The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
NO. 4
lad at on. time agreed to dismissal.


Meantime Senators Clayton and Dorsey
made their appearance in Little Rock.
An individual, representing himself -
their agent, called upon me and request
ed, in their name, my eompIicity at The
coming election in frauds suficieut -
carry the State in their interests. On r.
ceiving my refusal, he dared directly 70
offer me, as the price Of such frauds, .
United States Juageship, and, to zee bic
own expression, "as much money ~ I
wanted "Iftoo Conscientious such,
believe, was his phrsse--to perpstrats
in person the desired frauds, ! was to BE-
granted the privilege Of leaving the eles-
ton in the hands OF the gentlenen re-
ferred to, and my reward was to b the
same. Illness prevented my rsceptiaa,
atthe time, OF Senator Clayton. Senator
Dorsey / did see, and be did mes1 Ger.
tainly leave upon my mind the imprssr
sion that he indorsed and sustained The
corrupt offer which had been made ne
THE NJ cLuRE, CLAYTON AND BROOKS coALI-
TIoN PERFECTED.
Baiiled by my refusal, Senator Clayton
for the first time openly placed himself
in conjunction with Judge Mcclure, and
in opposition to my administration the
hitherto contending factions Of Mcclure,
Clayton and Brooks notoriously Goa.
lesced; and the conspiracy, the results
of which have chilled the prosperity Of
the State and involved us in bloodshed,
was concocted.
rrIt
The bali forgotten ease of Brooks W.
Baxter, in tho Pulaski county Circuit
Court, was selected to afford the pretext
Of rebellion The case stood upon the
demurrer to jurisdiction. In the absengs
of any counsel, and without notice, the
demurrer was called up, overruled in de-
liance of previous decisions Of the Su-
preme Court, ani judgment Of custer
rendercd--the
THE MAGISTRATE OF A COMMONWEALTH DE.
if dcposed he had been---by the order Of
a Court Of a County. and rs a thing Of
routine, upon the motion call. II 10 not
a matter Of wonder that every respecta.
BILE attorney at the capital, including
many hitherto the Jealous partisans OF
Mr.. Brooks, at once united In the public
action Of a solemn protest against such
proceedings.
TUE SEIZURE OF THE STATE. HOUSE.
BY an extraordinary coincidence, Mr..
Brooks and his friends were convsnist
to the see of judgment Without await.
ing the issue Of the writ Of custer, and
upon the overruling Of the demurrer, no
moment of time was given for the fling
of an answer on the merits Of the case.
These gentlemen, procuring a mere copy
of the minutes ofthe Judge action. and,
Chief Justice. ife iSoa. JohGa MccIdssSs:, Il:
close by, had Mr.. Brooks secretly sworn
as Governor. The party proceeded
without delay to the Executive Office,
where, as have in public proclamation
remarked, the traditions Of the American
people would have rendered it absurd to
place all armed guard or even vidette
Mr.. Brooks in person, with an armed
force Of O dozen or twenty, took posses.
sion of my room, and was permitted
the alternative Of forcible aud unseemly
election or Of such arrest or punishment
as he might see 1t to inlict. Before
could take measures TO reoccupy the
State House, it was filed with armed
desperadoes.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED AND IN ARMS.
The shallowness OF the prctext OF
usurpation is too obvious to require com
ment took means to call out force
sufficient to maintain tho authority Of
the State Before my call could be cir.
cuated, citizens Of the State by thou.
sands. and without dictinction OF color
or Of party, hocked to the capital, till
was compelled to send messages asking
that they would remain at home till their
services should'be Immediately required.
The moment has not been, since the first
audacious surprise, that could not have
taken the State House. II would have
been done long ago, but that my troops,
as well as myself. respected the uniform
cmblematic of the Federal government
that stood between us and the impudent
usurper 3 A
THE APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES,
had no need Of assistance from the
United States, other that TO be permitted
to use in vndication Of the law the
forces egitimatcly under my command;
but I saw ft TO follow the course pointed
out by the Constitution Of the United
States, In taking the earliest moment TO
appeal for assistance In the suppression
Of the rebellion, whiio asked for my
own action only a free field. The Presi-
dent desired the preservation Of peace.
have found il difficult to persuade
my officers and men that they should
stand quietly In front ofa capitol which
had been occupied, without 90 much -
the color Of law, by the insolenee Of N
individual; but they have obeyed my 70.
straining orders, even when provoked BY
the fire Of assassins. have proposed 70
the President, as a peaceab!e solution Of
the difficulty. n resort to tho tribunal
which the Supreme Court Of the 6tata
has declared to be alone capable Of do.
Gliding the questionable Legislature Of
the State.
THE PRESIDENTS sUrPoEr--rHE coNv1N'
ING OF THE LEGisLAruRE'
received, in reply, the assurance e1
his hearty approval and OF his protecuon
In the call OF the Legislature. Uron the
receipt OF this assurance, instantly, ~
kn vAntalakmpn