The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-11-21
ARKANSAS.

bristing with new points ana new u'siicUI
ties After the Baxter Brooks trouble last sum
mer, which was settled by the administration
at WashingtoA siding with Baxter the Iegls!a
turc ordered Il convention to be elected tt
form a new state constitution, The convcn
tion was elected, met. and made a cOnstitu
ton, providing for the election Of IA new Gov
ern0r and Lieutenant Governor forthwith, al
though Baxter had been elected Governor
and Smith Lieutenant Governor under the
former constitution for four years from Jan
1st 1873. 1t seems also that in the old con
stitutlon, which the new one is intended IL
supersede, no power was vested In the legis
lature to call a convention to frame a ne"
constitution, so that the mode OF making
and submitting this new constitution was IT.
regular, as well as the election OF new Coy
ernor under it.
However, TIE new constitution was framed
and submitted to a vote Of the people at the
November election, and at the same time OPP
posing candidates for Governor and Lieu'eh'
ant Governor took the field. The result OF
the election was, the adoption OF the new
constitution by a majority of 5000, recelv.
| ing four.ffths of all the votes polied; ana the
election of Gen. Garland as Governor by
nearly as large a majority, as well as The
election of Il strongly democratic lcgisia
turc &c.
uoy. Baxter, on this result bcCom Ing
known, gracefully submitted to the will OF
the people, and, waving all irregularities
turned the office of Governor, with all its pa,
pers, furniture and fixtures, over to zen, Gar.
land, his successor, and the latter was duly
inauguratcd.
The new legislature was also convened at
the same time, to which Garland sent the US
ual message, and the work of legislation was
proceeding quietly in the old groves.
Abont this time, however, up springs Mr.
w. Smith, the old Lieutenant Governor
Although Baxter may be willing TO surrcnd
er his rights" 10 the will of the people, Mr.
Smith has no such idea. Baxter having yield
cd up the Office Of Governor to "usurpcr,'
to be the lawful Governor in his place and he
issues a pompous proclamation calling on
all good people to recognize and respect and
obey him as such. Mr.. Smith considerably
says that he will not call on the army and
navy of the great state of Arkansas at pres
ent TO support him in his Just pretensions,
but he has made his appeal 10 President
Grant, and expects the President immediate
" TO issue his orders, as he did IN the Brooks.
Baxter case last summer TO the military
in Arkansas 10 support Smith as
Governor instead of the usurpcr' Garland.
But the administration at Washington had
a flea put in It's ear by the elections ia No
vcmber, and is not so ready 10 help out an
unfortunate administrations and carpet.bag.
against the opposition OF an indignant pcO
pie as it used to be. Fortunately congress
jonal committee ID investigate the state Of
affairs in Arkansas was in session al Little
Rock mt the very time Of the Inauguration of
the new Governor and the pompous Smith
emtate, and instead Of paying attention TO the
statements and dispatches
from the contendlng factions in Arkansas.
the President appeals TO this committee for
the facts and for advice.
Judge Poland, the chairman OF tic com.
mittee is understood to advise that, although
the adoption Of the new constitution was ir,
regular, and the election of Garland possibly
not technically legal, yet there was less doubt
about his fair election than about that of
Baxter and Smith in 1912, who were clearly
beaten on fair count by Brooks and his as.
sociate as Lieutenant Governor. Therefore,
he thinks, as the Garland government Is al.
most unanimously supported by the people
and is trying to act fairly, it had better not be
disturbed, at least not by the Preaident, who
is advised to submit the matter TO congress
Tor ultimate decision, which, the latest al.
vices from Washington say, the Prcsidcn,
has decided to do