Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-19

A curious feature In the recent de-
cisiou of the Arkansas Supreme Court,
reversing its decision of last October,
is, that two Of the Judges joining in it.
Stephenson and Searle, were elected on
the same dubious vote as Baxter. and
practically decided that they were not
themselves elected. and hence were not
entitled to sit on the Supreme Bench,
nor make any decision whatever, But
the whole Court is in terrible snarl,
IN view of the final turn Of affairs.
Shall they now proceed to reverse their
reversal, or viii they stick to their
latest love, Brooks. though dethronedi
All accounts agree that the Arkan-
sas delegation in Congress are terribly
chargined at Brooks defeat. Senator
Clayton is credited with saying that
though Brooks vacated the State-house,
he would still claim to exercise the
governorship. He claimed that Brooks
would have with him the Lieutenant
Governor, Auditor, Attorney General,
Observation-Disclosures, Supreme Court,
and, most important of all, the State
Treasurer. Baxter could not get dol
lar of money and had no one on his
side but the Secretary of State. All
this looks plausible enough for a con-
tinuation of the row, if we could for
get that Baxter has the Legislature,
and the role above predicted would be
stopped short by series of impeach-
ments, not excepting Chief Justice
Mcclure if necessary.
The war at Washington, however,
may not be subdued so easily. Wilt
shire, the one Republican who stood by
Baxter, has been furnished with ample
documents to show the frauds by which
the two Senators hold their seats. The
Senate has already called on the Presi-
dent for his information about the late
imbroglio, and Clayton seems anxious
for an investigation of the real vote of
1872. 1t may be that Morton and his
satellites, In paving the way for the
impending split with the President, are
disposed to encourage the Clayton fac
ton. 1t is generally thought full in
vestigation would prove that Brooks
was really elected, but what Congress
could do, on discovery of that fact, is
not clear. Senator Dorsey's attitude
is thus given in Washington special
to the Chicago Tribune:
Dorsey says that Brooks was really
elected by majority of 1900 votes,
but that Baxter was counted in fraud
ulently, proceeding In which he ac-
quiesced, after vigorous protest.
Senator Clayton would not consent
that justice should be done to Brooks,
as, in the first place, Brooks was a
Liberal Republican, and elected on the
Greeley platform; and, IN the second
place, he was not a member of the
rings, and it was supposed had no in
terest IN the various schemes that the
Republican leaders in the State had at
heart
Dorsey further says that the feelings
and sympathies of the President have
been all along in favor of Brooks, but
that the Attorney General has leaned
to Bakers side The influence of the
Attorney General, and the undisputed |
fact that the preeedents were In Bax-
ter's favor, decided the President to do /
that which he honestly feels is an IN |
justice, by issuing his proclamation of |
to-day. Dorsey will doubtless have an
opportunity, if an investigation is or
dered, to swear to the charges of fraud |
in counting Baxter in, and, Judging |
from his present expressions, he viii |
not hesitate to do so. He said these |
railroad bonds, about which so much |
fuss is made, are not now worth cent |
on the dollar.