, 1874-04-24
ARKANSAS.
Little Change in the Situation
at Little Rock.
Secretar3-o1-State johnson Commands
Brooks 10 VaCate His Office.
Brooks Announces His Inten-
tion to Hold On.

LITTLE EocK, Ark. IApril 23.-Last night Sc
retary of State johnson visited his Office in tt
State House, and found Mr.. Brooks in possession
surrounded by armed men. Johnson asked I'll
Brooks whose Office that Was. his or Brooks
The latter said it was Johnson's, of course
Then johnson said he had bottor get out Of thsr
with his force. Brooks said he recognized John
son as Secreta1y OF State. johnson then lef1
and went to tho headquarters Of Gov. Baxter
where he signed officially, the proclamation Q
the Governor convening the Legislature. Ihl
morning he went up to the s1ate-House % egalh
and demanded possession. He ordered Brook
and his men out Of the Office The,
refused to 70. Brooks remarked that be NJ
longer recognized johnson as Secretary OF State
he having signed Baxtcr's proclamation con
vcuirs the Legislature. Some words followed,
there Was any contest over his right to occupy
the Office 1T Secretary Of State; that Judge
Khy1ock certainly never ousted him, dc. Mr.
Brooks rom marked that military necessity com
pclled hin courHo. and johnson left After 10
ing SO, ha addressed tho following letter to Mr.
LITTLE RooK, April %.
s1n: On r,s return after short absence from Lii tie
Book, found TIE Office Of Secretary Of State to which
elected in ls72, and which have held regularly
curied by crowd o: men under your command Aud,
this morning. IN demanding possession Of tho SANE
was refused by you and the men under
your command, and no am out Of my Office by the
action Of yourself and yorr forcea and not able to per
form With facility the duties Of such Office When
left here short time snc> the government Of the
and direction OF EGHha Baxter ns Governor Of Arkan-
thea recognized him as the lawful Governor Of
change in TINT Office. know other person az Ex
ecut1ye Of tho SITE When left at the time named,
Gen Fra1x Strong ny efficient dspuy W. % n nc ehs5gs %
Satisfactorily, but on uay return I find he had
7oeen elected from the Office by you and your
seal or anything connected herewith. The duties Of
my Office cannot be discharged without gre.t difficulty
unless am admitted to the place where the papers
and archives Of the State arc kept and now make de-
and upon you to deliver OF have delivered to me the
ossesion Of the rooms in which the Office Of the Sec
Of sat- 1o IN n3s ce eeen On ff' Rep @ daQ e
seal Of thc STATE, my official seal ali Of which un1er
j. H. JouSsox,
Secretary Of State.
In addition to the above, he addressed another
letter to Brooks. reciting that under the law, he
was the custodian of public buildings, and de-
Legislature would soon meet, and be desired to
have the hallein proper repair. As yet he has re-
ceived no ofacinl reply.
COL. JOHN n. CLAYTON,
brother Of Senstor Howell Clayton, arrived last
evening with company Of colared men to aasist
Brooks.
Gov. Baxter ll.e sent back hone several COM
panes Of his troops. Mr. Brooks does notrccos-
nize the right oi tho Governor to convene the
Legislature The people generally appear 10 be
satisfied that tho
LEGISLATURE SHOULD SETTLE THE MATTER.
It is raining again to-day, and is very diEa-
Ereeabls out OF doors. All the forces remain in
about ths same position as last night.
Tie funeral OF the late Major Shall to-day
WAS one OF tue largest ever seen in this city.
1lr. Brooke made speech to his forces this
morning, in which he announced bis determine
tjon to hold the State-House in spite Of every
thing.
ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 23.-T1e Secretary
OF War to-day telegraphed to the commander at
Little Rock, that he might retire to the arsenal
with his command as as danger to life is no
longer threatened, and leave the question to be
decided by the contestants or by the courts.