The Portland daily press., 1874-05-13
THE ARKANSAS WAR.
Two Fights in One Day.
FEDERAL TROOPS PREVENT
BLOODSEED.
Brooks Lectures the President.

INUCh, May lZ.-IUefc was great eX-
citement yesterday morning in Little Rock,
during the skirmish across the river. Col. White
of Baxters forces was wounded in the leg
-Four of Bakers men were reported killed and
Two wounded.
After the skrmishing had lasted two hours. a
company of regulars crossed the river and stop
ped both parties releasing a train of cars which
Baxters men had just then seized. The raft
with arms from up the river arrived safely, but
the regulars have taken all the arms at the ar
senal to pieces, to pre- 7ent either the Brooks or
the Baxter people from using them. Col. Rose
has thrown thrown up another barricade across
Markham street, and has telegraphed to Gen.
Sherman for a company of regular cavalry.
The clerk of the court swOre in the members
of the Legislature yesterday The friends of
Baxter are elated over the stand taken by the
President. 1t is believe that Gov. Baxter will
be recognized to day by the President and that
the Postmaster General and Secretary Of War,
as well as Col Rose, will beiinstructed to recog-
niZe him.
Judge Smith claims Brooks ticket with the
exception of Secretary of State, was elected by
at least 1000 majority, and that the people of
the State generally believe the ticket was elect
ed. The opposition made up the returns to suit
themselves, and after Baxter was declared
Governor manv Democrats vent over to him,
believing he would make good GOVERNOR
Tankerney says he does not recognize Baxter's
call for an extra session of the legislature and
has no idea of presiding over that body. He
says that while en-route from ArkedeDhia to
llttle hOck the Uralu was SearcneQ Tor him
three times by armed men put he managed to
escape recognition. He thinks their intention
was to arrest and force him to preside over the
House.
Another skirmIsh.
About o'clock this afternoon the Brookites
moved company of infantry out to the rear of
the Cairo & Fulton Railroad, with the view of
stopping some recruits coming to Baxter from
the South on the four o'clock train. Soon after
this Gen. King White moved out with three
a.Nf tt,f,
drive in the Brooksites. He er countefed them
in the rear of the penitentiary, and after sharp
fighting drove them into a building. About
this time 200 men were sent as a reinforcement
to the BrooksteS from the State House. The
Baxterites observing this movement General
Blocher was sent with two companies were sent
to reinforce White. He marched up Scott
street to 9TH, up 9TH to Aarch street, where he
encountered company of BroOksites and af
ter sharp fight drove them back their. main
body.
About this time company of Federal troops
was marched between the opposing parties and
the sight stopped, both forces returning to their
quarters.
White had one horse killed and one man
slightly wounded, and Blocher had two men
wounded. 1t is reported that the BrOoksiteS
lost eight killed and wounded. d.
Mayor Graves of the Brooksites was captured
by the Baxter party. The affray was witnessed
by multitude ofexcited spectators from the
house tops.
The SituatiOn.
Brooks still occupies the State House and its
surroundings Whether he intends to vacate
or not under the Presidents instructions is not
known Both houses met this morning at the
Deter building There were eleven Senators
and ortyiRepresentatives present, lacking three
of quorum, one in the Senate and two in the
House. 1t is generally conceded that there
will be quorum in both Houses tomorrow.
Matters are quiet this morning.
The Baxter men are jubilant over the idea of
Brooks having to vacate the State House.
Judge d. j. Smith, who ran Tor Lieut.. Gov
ernor on the Brooks ticket, and TankeIney,
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Represent
atives, arrived in st. Louis last night.
Brooks Won't Accede.
WASHINGTON, May IA reply has been re-
ceived from Brooks of Arkansas, declining to
accede to the terms proposed by the President
through the Attorney General.
Brooks Speaks a Piece.
ST. LOUIS, May 12.-At late hour last night
the Democrat received special from Little
Rock containing despatch from JOS Brooks
to President Grant, of which the following is
the material part: "After stating that Baxter
has declined the propositions of Attorney Gen.
eral Williams, he says in conversation with
members of the Legislature, they say that Bax-
ter boldly proclaims that he will not permit an
investigation of his right to Office. He also
charges that new members have been sworn in
where no vacaLc es existed. He declares he
Will not submit to such terms; but tells the
President it is his duty TO aid Baxter if he can
do 1t in toe face of the decisions of the courts;
that he (Brooks) is the legable Governor He
declines to disband his troops because the
judges of the Supreme CourU would be killed
and his friends, particularly the colored men,
murdered.
Brooks closes his long letter as follows:
Federal bayonets can put Baxter's Legislature
in the State House, but am ignorant of any
clause in the Constitution under which the
President has the power. Nothing else will,
and when there, L doubt if you can compel
them to determine who the Governor is. 1t is
time this agony of doubt and uncertainty was
over The interests of humanity demand it
shall be settled and if you have the power un-
der the Constitution and laws of the United
States to settle the question of who is the Gov
ernor of Arkansas, adverse to the decisions of
the courts ia the State, settle it aud settle it at
once. | shall not resist what you may order
your troops to do, but shall with all the power
at my command, repel any and all attempts by
Bakers forces to take possession of the State
| House. l am confident legal quorum OF
| the Legislature will not respond to Baxter's
| CALL and l shall not assent nor be party to
convening the Legislature under any agreement
other than that submitted by yourself through
| the Attorney General.
(signed) JOSEPH BROOKS,
Gov. of Arkansas.