The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-05-14
The Arkansas Difficulty.


The trouble concerning the contested
claims to the governorship Of Arkansas
still continues. The President endeavored
last week to so arrange matters between
the contestants, as to refer the matter to
the decision of the Legislature Brooks
agreed to this proposition, but Baxter re-
.iected it. The following are the later de-
yelopements-
WASHINGTON, May II. The following
kilograms were sent from here to-day:
WASHINGTON, May II.
TO Hon. Joseph Brooks, Little Rock, Ark =:
| have suggested to Mr. Baxter that the
members OF the General Assembly now in
Little Rock, adjourned for reasonable
time, say ten days, to give you an oppor-
tunity to call in those members who may
not respond to his call, so that there may
be a full Legislature. The United States
will give all necessary protection to the
Legislature in meeting and transacting its
business as usual at the State House, and
prevent, as far as practicable, all violence
and disturbance of the public peace. |
urgently request that the military OF both
parties be at Cnce disbanded, which is the
first step toward a peaceable settlement
Answer L. s. GRANT
To Hon. Elisha Baxter, Little Rock, Ark !:
| recommend that the members of the
General Assembly, now at Little Rock
adjourn for a reasonable time, say ten
days, to enable Brooks to call the body of
his supposed adherents, so that there may
be a full Legislative. Any hasty action by
part of the Assembly will not be salts
factory to the people Brooks friends here
hot iS
position will be made to the meeting of
the Assembly in the State House as usual
and that he will at once dismiss his forces
if you will do the same. ! urgently re-
quest that all armed forces on both sides
be disbanded 50 that the General Assem-
bly, may act free from any military pres
sure OF influence. The United States
forces will give all necessary protection
to the Legislature, and prevent. as far as
practicable, all violence and disturbance
of the public peace. Answer.
4 l. s. GRANT.
IN BATTLE ARRAY
ST LOUIS, May / Dispatches from
Little Rock say that Gen Churchill and
Col. King White crossed the river this
morning with Il considerable force of Bax-
ter's troops and started for Barring Cross.
Immediately afterwards, Col John NJ
Clayton of Brooks army crossed the rail
road bridge with 800 men. At the latest
accounts, ] o'clock, there was skirmishing
along the lines and lively fire kept up,
but with what result is not stated. Brooks
forces hold the railroad bridge and will
not allow Baxter's troops to cross it, but
the trains are not molested.
Another despatch, dated Barring Csoss,
says the skirmishing was lively, but no
one was wounded, and 20 regulars coming
up, stopped the fight. Both parties then
returned to Little Rock.
WAsHINGToN, May, IL. Senator Clay
from Charles w. Tankersley, Speaker of
dated at Poplar Bluff, Mo-:
The through train was guarded by Bakers
men as far as Little Rock. The train was
searched for me, but | escaped
BANTER's REPLY TO TIE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, May H. The following
in response to a telegram from the Presi-
dent was received here tonight.
LITTLE Rock, May H.
t. S. Grant, President, Washington
There is almost 4 quorum of both
Houses Of the Legislature present, and
| they have power under the Constitution
to adjourn from day to day until they have
quorum, and they can adjourn no longer
until they have quorum. | am in favor
of their adiournlng as long as they please
until every supposed Brooks adherent is
| present
With this understanding | will disband
my troops in proportion as Brooks disbands
| his The Legislature can meet at the
usual place, if Mr. Brooks will 90 as fal
| from it west rs ! am east, and deposit the
State arms in the State armory, and lei
the State House and public buildings be
turned over at once to j. M. Johnson the
Secretary of the State. to whom, under
the law, they belong
(Signed), Elisha Baxter,
Governor of Arkansas.
TIE PRESIDENTS RESPONSE.
On receipt of the above despatch thu
President and Attorney General Williams
held another consultation, and a despatch
was sent to Brooks informing him O
Bakers agreement, and saying that thu
President heartily approved of the prop
osition, considered it fair and reasonable
and that Brooks interests require its i'm
mediate acceptance.
The following despatch was also sent to
Baxter:
WASHINGTON, May Ii.
Hon. Elisha Baxter, Little Rock:
am directed by the President to sa,
that he considers your proposition fair ant
reasonable, and l have asked Mr.. Brook
for its immediate acceptance by him.
GEO. H. WILLIAMS.
| 4,