The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-13
ARKANSAS IMBROGLIO.

81. LOUIS, May 19.-Ata 1 late hour Ia,
night the Democrat received speciI
from Little Rock containing q despatc
from Jas. Brooks 10 President Grant. I
which the followingtiS q material par
After stating that Baxter had decline
the proposition Of Attorney General VII
ltams, he says that In conversation wit
members Of the Legislature, they say tbs
Baxter boldly proclaims that he will no
permit an investigation Of his right 10 o.
nee. You ask me- to recognize the ca
OF the Legislature at the instance Of on
who declares the question at issue an
for which you insist on lis being IS
sembled, shall not be settled by the hi
bunal you desire convened. The attempt
cd organization made to-day failed
although persons were sworn In as mem.
bers from the district in which no va
cancies had been declared. Both House
Of the Legislature now have q quorum Il
existence. This quorum should pass up
on the election returns and qualification
Of the newly elected members, instead O
the newly elected members themselves
This action l cannot and will not willing
ly submit to. II in the face Of the decis
ion Of tho Supreme and Circuit Courts O
the State, deciding that l am and recog-
nizlng me as legal Governor, you can re-
cognizs Baxter as Governor, it ia YOU
duty to respond 10 his application fol
federal help. II you can t, its your duty
to assist to suppress the present domestic
violence. To disband my troops at thiE
time, under no other assurance than Il
contained in your telegram Of to-day
would result In the assassination not only
Of the judges Of the Supreme Court
but Of many Of my other friends, and
especially the colored men, who have
been guilty Of no crime save fidelity to
law and order. I shall hold my troops
together for the purpose of protecting the
citizens ot the State who believe that the
expression Of the will of the people al
the ballotbox should be enforced, and
for the protection Of those who stand by
the Constitution, laws and adjudication ol
the Courts Of the country. Federal bayo.
nets can put Baxter's Legislature in the
State House, but I am Ignorant Of the
clause of tho Constitution under which
the President has the power. Nothing
else will, and when there l doubt II you
can compel them to determine who is
Governor. 1t Ia time this agony, doubt
md uncertainty was over. The interests
1t humanity demand that 1t shall
30 settled. II you have tho pow
n under the Constitution and
avs Of the United States 10 settle the
question OF who is Governor Of Arkansas
advise decision Of the courts Of the State
% settle it, and settle 1t at once. l shall
lot resist what you may order your troops
o do, but shall with all the power at my
command repel any and all attempts by
3axter's forces to take possession Of the
State House. l am confident that a legal
Quorum Of the Legislature will not re-
pond to Baxters call, and shall not
lssent nor be a party to the convening of
he Legislature under any agreement
)ther than that submitted by yourself
through the Attorney General on the 9th
nat.
[Signedl JAMES BROOKS,
G0pern0r of ArkdnSds.
LITTLE Rock, May 12.-Brooks still
occupies the State House. Whether he
Intends to vacate or not under the Presi-
1ents instructions Is not known. Both
Houses met this morning at the Diller
building. There were II Senators and
10 Representatives present, lacking three
n quorum, one in the Senate and two
n the House. It Is generally conceded
hat there will be quorum In both
Houses tomorrow. Matters are quiet
his morning. The Baxter men are jubi.
ent at the idea Of Brooks having to va.
;ate the State House.
LITTLE Rock, May 12.-This evening
about 8 O'Clock the Brookites moved q
company OF infantry to the rear Of the
Cairo s Fnlton railroad depot with q
view OF stopping some recruits coming
10 Baxter from the south on the 4 o'clock
rain. Soon alter this Gen. Z. White
moved out with three companies Of in.
Iantry and one company Of cavalry, driv.
ing in the Brookites. He encountered
them In the rear Of the penitentiary and
after sharp firing drove them into the build.
ing. About this time two hundred rein
Eorcements started to the Brookites from
the State House. The Baxterites obsery-
Ing the movement, Gen. ". D. Blacher
was sent with two companies Of infantry
70 reinforce that party. He marched up
Scott street to 9th and up 9th TO Arch,
where he encountered a company OF
Brooksites and had sharp fight, driving
them. back to their main body and then
falling back himself two squares, where
he was reinforced by two companies.
About this tune o company Of Federal
soldiers was marched between the 6ppos-
Ing parties and the fight stopped, both
Iorces retiring to their quarters. General
White had his horse killed and one man
slightly wounded. General Blacher had
two Of his men wounded. The Brooksites
are reported to haye lost eight killed and
wounded. Mayor W. F. Graves, Of the
Brooksites, was captured by the Baxter
Iorces. During the fight the house tops
were covered By spectators and intense
excitement prevailed throughout the city.