The Portland daily press., 1874-04-20
THE ARKANSAS DISGRACE.
The President Refuses to Take Sides.

LITTLE Rock, April IS, noon.-Three hun
dred men from Pine Bluff, 1900 from Washing
ton, 100 from Batesvlle and fifty from Saline
county, reinforced the government troops this
morning. The first 300 are nearly all colored
men. They came in with colors flying and
band playing.
The State House party has been pressing the
cOlored people into service.
Brooks has sent out numerous recruiting Of
fcers, but they are not permitted to return
Brooks now has possession of the street in front
of the State House, and his sentlnals can be
seen pacing their posts from point near City
Hail.
Gen Ira Mel Barton, an old West Poiut
graduate and federal officer during the late
war, has command of the colored troops from
Pine Bluff
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The following is the
reply of Attorney General Williams to a des-
patch from the Mayor of Little Rock, Ark.
for federal assistance:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Washington, April Is.
To Frederick Kramer, Mayor of Little Rock
You must be aware that the President cannot
Interfere in the domestic difficulties of State
except in conformity with the constitution and
laws OF the United States He cannot recog-
nlze call made upon him for military aid by
the mayor of city. He has instructed that
officer commanding the United States troops at
Little Rock to prevent bloodshed That is all
he can do under existing circumstances. [ will
ask in answer to your inquiry, whether the
people situated as the citizens If Little Rock?''
If the people of Arkansas have not patriotism
enough 70 allow question as to who shall hold
State Office, to be settled peacefully and law
fully and not bring upon their State the ruin of
civil war?
(Signed) GEO. H. WILLIAMS,
Attorney Gen.
Second Despatch.
Eyening-The United States flag floats from
the balcony of the Anthony House, and a brass
band enlivened matters this vening by dis
coursing music at that point. Several compau-
les of MALTA are to reinforce Governor Bax-
ter.
Brooks has made formal complaints before
Col. Rose Post Commander, that parties have
been deprived of their liberty by Gov. Bakers
to interfere to protect them. Col. Rose has de-
clined to interfere as he has where Brooks
troops have arrested citizens.
Gov. Baxter refuses to make any complaints,
that he is able not only to protect himself but
all citizens and asks no assistance He still
holds the telegraph office but Brooks has tap
ped the wires in front of the State House and
has an operator in that building.
Third Despatch.
Brooks has issued proclamation tonight
calling on those who have rallied to Bakers
support to retire to their homes and lay down
their arms in twenty-four hours or suffer the
consequences.
The State House par ty has broke open the
safe and obtained the seal of the State. The
federal sentinels are now stationed at the in
ner section of Main and Markham streets and
other points between the two parties for the
purpose of preventing collision.
Governor Baxter has not yet extended his
lines around the State House. 1t has been
raining all day. The troops of the two oppos
ing governors, and the federal troops between
all, are in sight and present very war-like ap-
pearance. Baxter has from 1000 to 1900 men
now under arms and the number is being con-
stantly increased. The State House party has
about 200 man.
Adv1ces here indicate that President Grant is
favorable to Baxter, believing him to be the le-
gal Governor. This has increased the conf
dence in Baxter.
No person can pass up or down the streets to-
night without a countersign or having pass
from some officer.
several hundred during the day The streets
are full of armed men. Mr. Brooks has with
drawn all his sentinels to point inside his bar
ricade at the State House. The troops of Gov.
Baxter are very eager to attack the place, and
are only prevented from doing so by the pres
ence of the United States troops.
LITTLE Rock, April 19-Colonel Rose, COM
mandant of the United States forces, took pos
session of the telegraph Office tn s morning and
opened it to the public, relieving Gov. Baxter's
guards. He has one company stationed at the
Ashley House, where the telegraph office is To-
Gated, and has interfered to such an extent
with GOV. Baxter's military operations that he
can make no forward movement on the State
House. In consideration of the fact Governor
Baxter to-day sent the following despatch to
the President
Little Rock, Ark., Apra 19.-To the President
of the United States: A few days since, in the
absence of my counsel, and at a time when I'M
expected the Circuit Judge of this county,
court of inferior jurisdiction, rendered Judg-
ment in favor of Mr.. Brooks against me for the
&c IF w
notice to me or my counsel was at once fJrci-
bly, put out of my Office, and that without any
pretence of writ being served on me. All
that was done, too, after the Supreme Court of
this State had twice decided that no court in
the State had jurisdiction of the case at all and
the Legislature alone had Jurisdiction At once,
on being elected from office, | took steps to re-
store myself and get possession of the office
aud to carry on the government. The people
are coming to my aid and are ready to restore
me at once. In making this organization am
obstructed by interference of the United States
troops, dispacing my guards from the telegraph
office, and now it is apprehended there will be
further interference. Such interference breaks
me down and prevents any effort on my part to
restore the State government and protect the
people in their rights. l beg of you to modify
any order to the extent of such interference
and me free in this way to restore law and my
place as the legitimate Governor OF the State
Such interference does not leave me any chance
W assert my claim TO the once OF OoNeruoi. II
the interests of peace, and of these people who
are hooking here to my support by hundreds,
beg of you to remove the United States troops
back to the arsenal and permit me to restore
the legitimate government by my own forces,
which will do promptly if the United States
will not interfere.
There is an armed instruction against the le-
gal State government here, and l call upon
you to aid in suppressing it, but if you will not
then leave me free to act and order the United
States troops without an hours delay to their
own ground and keep them out of my way. !
have been thwarted and delaped thus long, ana
in fact elected from my office because Of the
fact that heretofore disbsnded the militia OF
the State. make this earnest demand 70 re-
press the instruction and prevent domestic
| violence under my sense of duty OF the constl-
l a -lzs o.ad ,ol,x conf3fonflx