centers Of the country her affairs have been tho
roughly exploited and exposed by the correspond
ents Of the great daily newspapers, that
every one knows of the corruption of her
officials, the increase of her debt, the robbery
of her treasury. and the poverty of her people
Arkansas is Off in q corner, as it were. No great
lines of travel lead through her territory; she offers
little to attract the tourist; few strangers except
the ubiquitous "drummers," ever penetrate far
within her borders and she lies remote from large
cities that newspaper correspondents have seldom
thought it worth while to go to the trouble of look
ing into her affairs
THE CARPET-BAGGERs UNsCRUPUL0Us AND BRUTAL
In one respect South Carolina has probably suf-
fered more than Arkansas. The total amount which
she has lost by the rapacity Of her carpet-bagger
officials is greater than the sum of which Arzan-
sas has been robbed: but South Carolina is an old
State with none Of the recuperatiye powers OF
Arkansas, which possesses great reserve
.Il.l 9TH
undeveloped industrial resources. The difference is
that between an old man who has been set upon by
thieves badly beaten and plundered of all his valu
ables, and young man who has suffered the same
injury 1t takes a long time for the old man to get
the soreness out Of his bones and TO recover from hs
loss while the young mans hurts heal soon and he
has health and strength to earn means to replace
what the thieves took from him. South Carolina,
when delivered from the rule Of the carpet-baggers,
will recuperate much more slowly than Arkansas.
But in one particular she has the advantage over her
far Western sisterthe species Of the genus carpet
Dagger which has infested her has been OF milder
and less ferociOus type-equaly rapacious for plum
der but not so courageous, INSCRIPTIONS,
and brutal. The pests Of South Carolina are chiefly
adventures from New-Engand, men with little
nerve, unaccustomed to violence and with horror
of bloodshed who pursue their occupation of filing
their pockets from the peoples funds under the safe
protection of Federal soldiery. The Arkansas car
pet-baggers are Of a more violent and dangerous
sort Many of them belong to the class OF western
desperadoes who, in the days Of the Kansas t2gbles
used to be called border rufians. They dritted
down here after the from all along the Western
border. They are men who will fight as well as
steal. They have no overwhelming negro majority
at their backs like their South Carolina brethren.
On the contrary, a considerable majority Of
the people of the State are and have
always been bitterly opposed 10 their rule. They
did not find the State bound hand and foot and de-
ivered over 10 them to rob at their ease but they
took it by the throat like highwaymen aud ehoked
it into submission. When threatened by the Ku-
Klux, instead Of clamoring to the United States
Government for protection, they armed themselves,
organized a military force, and Ku-Kluxed the ku-
Klux. They shot and hanged their enemies until
they reduced them to subsection They are a mere
handful In number, with perhaps third of the vot
ing population, mostly negroes, supporting them,
but their rule is absolute, and they audacious
that they confidently expect to perpetuate their
power by reelecting themselves for another four
years.
SOME INTERESTING BIOGRAPHIES
1t il interesting TO look into the personal histories
of these bold raseals who have captured a whole
State and have held it in their grasp since 1888.
Where did they come from and where were they
before they appeared upon the stage where they
now performing are questions which the curious
viii ask. have made the inquiry here, and 1 find
that the accounts given Of their antecedents by their
political friends well as opponents agree in most
respects and therefore led TO think they are, in
the main correct. / will give condensed biographies
Of few of the leading members Of the State Admin
istraton Ring, not youching for their verify but
only telling the tale as il 8 told to me-"
Senator Powell Clayton is the master-spirit of the
Ring He may be called the satrap of Arkansas. He
rules the State with almost absolute sway acknowl
edgng limited allegiance to President Grant, to
whom he pays tribute by sustaining him for re-
election, shouting his praises on all occasions and
swearing that he will give him the vote of this State
Clayton is said to have been Kansas border ruff
fan. He fought through the war In Kansas regi-
ment and came out with q good reputation for
bravery He settled at Pine Bluff when the war
ended. as poor as a man can well be. He had been
Mcclellan Democrat in 1884, and was o strong
johnson man and au opponent of negro suffrage
after the war. He soon developed remarkable
talent for political intrigue. He tried
to get johnson TO remove Provisional.
Gov. Murphy and appoint him, but failed.
When the Reconstruction acts passed. he be-
came fierce Radical and great friend of the
negro. He plunged into politics with vigor, an
audacty, and lack Of all scruples that surprised
and captivated his associates He aimed at once az
the highest office iD tbe Siaie and. thouah ha