The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-14
THURSDAY, MAY IA, 1874.
AND PRESIDENT.

die if so serious complication can be
called by that word. All attempts at com
promise seem to be at an end and for this
Joseph Brooks is alone responslblc-unless
he is in the condition of the tabled man
who, after having raised legion of devils,
was unable to control them. 1t seems to
lis that Elisha Baxter is of right the de
facto governor of Arkansas, and, as such,
that he. and he alone, should be obeyed
and respected. AT this moment. it matters
not whether Brooks was fraudulently
counted out and Baxter in like manner
counted in. The fact remains, and it is We
decisive tact, that the Legislature the only
tribunal having jurisdiction in the prem
iscs-declared Baxter duly elected, and
that he was duly inaugurated. THIS beng
so he must remain governor until the same
authority, on a contest, reverses that de
cision and, declare Brooks to I've the right
full incumbent of the Office. This is still
an open question--that is, it has not been
so adudicated that it cannot now he re-
viewed upon a contest. Baxter himself,
has proposed to leave the whole qucs
ton to the legislature. and to abide by their
decision. To this proposal Brooks de-
clned to accede When this mode of com
promise was suggested, at the very outset
of troubles. it will be remembered that we
earnestly favored such action stating At
hat l.,l. I,,,t
ter. as the DE- .ftrto executive had The sole
right and power to convene that body
but as there were doubts in reference TO the
fact of who would be declared to be the
.ightfW governor, all doubts and questions
could be removed by each claimant issuing
his own proclamation, and each conycning
the legislature of the state to meet at the
same time and place
BY so doing there would not have been
n thread upon which TO hang a question of
the legality of their action, no matter what
it might have been Baxter issued his pro-
clamation converting the legislature, Brooks
remained quiet, so Tar as any such action
was concerned. Subsequently, the l'resi-
dent recommended such course, but
Brooks refused to assent7 thereto, while
Baxter virtually acquiesced Therein. The
same proposition, or suggestion, has again
been made by the President, but mark the
manner in which it is received. Baxter re-
spends that he has already issued Il pro
clamaton; that quorum of the legislature
less three members haye assembled that
he conceives that the right and power of
converting that body rests in him alone
that they have the right to adjourn from
day to day and that he was willing and
in this the larger number of the members
of the legislature coincided-that they
should so adjourn until all of the BROOKS
adherents' should be present, or until
Brooks should issue nrQrlamni0n for them
to assemble at The earliest possible day
as't,i7 uetedf" IS vifft02gpld c9me; This
fthe proposition. Brooks absolutely declines
to accede thereto. Is he afraid to submit
his claims to the representatives of the peo-
pie OF the state, whereof he claims to be
governor ? 1t would seem so, and upon
his shoulders must rest all the responsibility
Tor the bloodshed in this unhappy contro-
yersey. Without yielding an ota CT his
rights, real or supposed, he can end this
controversy. this bloodshcd, this civil war
in a day
we have no respect or sympathy for
pithar nnrtU fn fhic
There are too many such men occupying
high official positions throughout the south.
The floors of Congress are disgraced by
many miserable specimen of the same
class. II would be better, perhaps, for the
south, for the country, for humanity, and
Tor our national reputation, if every one of
these miserable harpies could be gathered
INTO field and there indulge in Kilkenny
eat fight But we do have some respect and
sympathy for the poor, suffering, down
trodden people of Arkansas We have.
moreover, respect for the law, and can
see no hope or safety for the country or
the people except in due respect for. and
perfect obedience of all laws. It's forthis
reason that we believe that Elisha Baxter is
at the present time the legal governor of
that state We do not forget that so-callcd
decision of the Pulaski county circuit court.
We do not forget the recent qualification
ot the supreme court. We do not believe.
however, that either of these pretended de-
cisons is OF any more weight or authority
than would be the decision of Rutland
justice of the peace that the - legal tender
act, or the law relating to the traffic in in
toxicating liquors, was unconstitutional.
Country justices have made such decisions
and they were Just as effective as the deci.
,ons referred to or as the Popc's bn]l
against the comet. That same supreme
court had twice before decided that il. or
any other court in the state, could not act
IN such a case or decide thereon. and that
any such action or decision would be utter
y nugatorv, without any force and would
be entitled to no respect.
Furthermore, the constitution Of the
state expressly declares that the egisla-
'"ic, anu the legislature alone, can decide
contes. for the Office of governor This
then being the situation, the facts, the CON
stiiution and the law uniting in the decla-
ration that Elisha Baxter is alone entitled
10 discharge the duties of governor, what
IS the duty Of the President? Although
the case is dissimilar from that of Rhode
Island, yet it presents a case in which the
President ought TO act as the then Presi-
dent did at that time. There should he no
delay. Indeed, we trust that ere this
reaches our readers that he will have acted;
that he will have recognized Baxter as the
executive of the time being. The case is
urgent. There is no further hope of com
promise or of a settlement of the matter
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