Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-15
ruEankaNs.s MIDDLE.


If there be any man, in America or
elsewhere, who understands precisely
the status of affairs in Arkansas or the
merits thereof, we frankly confess that
We are not that man.
Both Baxter and Brooks continue to
write theme elves Governors of Arkan-
sas, and each maintains his position
by force of arms. Fighting has been
and we presume is still going on. Men
calling themselves "Baxter's troops
have been killed and so have men call
| ing themselves Crooks troops" A
steamboat in possession of one party
on an expedition to capture a supply
of arms intended for the other party
was itself cut off and captured with
the loss of several lives. Subsequent
ly, when the surrender of the captured
steamer became a necessity, the par
ties in possession scuttled and sunk
her. Whether they will quote the
cases of the Florida and the Virginius,
which went to the bottom of the sea,
while in possession of the United States
authorities just in time to avoid the
humiliation of surrender is not
stated.
The advantage that Mr.. Baxter had
over Mr.. Brooks by virtue of the de-
cision of the State Supreme Court,
that it had no jurisdiction in the
premises for the reason that the Leg
islature, and the proper tribunal to do
so, had already finally disposed of
the matter, has been lost by the sub
sequent action of the same Court, de-
claring that it had jurisdiction, and
that Brooks is Governor.
Governor Baxter has called the Leg
islature together in special session, but
of course Governor Brooks does not
recognize its members as having any
official legal existence, but only as re-
spectacle gentlemen-in about the
same way we presume, that Governor
Caldwell recognized the present Board
of Trustees of the University of North
Carolina.
Committees or rather attorneys for
both Governors have been to Washing
ton City to consult and advise with
their Great Father, President Grant,
and their Great God-F her, Mr.. At
torney-General Williams, and had long
and earnest and frequent consultations
and audiences with the powers that bein
Washington, and the matured delibe-
rate conclusion from it all was that
things III Arkansas were a good deal
mixed.
Thereupon President Grant, the
Great Father who makes and I'M
makes States at will, telegraphed
to Brooks and to Baxter that
it would be well to permit the
Legislature called 10y Baxter to decide
the matter after Brooks friends claim
ing to have been elected to that body,
should have an opportunity to make
good that claim. The next news was
that Baxter had refused to accept the
proposition, because lie had already
proposed it, but Brooks who had no
such difficulty in his way, and who,
indeed, had already refused it, would
then accept it. The telegram on yes
terday, however, informed us that it
was Brooks and not Baxter, who had
refused, although the letters of these
gentlemen TO the contrary effect have
been published all over the country.
Ii under these circumstances any
one can tell where the truth lies he has
greater power of discernment than we
have
One other point material to be men
toned in this connection, is the fact. |
That the President was prevented from
attending the reunion of the Ninth |
Federal Army Corps at Harrisburg, |
Pennsylvania, on Monday last, by the
Arkansas muddle. This fact is mate
rial and pertinent and competent to
show the gravity of the occasion. It
must have been deep middle to keep
The President at home when a grand
army festival was going on.