Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-18
ARKANSAS.
Old BrEndIe is Penned-Judge Baxter,
she Friend Of RefOrns-A Con-
sPirncy General BOWen's
Chances for Senator

LITTLE Rock, December Is, 1872.-In
the APPEAL OF Friday the thirteenth
instant, is an article comparing the
prospective condition of Arkansas to the
present status of affairs in Alabama and
LOuisiana-that of Arkansas is hardly
am analogous case. In Alabama the
Conservatives had held the governments
al reins, and a very insignificant minor
itg Of Republicans assumed to master
the situation, and by Federal interfer-
ence effected a compromise with the
Democrats. In Louisiana Governor
WaTmOth had for some time been an
avOwed enemy of the administration at
Washington and the Customhouse ring
at New Orleans, and appointed and
manipulated his Returning Board, and
very reasonably could expect no favor
able consideration from Washington.
| The State Government of Arkansas has
been in full accord with President Grant
and his administration, and it is barely
presumable to suppose, in view of the
law, facts and circumstances, that Mr..
Brooks will receive the least cOnsidera-
ton at Washington.
The constitution of Arkansas provides
that "the returns of every election for
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secre-
tary Of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attor-
ney- General, and Superintendent of
Public Instruction, shall be sealed up
and transmitted to the seat of govern
ment by the returning officers, and di-
rected to the presiding officer of the Sem
ate, who, during the first week of the
session, shall open and publish the same
in presence Of the members there assem-
bled," etc. Contested elections shall
likewise be determined by both Houses
Of the General Assembly, in such man
Der as is or may heresfter be prescribed
by law"
To the General Assembly is delegated
the powers of a Returning Board, as
well as a tribunal to settle contested
elections. From this tribunal there is
NO appeal, except to arms.
Senator Rice, Chairman of the State
Brindletail Committee, had returns sent
TO his committee, by his political friends,
and upon these committee returns are
based the claims of Mr. Brooks. An
effort was made by this committee to
induce their friends to repair to Little
Rock and torcibly inaugurate Mr..
Brooks. While thousands Of Demo-
Gratis voted for him, none would be
guilty Of this supreme folly, and the at
tempt failed. Mr.. Brooks can test his
claims before the General Assembly,
but that body is strongly partisan, and /
doubt if case can be made sufficiently
strong to convince dbeBb-they have an
intense hatred for him, who was form
erly a pronounced Radical fanatic.
Judge Baxter, the Minstrel candidate,
will Unquestionably be declared elected,
and as he is generally regarded as a Con-
sentative man, and mas publicly pledged
to reform measures, will be tested by the
people before any opposition is made to
his administration. If he can control
his party, and adopts promised measures
Of reform (aEd believe he Will, he viii
acquire great popularity and strength.
The Senatorial question is 4 theme
for general comment. The chances of
Governor HadIey, who has perhaps or
binary ability, of Hon. Mr.. Mcdonald,
a gentleman Of a fair degree of culture,
and of Colonel Dorsey, a man of good
personnel, and who has been a resident
in our State for nearly year, and is
not unknown to naTow-gauge rail-
road enterprise-seem to be in
the descendent-whilst that of Gen
eral Tom Bowen gathers greater
strength with the nearer approach Ofthe
contest. There are rumOrs afioat of a
conspiracy to defeat Bowen at all
hazards, and the names Of Hadley,
Dorsey, Clayton and Mcdonald are
more than limited at in this connection.
Whether there is any foundation in fact
for this rumor | am unable as yet to de-
termine. but am confident that the
move will fail if attempted, because the
fact cannot be disguised that the most
intelligent, free and independent Re-
publicans in the Assembly are Bowen
men, first, last and all the time, and
that they constitute a perfect balance of
power. This being true, the Clayton
Hadley- Dorsey-McDonald ring are
powerless without Bowen, who needs
them less than they need him, they hav-
ing other responsibilities on their shout
ders and other interests to guard, while
Bowen, whom they have attempted to
strange, has nothing to look after but
the Senatorship. That Bowen will
carry off the prize | have not the slight
est doubt. sHORTFELLOW.