The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-15
Letter from Arkansas -Clear1ns Up


FORT SMITH, ARK, May S, 1874.
To Tho Editors of the Baltimore Gazette:
Asa citizen of Arkansas "outside of pol
tics, propose to give you an impartial &C
count OF the Brooks-Baytcr trouble cxiStin
at present in this State. Concerning tha
matter, it is a dog fight, and, so far as tn
leaders are concerned, it is Il great pity tha
it ia not a cat fight of the Kilkenny
order. There is more filth in the affIlr thai
lies ia the bottom of that plrt Of your cit.
bs-bcr which il called the basin.' Ever
where "Jones's Falls" empticS its flood o
rotten and infectious ScourinSs, there is M
such mass Of accumulated nth as exists il
the politics of Arkansas. ! voted for Mr.
Brooks, and he was elected beyond doub
by the votes OF the people, Democrats ant
Literal Republicans united. But the minion
Of Senator Clayton; by Clayton's order
counted Baxter in, and he was Installed a
Governor, the Legislature ratified his etec
ton and installation, ard the courts By claim
ing 20 jurisdiction left Mr.. Brooks IL
remedy, and he was "out in the cod" Sena
tor CLAYTON also endorsing the action Of thu
courts and the Legislature. The claims o
Mr.. Brooks and the proteStations of thu
people were alike disregarded, and cas-
rudeiv sside by the parties in power. Now
after Mr. Baxter has been 4 year and halt il
offic~. he is suddenly removed by q decree o
ON. Of the courts which had before claimed
no jurisdiction. WHY was Baxter removed
He was making much the best Governor We
b,ye had since the war. Even those who
voted sgsinst him were becoming satisfied
and he vas gazing the confidence Of al
classes Of the people rapidly. Why, then
was he removed? 1t is said that he had as
piratious toward Clayton's seat in the United
States Senate. 1t is also certain that he MOI
very long ago repudated certain bonds anC
other financial matters in which both of The
United States senators from Arkansas are SAID
TO be largely interested. THIS financial mud
die may occupy large, though not pro-
minent, position in our present condition OF
affairs. Baxter undoubtedly refused to q
certain extent to do the bidding Of those
who claimed him lis their seryile tool,
and for that refusal he was ousted
I was not. and am not now, Baxter
man. He was forced upon the people Of the
State, and as he seemed TO be disposed to do
right to certain extent and many others
in fact. a majority Of the people Of the
disposed to accept him as an
s. evil that already existed rather than fly to
others that we knew not off, Now, although
| cast my vote for Brooks, | do not, under
the present aspect OF affairs. desire to have
any further connection with him politically,
for cannot see by any process Of reasoning
how be can be honestly in the same boat
with Messrs. Clayton 4 Co. after the man.
uer in which he lruth!uly showed up their
political corruption from the stump when
the State for his election in the
of 1872 If Brooks has not sold
out to CLAYTON Il Co., then they are using
him rs tool TO Dust Baxter, and when the
(Which Baxter has called to as
,emblc on the 11th INSTANT meets, that body
nay declare Brooks Tot the Governor. and
IS Baxter is already out they will make John
n. Clayton (pre>ideat Of the State Senate
Governor pro tenn, and he will hold until
be end of the present term. You and Others
do not reside in this State, where "some
hines are done as we'll as others,' may say
hat such things cannot be done. But you
TO not know anything of Arkansas political
ntrigucrs. They have eNpunged the word
cant" from their political vocabulary, and
hey have an instrument which is called
. Jack.haul," by means of which they re-
,oncie any little difference that may exist
between the wishes OF the people and
heir own desires. 1t was this "Jack-
laul" that settled Il dispute in this
country not long ago, in regard to a
game of poker, in which one party
held four aces and his opponent four jacks.
The party who had the jacks produced
!. Jack-haul" from under his coat In the
shaee Of navy SiX-shooter OF Colts most
pattern, and tue man who had the
aces decided cat sight" that five jacks was
a better hand than four aces. mus 1t IS IN
the politics Of our State. "Jack-haul" is
symbolical of the power tina. is always ready
to back up the will OF our State political
rulers. Observe the effective manner in
which the United States troops have inter-
posed to keep Mr.. Brooks in the State
House at Little Rock, Ill accordance with
the wishes of Clayton & Co.-who less
than two years ago were ready to back
Baxter up in the same wav-undcr
the name of keeping the peace. Truly our
political affairs may be typltied by that inter-
csting little game, where the manager says,
Swatch the little jacks" "Now you see
it, and now you don't" If you will look
over Arkansas political events since the
war, and particularly for the last two years
and then watch for future events, you may
observe some "Ways that are dark anC
tricks that are vain" Out not in valn) tina
would astonish even the most heather O
heather Chinese.
You may, if you look close enough, b'
able to see the shadow of the Government q
Washington covering the entire State Will
its baIeful influence, like that Of the deadl.
Upas tree and you may also see the tide o
corruption starting out from Washington
city. pursuing its regular channels and ram
ifications, and suddenly bursting to the sur
face in Arkansas, as it does in some othe
States, like fostering sore, eating up ant
destroying our industries and enterprises
and dealing death TO our hopes and our pros
pects.
The foregoing statement of facts is not 4
all exaggerated, and am sure will meet Will
the endorsement of the people of the entir,
State who are not politicians, and who reall,
desire to see the State and its people prospe
and be happy. You will readily see from
the statement Of the condition Of affairs her
what terrible position We occupy, aud hoV
completely we are in the power of the ring
| Not ring Of pure metal, but ring of bas
alloy, whose every act fails upon the heart
Of the people like the tolIing of bell who's
knell proclaims the coming of misery an
| woe. CALVERT,
*John n. Clayton, brother of Senator Powe
Clayton.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN New YORK.
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