Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-24
ARKANSAS.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE two
GOVERNORS.
RETNFORCEMENTS ARRIVING
FOR BAXTER.
A CONFLICT IMMINENT.
ANOTHER APPEAL FOR UNITED
STATES TROOPS REFUSED.

L
STATES TROOPS REFUSED.
LITTLE Rock, April 1S--Night.-.,
Three hundred men from Pine Bluff,
1900 from Washington, 100 from
Batesyille and so from Saline county
reinforced the Governors troops this
| morning.
The 800 men from Pine Bluff are
nearly all colored men. They came
| with colors flying and their band
| PLAYING. The Governor is now hold
| ing consultation with his Generals.
| His intention is to surround the State
House and to cut off its supplies. The
State House party has been pressing
the colored people into service.
The Governor says he will prevent
bloodshed if possible, but by the
eternal the insurgents mist and will
be put down.
| One thousand more men are expect
ed on the train this evening. Brooks
| has sent out numerous recruiting
officers, but they are not to be permit
| ted to return. Brooks now has pos
| session of the street in front of the
State House, and his sentinels can be
seen passing their posts from point
near the City Hall.
Gen. Ira McBarton, an Old West
Point graduate, and Federal officer
during the late war. has command OF
the colored troops from Pine Bluff.
The State House party captured
Capt. Sam Houston this morning as he
was passing near their lines. He
knocked down the Lieutenant of the
guard, but was dragged into their lines
! by force. He was afterwards released.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
| WASHINGTON, y. c., April IS, 1874. !
Frederick Ra371er, Nayo7' Of Little
! Rock, ArkansaS:
You must be aware that the Presi-
| dent cannot interfere in the domestic
| difficulties of State, except in con-
| formation with the Constitution and
| laws of the United States. He cannot
recognize n call made upon him for
military aid, by the Mayor of city.
| He has instructed the officer COM
mandirg the United States troops at
Little Rock TO prevent bloodshed,
| That is all he can do under existing
circumstances.
| I will ask, in answer to your
| inquiry, " whether the United States
are powerless to protect 10000 people
situated as the citizens of Little Rock
are?" if the people of Arkansas have
not patriotism enough to allow ques-
ton as to who shall hold State office,
to be settled peaceably and lawfully,
and not bring upon their State the DIS
grace and ruin of civil war?
| GEO. Fl. WILLIAMS, Att'y-Gen.
The above is in answer to the fol.
lowing.
LITTLE Rock. April Is, 1874.
To AttoT7aey- General Williams, Wash
ingto7a:
In your despatch to Gov, Brooks
[ infer that you intend to be under
stood as saying that the President can
not recognize him as Governor nnti
his light has been fully and
finally recognized by the Courts.
[ understand from your dispatch tc
Governor Baxter chat the Presiden
cannot recognize him until his right
has been settled by the Supreme Court
and the Supreme Court will not be IL
session until June. Now what are we
to do in the meantime? Governor
Baxter has issued his proclamation
putting the city under martial law, anG
armed men, pretending to act under
his orders, are patroling the streets
stopping peacable and unarmed citi
zens, setting the authority of the city
officers at defiance, and arresting the
police. Not only this, but private
property is being forcibly seized aud
appropriated in o like manner. TIE
construction placed Oh your dispatch
by Governor Baxter, is that it is al
attack on the Brooks faction with an
assurance in SO doing that the federal
! government Will not interfere. You
viii readily see that the city is sure to
become Il scene of bloodshed over a
strife its authorities are no. RESPONSE
BILE for, and which they have not the
power TO settle, and placed where an
appeal to either one of the persons
claiming to be Governor lays the city
authorities liable to tue charge of be-
ing the parties Of the one appealed to.
I desire to ask il the Federal govern
mant IS poWerless to protect the lives
and property CT twenty thousand in
habitants who are situated as we are.
II you viii instruct the officers IN
charge CT the arsenal to aid the city
| police III making the arrest of men
! who are openly violating the law and
setting the same at defiance, / could
preserve the peace Of the city without
being compelled to take sides with
either OF the contending factions.
This question of who is the rightful
Governor can only be settled by the
courts, thing that may not be done
! for the next twelve months, and I now
implore you IN TIE name of Peace to
| aid me all in your power until the
! other question is settled.
! FRED'K RAMOR,
| Mayor Of Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK, April 2Q.-Noon.-
The Federal flag floats over tha Az
thony House. It's present object is
simply to provoke good behavior.
Baxter holds the teleg raph office, but
| Brooks has tapped the wires and re-
quires the eo7lniersien o. pass to go
hons.
Brooks has acQHlesced in the order
of Col. Rose, directing that all armed
men be kept off the streets, an,i has
withdrawn his sentinels from the State
House grounds, but maintains a war
like attitude within the Capital.
LITYs1E Rock, April 10, 1874.
70 tie .Secrefahy q j'0', Wasting
ton, ID. Z.
[ have received the President in
! structions and they are carried ont.
There is some excitement, but it will
soon s1lbside. The forces are small on
each side. Signed, J. G. Rose,
Capt. Of 18th Infantry.
No change in the situation up tC tho
Presept time. A company Of Z. S.
soldiers oacHry the telegraph Office and
Gazette building. 4 Fey additional
companies have been added 80 slax-
ter's force and one to Brooks men.
Both sides are resting on their arms.
SDHmE CAROLINA
HIRAM SIBLEY AND HENRY