The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-10

Arkansas without experiencing feeling of
regret that the administration at Washington
has not manifested something of the prompt
decision, the iron will and the vigorous
action Of Jackson in its treatment of this
national scandal and danger. From the
moment of the seizure of the State govern
ment by Brooks and his partisans upon the
strength Of decision questionably obtained
from Court of doubtful jurisdiction, it was
evident that in the excited condition of the
public mind no peaceful solution could be
expected without the strong arm of the
federal authority to enforce it. As the
rival factions gathered about them their
armed partisans, and commenced to
strengthen themselves in strategic positions
the apprehension Of bloodshed became con-
viction, and the friends OF peace looked on in
wonder and dismay at the continued inaction
of the President. The case was felt to be very
different one from that of Louisiana. It was
not necessary that the national administration
should undertake to make or unmake State
government The Legislature of Arkansas
was in existence, and the constitution of the
to decide just such contest as that which has
arisen between Baxter and Brooks. In the case
of Louisiana it seemed to be clearly the
duty of the President to allow the State
authorities to decide the question OF the
legality of the State government, in accord
ance with the State laws, without federal in
reference. In the case of Arkansas it
appeared to be just as clearly the duty Of the
President to use the power of the federal arm
to preserve the public peace, to prevent
anarchy and to protect the proper State
authority in settling in a constitutional manner
the contest for the Governorship In Louisi-
ana the interference was political one. In
Arkansas it would have been a military one,
in accordance with the provision Of the federal
constitution. II the President had acted
promptly in the matter, and had re-
sponded to the call made by the
Governor then recognized at Washington
as the legitimate Governor Of Arkansas
by sending General Sherman with sufficient
force to protect the Legislature while investi-
eating and deciding the contest for the
Executive Office, the bloody scenes of the past
three days would have been avoided. The
sacrifice of life is not of so much account,
provided the persons killed are the madmen
who have been willing to plunge the State
into the horrors of civil war but the scandal
to the nation would have been saved, and re-
pubicanism would have been spared the in
jury which such crimes infict upon its cause
all over the world.
The settlement which the President had it
in his power to make several days ago seems
now to be in fair way of consummation
through compromise between the represen-
tatives of the rival Governors at Washington.
At an early hour yesterday morning the Bax-
ter party submitted to President Grant the
following proposition That the Legislature,
already notified to convene, shall be recog-
nized by both sides as the General Assembly
House without molestation that it shall
investigate the contest between the
rival Governors in the manner prescribed
by the constitution and the laws of the
State, and, after full and impartial hearing
shall decide by joint ballot which Of the con-
testants received majority of the legal votes
cast in the election in 1872 that this being
done the party declared elected shall be recog-
nized by the government at Washington as
the rightful Governor. This first proposition
required that pending the investigation and
decision by the Legislature Governor Baxter
should be considered and treated by
the federal authorities as the ad
~ L.
advocates, who had been tolerably confident
up to yesterday morning of q recognition by
the President, were startled by the sudden an
nouncement of the Attorney General that the
proposed settlement appeared to the Presi-
dent to be very fair one, and that unless
some such agreement should be reached the
question of recognition would be decided by
the administration before night. They con-
strued this as a hint that Baxter would triumph
with the President unless the constitutional
right of the Legislature to decide the contro-
versy should be admitted and respected by
the Brooks party; hence they at once signifed
their acceptance Of the proposition for the
peaceful converting of the Legislature, only
objecting to the dd interim recognition of
Baxter. They based their opposition to this
on the ground that whatever party might be
recognized at Washington would exercise an
undue influence over the Legislature, and SO
they thought it would be preferable that
neither or both should enjoy that advantage
This proposition was singular one
and scarcely likely to meet the Presidents
approval so the Baxter party SO far modified
their first plan of settlement as to leave Presi-
dent Grant at liberty to recognize whichever
Governor he might please pending the action
of the Legislature, if it should become neces-
sary to make recognition at all. At later
hour in the day the Brooks men made the
following proposition That the Legislature
shall be called by both Governors, to meet on