The Van Buren press., 1873-10-14
LETTER FROM GEN. R. C. NEWTON
The Political Situation-The Late Move.
ments in Political Circles.

LITTLE Rock, ARK, Oct. 4, 1873.
Hon. B. B. BEAVERS, Benton, Saline County
Arkansas:
DEAR SIR; You will recolect told you
Thought l would see Gov Baxter the nexl
uayaiter saw you last, and promised woule
write you fully what, in my opinion the con.
servatire people had right to expect daring
the future of Governor BIS administration.
Upon reflection, concluded to give time
ior matters to cool down" after the recenl
changes, before having the conference Will
nm ana asking the governor the questions
desired to PROFOUND and which | thought
had right to expect him to answer censid.
ernS the recent Official relations subsistino
between him and myself and the senerou,
support given him in the hour OF his greatest
trouble by the element of which | was SUP
posed TO be representative when | was ap-
pointed to, and accepted, military position
under his government.
| IL Is not anaiss for me to say that when div
thus accept such military position, did so, A,
| considered it, in the best interests of Ar
kansas. knew her people to have tired OF
STRIFE and to need repose. | knew. further.
more that in their very despair they had
shown every disposition to do anythinp moi
absolutely di>honorable, to bring about re-
form in government, and put AN end to their
own spolation ut the hands of adyenturers
lt so happened that most Of those who were
despoiling the state and who remained il,
power at the time Of the last election. were
the chief managers ofailairs upon the" Baxter
sue " OF the contest. Their candidate was de
clared elected and was installed
had known Elisha Baxter many years. |
had no reason to believe him dishonest | had
had many conversations with him at different
times. ANA had 10 reason to believe otherwise
than that he was sincerely in sympathy with
the oppressed people of this state. | took no
part IN political affairs, however, during the
early days OF his administration, being called
away by the i'll health of my family. Upon
my return home in the early part of April |
found politcal matters decidedly muddled :"
The war, which afterwards became so fierce
an one. between the governor and Chief
Justice McClGre. was then just commencing
and saw enough TO lead me to the belief that
Gov. Baxter following the dictates ofhis SYM
pathies and his sense of Justice and right
would stand by the people, and, defending
the material Interests of the state would beat
down the corrupt ring" which had brought
SO much woe among us, unless indeed, he
himself should be by them beaten down and
crushed.
1t was Il terrible crisis for Arkansas and an
embarrassing position for one situated us |
was.
From my standpoint, however, it appeared
that but one course was left the honest masses
of cur people II Baxter, in this new contest,
went down. with him would go all our hopes,
and the " ring" against whom all combatcd
would triumph. If on the other hand he
should. by the help Of the people the nselves
be enabled to Sustain himself he would sure
~ act out his own nature and save this state
and her people from further wrong.
! know how much he seemed to be COM
PEELED to do, and did do. during and at the
close of the session ef the legislature to keep
peace in orr midst, but which. aside from shat
sanction, a. it was not approved by hi. con
science. on, having been in that legislature.
Will rccOllcct the natgre OF the matters o! cN-
pcdicncy to which refer.
In view of this state of facts. though ac-
ceptcd it when he rendered me the position
OF major-gcneral in hi, militia In consc-
quenrc, | was necessarily thrown near him
oitentimcs ana in close consultation with him
frequently. touching matters directly affect
ing the public pcaee,autl sometimes involving
questions of powcr--not only its cXteat. but
likcw .e the propricty OF Its exercise in given
eases. Even with these opportunities cslld
iind nothing to complain of is threatening
the liberties. the rights or the material inter
csts of the people. Upon the other hand. he
continually gave evidences of being with and
for the masses. ! knew him to be Il republic
can in politics. and that necessarily his adj
ministratiun would be "A republican one.
knew, in iact that under the peculiar forma-
tioa of political Issues in this state in the cam
vass of l372, there could be none other than Il
republican administration at The time in our
state affairs | was not of those. therefore.
who jumped to the conclusion that Baxter
had been captured 10y the democrats " wEon
he Z appointed conservative to Office, nor had
! sympathy with those of my political friends
who were ready TO damn him beyond the
chance of pardon whenever upon occasion he
failed to appoint one of our side y to place
! was content that peace should reign
throughout our borders: that Baxter. either
rs Il republican an old line whig. a no party
man. or what not, should be the governor OF
tie ,0hoic people, giving to all classes and to
every individual of every class all the rights
guaranteed by the law Of the land faithfully
administered and firmly upheld. Under the
same circumstances would have stood SINH
larly affected toward any other one occupy
ing, as n matter Of fact, the gubernatorial
chair and seeking to do right, considering the
times and this unfortunate peoples surround-
."gs.
AnG thus things went on until the 29th III
t;m,. when | was summoned to the governors
urrscnce ~ th.a into consideration the sug-
rrsticn of the ,.esiaent us to substituting
call upon the fedora. authorizes FOR help, IN
ease Of need. in the ease y nt"d, III me place
of a resort to local militia, YOU have seen
the resignation Of Gen. Wiltshire a%d ny seIl
and our recommendation on that sn ..eot
That recommendation, | am satisfied was
iudiciolls one. and believe Gen. Wiltshire has
had no reason to change his mind On the sub
iect The people at large had learned to dis
favor the idea OF militia, anyhow, and take
1t that It was more by general consent than
otherwise that. for the time being at least. it
went out Of existence as any part Of the state
government.
have said this much touching the history
of my connection with the admin tration. as
a military officer. as showing why thought
had fairly n right TO ask. Gov. Baxter directly,
"what all this meant?" and especially since
rumors were rife as to its meaning
Having, therefore, rs above stated. allowed
the proper cooling time for matters after
the recent change, and since you and sepa-
rated the ether evening, to-day visited the
governor. Our conference was n private one.
| was frank with him In the statement of what
desired and my intention to communicate
the substance of our conversation to others
and the probability that 1t would thus find its
way to the general public. He was cordial in
his reception Of me and seemed unrsserved in
giving me his thoughts rs to the present sit
uation. lis intentions to the future and his
retrospect of the past. can of course give
only the substance of what occurred between
us.
In reply to my inquiry as to the truth OF
ann of the many rumois anoat in regard to
the significance OF recent changes in potical
and military circles. he said in substance:
That none Of the rumors alluded to were
true:
A.. .-,,a Il, snpe,,inno1 ppws.