The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-19
The Bel,igerent Factions OF Arkan-
sas-The Political Decentralization Oh
the south and the Consequences.

sas this day will probably settle the issue Tor
peace or war; "Let us have peace" we say;
but war is possible when antagonistic bodies
of INSCRIPTIONS spoilsmen of the border ruff
fan school are heated to the fighting point
| and are armed for the fray. On Saturday last
| quiet prevailed at Little Rock, and would, it
vas thought, prevail until the meeting of the
Supreme Court, this day, on the question of
an inquiry into the legality Of Governor Bax-
ter's election. As the Governor considers this
movement against him mere device for his
removal he is resolved to resist it from the
outset. He is prepared to fight for what he
holds to be his rights and duties as Governor.
On Friday night last, in addition to other pre-
cautions, he had secured the keys of the House
OF Representatives, and the State Capitol
guards were bivouacked in the House during
the night The Governor, at all points of
probable attack in fact has established his
troops, and will not dsband them until all
pears, too, that throughout the State the peo-
pie are much excited in favor Of the Governor,
| and will support him in any conflict with the
opposing republican clique, sapping and
mining to supplant him, because this clique
cannot use him in their little schemes upon
the public treasury. Lastly, the Governor,
although republican, has a democratic Leg
islature at his back, and altogether he seems
to be so well intrenched in his position that we
are inclined to the opinion that he will hold it.
But, on the other hand, the radical faction
opposed to Governor Baxter and conspiring to
put Lieutenant Governor Smith in his place,
are encouraged by the success of the Kellogg
party in Louisiana in getting that notorious
decision of Judge Durell in their favor and
they doubtless think that if they can obtain for
their man decision from the Supreme Court
of the State, the United States troops, on .
call from Smith, will be placed at their SER
vice. And here lies the secret of Governor
Baxter's warlike position to circumvent or
suppress this Supreme Court movement. Sem
ator Clayton is spoken of as one Of the prime
movers in this fachous conspiracy against
Baxter. AT the last session of Congress the
Senate voted Mr.. Clayton not guilty Of the
charges of corruption laid at his door in refer
ence to his election as Senator; but he should
be cautious, nevertheless, in taking hand
in these factious squabbles in Arkansas,
or he may yet burn his fingers. 1t can
hardly be doubted that this conspiracy
to displace Governor Baxter is simply
desperate political ring aiming at the State
spoils and plumber which the parties con-
cerned cannot reach through Baxter. He
stands in their way, and they have contrived
this quo aoarranto process to remove him out Of
their way and to get confederate or a sup
posed confederate of their own in his place.
The inducements to this enterprise are very
strong, for in the bold and reckless loans and
appropriations and railway and other specu-
lative ventures of all our reconstructed States
there are margins by which INSCRIPTIONS,
managing politicians have been and may be
made rich and influential nabobs among their
fellows from the profits of single legislative
session. The conflict, therefore, between
Governor Baxter and the Smith faction for the
Executive chair of Arkansas may not be settled
to-day, but may assume the character of q
chronic disease like the Louisiana contest be-
tween the McEnery and the Kellogg parties
'sWhere the carcass is, there will the vultures
be gathered together and the intensity of
these political teuds in the South, as every
where else, is in proportion to the size and
fairness of the carcass. Where there are no
fat pickings to be cleaned from a political
battle field constitutional principles to the
scheming politician are mere moonshine; but
where rich placer is involved, and where
the instruments are at hand with which
to reach it and to work it, bubble will serve
the purpose against the occupants of the
ground. These rules of the juggling politi-
clan apply as well to the trade in New York as
in Arkansas.
But who can estimate the losses suffered by
the reconstructed Southern States from their
reckless and rapacious politicians, carpet
baggers," ''scalawags," ''fre-eaters," "Ku
Klux Klans' and all concerned. On the
subjugation of the so-called Confederate States
and their surrender to the sovereign authority
of the Union they were in most lamentable
condition, politically, socially and financially.
Politically they were in chaos, socially they
were revolutionized to the removal of the very
foundation stones Of their social system, and
financially they were bankrupt and exhausted
The savings and the credits of fifty years of
peace had been swept away by four years of
civil war. The revolving States had been laid
waste by fire and sword; their rich men had
become poor and their poor families by
thousands were reduced to the verge Of starva-
ton. Death, destruction, famine, humilia-
ton and despair were visible on every side
throughout the desolated section. A con-
dtion of things such as this called for delicate
and skilful treatment but what has been the
treatment applied in the setting of the broken
bones and for the healing of the gaping
wounds Of the subjugated States2
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