Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-14
More Trouble i'm Arkansas.

Of the ire is not known.
More Trouble in Arkansas.
New York, Nov a. "A Little Rock dis
patch of the 18th says: To-day Lieutenant
Governor V. Y. Smith returned from the
East, and learning that in his absence Gov.
Baxter had turned the Executive office over
to Governor Garland, issued procIama,
ton setting forth the fact that he was elected
Lieutenant Governor for four years 10 1872
aud that his time not having expired, and Bax-
ter having abdicated, he was Governor Of the
State. The proclamation OF Smith deprecates
the use of force 10 the settlement Of the ques'
ton, which is entirely legal one. He claims
that he is acting under advice OF leading attor-
neys, and that he will be recognized by the
United States authorities The legality of the
new constitution is involved 10 this question,
aud the matter must be finally settled by some
tribunal outside Of the State. The following
has been sent to President Grant:
SIR: The Constitution of the State of Ar
kansas that was ratified on the 18Th Of March,
1868, and under which said State was admit
ted 10 representation III Congress under certain
conditions aud restrictions, reclted 10 the act
entitled au act to admit the State OF Arkansas
IL representation III Congress, passed June 20,
1868, provides, amoug other things, for the
office of Lieutenant Governor, the term OF
which is four years. At the election held 10
said Stale on the 9Th Of November, 1872, |
was elected to said Office of Lieutenant Gov
error for term of four years, aud on January
Oh, 1873, duly qualified as such, and have
continued so to act from said Aforementioned
date. The l0:h section of article of said
Constitution declares: ''Iu case Of impeach.
rlent Of the Governor, his removal from Office,
death, resignation, Inability. or removal from
the State, the powers and duties thereof shall
devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor during
the residue Of the term, 81.
'On my return to the State after brlct alb
scncc [ find that Elisha Baxter, the recognized
Governor, has abdicated and abandoned the
office Of Governor aud turned the same over to
one \. I'll. Garland, who preteuds to execute
the office of Governor under aud by authority
of pretended constitution which he claims
was ratified by the people OF said State on the
18th Of October last. The manner and mode
OF amending or changing the constitution OF
the State is distinctly stated IN the article.
"rhe change OF constitution attempted to be
made was not and is not IN accordance with said
article but uHder the provisions OF AN act to
provide for a convention to frame a new con
slitution approved May l6, 1874, copy Of
which is hereto attached. The State of Arkan-
sas was admitted TO representation 10 Congress
upon certain fundamental conditions named in
the act OF June %, 1868, which | claim are
violated by the pretended new. constitution.
also claim that the constitution of the State OF
Arkansas cannot be altered or amended in any
toll b,, tlo
stitu,ion itself and that pointing out how this
constitution should be altered or amended is an
inhibition on The General Assembly and peo-
pie Of the State to pursue another or different
mode.
"rhe abdicatiou Of the Office of Governor and
abandonment thereof by Elisha Baxter, 10 law
amounts to constructive or paro resignation. ln
such case under the provisions of section 10 Of
article six Of said constitution, the duties of the
office CT Governor devolvc upon me as Lieut..
Governor. By and through the treachery and
counivance of Elisha Baxter find A. FL. Cur
land n the Executive office discharglng the du-
ties thereof Not only this, find a body of
men in the Legislative Halls, who pretend to
be members OF the General Assembly Of the
State of Arkansas, and who are attempting to
lcgislate for the people, who we're not elected
at the time nor in the manner provided by the
constitution aud laws Of said State. | also fnd
a new set of pretended judicial officers acting
as supreme aud circuit Judges, who were not
chosen at the time nor in the manner provided
by The constitution and laws of said State. ln
short, 6ud new government set up during
my absence, that is not the legitimate OFF,
spring OF that of 1868, and that the officers
of the pretended Government have in
some Instances by violence and force dis
placed officers holding similar positions
under the Constitution alluded to. BY
reason OF this state of affairs and other
causes all contributing to the same end, domes.
tic violence exists in this State, which is too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary pro-
cess oil! law, or the militia at my command.
Now therefore, l, Y. V, Smith, Lieutenant
Governor of the State of Arkansas. EIish Bax-
ter, the recognized Governor of said State hav-
ing abdcaled and abandoned said Office, do
hereby, and by these presents, make appllca-
ton to the President of the u. S., under
laws passed 10 pursuance thereof to guarantee
said State of Arkansas republican form OF
government and protect the same against do
nestle violence The Legislature of said State
is not now in session and cannot be convened
at this time without great detrlment to the
public Interests. Any attempt to do so would
result in augmenting confusion and anarchy,
and would probably lead to strife and unneces-
sary booGshcd.
This appeal is signed "V, Y. Smith, Gov
ernor Of Arkansas.
The Franklin Telegraph Co,
BosToN, Nov. l4-An offer of thirty. five