The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-13


bsyonets can put Baxter's Legislature into the
the constitution under which the President has
this power. Nothing else will. and when there !
doubt II you can compel them to determine who Is
Governor.
1t is time this agony. doubt and un-
certainty were over The interests OF hu-
mainly demand that the question shall be set
tied. and, If you have the power, under the coDsti
tuition and laws OF the United States to settle the
question OF who Is Governor or Arkansas adverse
TO the decision OF the Courts OF the State
settle 1t and settle it at once. I shall
not resist what you may order United States
troops to do, but shall with all the power at
my command repel any and all attempts ny
Baxtcr's forces to take possession OF the State
House. am confident that a legal quorum OF
the Legislature will not respond to Baxter's call,
and shall not assent nor be party to conven-
ing the Legislature under any other agreement
t0rney General, on the 9th inst.
JOSEPH BROOKS. Governor of Arkansas.
ANOTHER DESPATCH.
The following was received here this morning,
and. together with the above, considered at the
Cabinet meeting to-day
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF ARKANSAS
BARRING Cross, Ark, May II, 1874. I
Hon. GEORGE H. WILLIAMS, Attorney General,
Washington d. c..
The members of the General Assembly here. even
If there were quorum (and there is mott, do not
constitute Legislature unless convened by the
Governor. II you recognize this assemblage
as Legislature you recognize Baxter as
Governor, for no one but the Governor can
convene the Legislature in extraordinary
session. If IL a TpUt9laturp called the
proper authority. its adjournment is a matter OF
no consequence SO far as the Secretary OF State
Is concerned II any OF his prerogatiyes are inter-
Tered with, the Courts OF the State, and not the
President, is the proper tribunal before which
to redress his grievances l have answered
the Presidents despatch at length I
shall not dlsDand any troops under my
command until the question OF who IS Governor
OF Arkansas is settled, unless required to do so by
the direct command OF the President. l have no
proposition to submit, and will entertain none on
the subject other than that proposed by yourself
sanctioned by the President and agreed to by the
agents and attorneys OF Baxter and myself The
case made on the papers requires the President to
recognize either Baxter or myself as Governor Of
Arkansas.
The settlement OF the question, either before the
courts or the Legislature, is in my opinion that
does not require the intercession OF the President
on Baxter's behalf. He must act on the papers be-
fore him, and not upon what Legislature may or
may not do in the future. Upon a majority OF
the votes Of the legal voters Of this State
and upon the judgments of the Supreme and
Circuit Courts l am willing 20 stand or fall.
But If these are to be held for naught by the Pres-
dent until such time as he can ascertain the
opinion Of the Legislature to guide him in deter.
mining who is Governor, and during the tendency
of the question to allow the State ana cit-
zens to be pundered and robbed by an
armed mob, which has already fired on
the federal troops and commenced an
indiscrIminate slaughter OF colored men. TO
avoid further sacrifice OF life and loss OF property
am lmpcled by sense OF duty to submit my
case as 1t now stands and abide the Presidents
determination.
JOSEPH BROOKS, Governor Of Arkansas.