The Van Buren press., 1873-05-27

! Of the circumstances which lave icd 10 the Ut
| ter disappointment of the ring Of which that
paper is the organ, In their last most dssper-
ate and revolutionary effort to possess them
selves of the political and linancial control Of
the state It's power and credit, to the exclu-
sion Of is lawful agents and rulers
We shall give a detailed account OF the sue
ce,sye steps 10y which the ring have arrived
nj this last desperate resolution by fraud and
violence, through the agency of judicial
writ to be issued in violation OF the consttu-
tion and laws of this state. to accomplish the
com d e!dt which they have been attempting,
by the successive means we shall point out
ever since Gov. Baxter first refused, soon af-
ter his election. To become the agent of their
,tupendous schemes of pecu|atiun and usurp-
alton.
TIRE LEADERS OF THE RING
The chiefs of the ring are John Mcclure
present chief justice. ana editor of the Repnb-
lican; Thos. NJ. Bowen and Charles CasWell
alias Taukersley, LangerS-On of Mcclure; v.
V. Smith, lieutenant governor, elected Oh the
ticket with Baxter aud some half dozen 9th
ers They ussented to the nomination of
Judge Baxter a. the candidate of the repub-
| lican party for governor because they saw
PLAINLY that 10 ring candidate could be elect
| ed against the powerful organizations which
| had been effected through n cO-Operati0n Of
the Brooks republicans and democracy. hop
ing to be able in the course of his official ca
reef nj an early day, 20 capture" and con-
troll him.
THK RING PRESENT THEIR SCHEMES.
A short time after his election upon the as
semhling Of the legislature, the ring brought
forward their schemes, which during the past
summer they had been occupied with matur-
irg-,tupendouS schemes of fraud and vii
lainy for eniiching themselves and possessing
themselves of the dcspOtic control of the state.
poll ical and financial AS a perpctuty. Among
| these schemes were the following measures {;
! First The railroad steal bill. which they
expected the governor to aid them in hay.
| ing enacted and to approve. This was II bill
| pruposingt To relinqush the lien of tue state
on the several railroads lately constructed in
the state through the sale Of the bonds of the
state to the amount of six million dollars, and
granted for the building of these roads, upon
whiclt the state has a lien for the payment OF
interest OH the bonds sold, and the gradual re-
payment of the principal six millions. The
bill proposed to relinquish this lien without
any consideration whatever. The railroad
companies had agreed To pay the ring for pro-
curing the passage Of the hill five hundred
thousand dollars, This we have positive
knowledge of and can prove,
Second The militia steal bill. This was n
| bill which proposed to appropriate four hum
tlrcd thousand dollar. for the payment of lc-
| titious claims against The state for property
| alleged to have been taken from citizens dur
! ing the various militia raids in this state Tho
| appropriation of one hundred and fifty thou
sands dollars, upon the same rretcXt. by the
/ last general assembly, had enriched the COM
missioner and his confedcratcs to an extent
that was exciting, and the plan was to be i'm
! proved on. Fraudulent militia vouchers had
already been issued by tile ring to the amount
which the bill was to appropriate, all owned
. Al 81
side the ring was ever to get cent of tie ap-
propriation.
Third new election law. This was re-
ally tie most inQuitous proposition of all. In
the spirit OF forgiveness and forgcttulnesS OF
the past which had begun to characterize pub
lie feeling all over the country, constitution
al amendment bad been lately adopted and
was to be ratified by n vote of the people ON
the 81 OF March, repeating the clause OF the
existing en,,-.is--.,s'- '''o',onchising a large
osdy of the people for synpav,y T",s,. ~.s
participation in the rebellion. This cntian-
chi.ement OF citizens threatened the ability
OF the ring 10 continue themselves and agents
in place and power. They according devised
this bill, which was TO make V, Y smith,
Tanker-ley and some other person commits
sioncrs of election, who by the pre-, ison' of
tho bill were 10 have complete power over
election. and returns, the right to throw out
counties, precincts and wards, and amounted
10 HlNllln tllt COMMISSIONERS pbNf 10 n, punt
the legislature and every officer from gov yern-
or to county justiccelective by tho people, for
the acNt four years, the bill providing that
the commissioners should hold Office for four
years.
EECKoNED WITHOUT HIS HOST.
To the surprise of the ring, when these sew
eral measures, with other propositions of a
like character, were submitted to the govern
or, he frankly and pncquivocally announced
that he would deem it his duty to oppose
thcm; that he would exercise the influence Of
his office to defeat them before the legislature,
and the executive veto to prevent them nom
becoming laws If the legislature should pass
them y IArsuasion, by brides and threats,
the ring pcr,,tently Tor cwhilc sought to
overcome iii. determination on The part OF
! the executive.
THEY TRY TO IMrEACH NM
|. Finding him immovablc, they set to work
to .ec,,rc hi. impeachment By the laws Of
this state, upon the adoption of articles OF I'M
peachmeht by the house against the governor
hc Is suspended from the performance Of the
iunctiNns of the executive office until the tri-
al shall be had by the senate. Every effort
WAS made to accomplish this design by tue
ring ana tho railroad lobbyists through every
influence that could be brought to bear on
members Of the legislature. hut sufficient
nilUptE hl Ubntst ItpubllCIHS NflN IbuHu 10
cooperate with the governor and the demo-
cratic vote to foil their efforts at impeach-
ment.
rarr CONTEST HIS ELECTION IN FAVOR OF
BRoOhs
The opponents Of this ring, calling them
selves liberal republicans aud reformers in
the last gubernatorial and state election,
claimed the then candidate Joseph Brooks,
had really been elected over Baxter, and that
Wv. Smith. candidate for lieutenant govern
or, and Ionley for attorney general on the
Baxter ticket had likewise heon really defeat
ed by their opponents OF the reform party.
But the ring were not scrupulous about means
to accomplish their ends. They felt 40 deli
cacy in approaching Sir. Brooks to secure his
CO. operation in new movement to be under
taken for the removal of the obstacle to their
designs Of fraud and usurpation. Mr.. Brooks,
believing himself entitled, As readily yielded
to these ovcrtures, and sent In his petition TO
contest the election Of Baxter according to
the only method pointed out by the constitu-
tion tor contesting the election of governor.
IL was taken for granted that many of the
democratic members of the legislature who
had supported Mr.. Brooks in the late election
would be entrapped Tito the support of this
new move. Mr.. Brooks, falling to see that
his old enemies meant only to use him again
to deceive him, but honorabiy ambitious was
willing to take the risk. in the hope thar some
thing might turn up" But to the chagrin
OF the co-consprators, many of the demo
crats ceased to see anything 20 admire in Mr..
Brooks In his new T0ie. and, forgetting his
eminent services in behalf OF reform, voted to
sustain Baxter Again the attempt 10 Dust
the governor proved signal failure. Ii fail
cd also to iriglten the governor In yielding
to their demands. Bnt the governor had to
se watchiul and diligent ia his opposition to
all tlesa Efforts Nome OF niS npnpintment.