The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
HIS ExcrLLrxcY ELISHA BAXTER:

y
have been inaugurated without my knowl-
edge or approval, andare, in my opinion,
unwse and highly detrimental to tbs in.
terest of the State My Judgment did
aot approve your late action. because
did not believe that such move was
seriously contemplated, and, even II con
templated, regarded the calling Out ol
the militia as premature. Nor would
now advise any show of force unless a
forcible attempt should be made to Gus!
you. Ibstisre you are the legitimate Gov
ernor Of Arkansds, and, as much os re-
qret TO see our State disgraced abroad by
distractions at home, I hope you wiH stand
firm, regardless Of results.
POWELL CLAYTON.
NEw YoRK, June 3, 1873
To Gov. ELISHA BAxrKR:
You have the unqualified support Of
myself and friends. The revolutionary
proceedings ieiH no. be sustained ty Me
people. D w. DORSEY.
THE SWORD OF DAMocLEs SUSPENDED.
Again had reason to suppose thht the
State government was secure, and that
the agitation had ceased. Again | was
to be disappointed. TO the people OF
States where the judiciary has not yet be
come the plaything of politics, the fact
which | am about to recite may appear
incredible The opinion of the Supreme
Court in the quo waryanio case, though
verbally rendered in full Court, reduced
to writing, and signed by majority of
the Judges, had. it seems, not been
placed on file 1t was retained inside the
pocket Of Hon. Marshall l. Stephenson.
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
one Of the signers Of the decision--ior
what purpose, may be inferred from the
transactions which followed
WHY AND now THE MILITIA WAS ORGANIZED.
AT the time when the revolutionary
proceedings to oust me from my office
were just instituted, and when, as is suf
iciently notorious in Arkansas, the
threats of judicial Interference were free
ly coupled with those orpolitical ruin to
myself, and Of domestic violence, felt
it my duty, in the interest Of the peace
and security OF the State, TO reorganize
the militia. The offers OF assistance
which poured in upon me ut that time
were no more confined to members of n
single faction or party than had been the
support rendered me by the practically
unanimous vote Oft House Of Repre-.
seutatives. When the citizens of the
State were 0ocking into my Office to ten
der their services in the interest Of peace
and order, did not stop to ascertain
whether the lawyer who profrered his
counsel, or the veteran who offered his
sword, had voted for me or against me
to find what views he entertained upon
abstract questions of politics, or to what
II happened, therefore, thhat AwIiehnu 3fiS
whole State, might almost say, was at
my service, not few Of the officers and
men who had volunteered were members
of the party which had opposed me in
the recent election Such an innovation
upon the precedcnts of the past -four years
was, it seems, not to the taste of cx Gov.
Clayton.
ISsoLESCE AND ASSUMPTION.
Without authority, that | know Of,
other than that OF native insolence or that
OF the assumed leadership Of the Repub-
lican party Of the State he peremptorily
demanded Of me the disbandment Of the
militia Unwilling, confess, to ALLEVIATE
from the support of my administration,
in times still perlous, the support OF
powerful and adherent, hitherto (in pro-
fcssion, at least steadfast 10 me, and un.
willing abese oil, to afford so much as
pretext for disscnson in the party which
had placed me in power. | yielded my
personal feelings to what believed to be
my duty, and consented to the dsband-
ment In the interests of peace, of es-
tablished government. Of my own pollti.
cal obligations, had nov pressed for
bcarance and acquicscencc to their limits.
Some who may have censured me in
thought for so doing may better under.
stand my course when they remember
that I was Governor Of the State, bound
in duty to avoid, il possible, that very
condition of things which now paralyzcs
for time our happiness and prosperity.
aud that my final assent Ia the arrogant
demand was given ouly when Mr.. Clay.
ton, with an oath, declared that unless
did so assent should never have the
benefit of the quo warranto decision
which Mr. Justice Stephenson carried In
his pocket. TO citizen Of Arkansas in
these days, the threat needs no explana
ton. To those who understand 1t, CON
ment is unnecessary
JUDGE sTIruENsoN's COAT POCKET.
1t was IN this condition of things that,
to the tribunal OF which Mr.. Justice Ste
phenson IS member, after decision,
beyond appeal, once rendered ID my ia.
ver, the gentlemen who hold the State
House by barrcadcs and cannon, 80
warmly urged me to resort am quite
content that the decision of the Court Is
on record, and do not greatly care TO 60
out of my way in order again to submit
the government Of the State to the tender
mercies Of Judge Stephenson's coat
pocket
THE pERRY-wHEELER CAsE--sEcoNp DE-
CIsioN OF SUPREME COURT.
Senator Clayton and Dorsey continued,
in appearance at least, my friends. A
sui, instituted in the Pulaski county Cir.
cuit Court BY Mr.. j. Il. Berry, against
Mr. Stephen Wheeler, the present incum.
bent OF the Office Of Auditor. for the pos
session of that Office, was terminated by
"A writ of prohibition issued out of the