The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-22

poseO.
Four Of the five Judges OF the Supreme
Court Of Arkansas met at Little Rock on the
eth. and delivered AN opinion on the relation
of Joseph Brooks vs.. Harry Page, State
Treasurer. being AN application for man
damus 10 compel said Page, Treasurer, 10 pay
warrant drawn by the State Auditor in
obedience TO requsition duly made by said
Brooks as Governor. The Supreme Court
decided that the Circuit Court of Pulaski
county had jurisdiction in the matter OF de-
cldng who was legal Governor of the State,
and that IT. decision in favor of Brooks was
regular and valid.
IL is stated that the same question came up
before "A full bench of the Supreme Court. on
the 7th of October last, who decided that un-
der the Constitution the question as 10
whether person exercising the Office of
Governor has been duly elected or not, is
vested exclusively in the General Assembly
of the State, and that no other tribunal or
court is competent 10 decide thereon.
Both sides were again being reinforced and
Brooks had organized a cavalry company to
do scouting duty. The friends of Baxter
claim that the decision of the court amounts
TO nothing, and the danger Of another mortal
collision was considered imminent.
On the night of the eth, a party of Baxter
men under command of Captain WEIGH, went
up the river on the steamer Halle, for the
purpose of intercepting n lot of arms which
were being transported from Fort smith TO
the Industrial University. soon after the lie
parture Of the Baxter expedition, Colonel
John Brooker with regiment of two hundred
colored men of Brooks's command, started on
a special train to intercept the Halle AT Paler-
mo. twenty miles above the city. They arriv-
ed there ahead of the Baxter party and got
into position on the bank, and when the boat
came along a volley was fired az her, kill
A
several others, among them Captain sam
Houston, commander of the boat, who died
OF his wounds in a few hours. John Myers,
pilot, was also thought TO be MORALLY
wounded. The Baxter men returned the fire
from the boat wounding some of their oppo-
nents. but only one seriously. The boat be-
came disabled by the bursting Of steam pipe,
and she fiOated down the river 10 the opposite
bank, where the Baxter men left her. She
was then taken possession Of by the Brooks
men. who brought her back TO the city. Cap
tain Welch asserts that after the boat was
disabled, he held up white flag, which was
riddled with bullets, several shots also
passing through his clothes. A detachment
of Brooks men were afterward sent out to
capture Captain WEIGHS party, who escaped
from the boat. and squad of Baxter cavalry
also went out TO their comrades assistance.
There was great activity on both sides. and
railroad communication with the city was Sc
riously interrupted.
The above is the Associated Press agents
account. Special dispatches to the -. Louis
Globe give essentially the same statement
with the important exception that the Baxter
party on the boat are charged with firing the
first shot-one account says two yollcys were
fired from the boat before the fire was re-
turned from the shore.
Another street tight occurred between the
partisans of the rival Governors AT Little
Rock on the 9th. resulting in the killing Of
one of Brooks adherents, a colored man.
Some forty shots were exchanged before
peace was restored. The origin Of the out
break i obscure, each side charging the fault
upon the other. Business throughout the
city was entirely suspended. and the women
and children were removed from tine vi
entity of the State-house for safety in ease Of
"A general fight.
During the 10th Sunday everything re-
manned quiet. The steamer Halle. which
was in the hands of the Brooks party, was
scutttled and sunk.
A dispatch. signed by number of members
of the Legislature, was sent 10 the President,
asking the protection of the General Govern
ment during the session.
A copy Of an agreement made in Washing
ton and signed by the respective attorneys of
Baxter and Brooks was tclegraphed TO each
Of these gentlemen for confirmation. The
substance Of the agreement was that "A call
should be issued for q meeting Of the State
Legislature TO be held on MAY -. signed by
both Baxter and Brooks: that Brooks shall
present 10 said Legislature a statement Of his
claims To the Office Of Governor. and that the
Legislature, after a full and fair investigation.
shall decide a 10 the legal rights of the con-
tcstants; both parties to quietly abide by the
result. further item in the agreement is
TO the effect that both parties shall disband
all their troops with the exception Of BODY
guard Of one company. and both parties 10
keep absolute peace pending the investigation.
The President. in his discretion, j. To desig-
nate which Of the contestants meanwhile shall
exercise the duties of the Office of Governor.
This agreement was forwarded in the name
Of Acknowledgement Williams. with sle state
mcnt that both the President and himself fav-
ored it, adoption. The proposition was re-
jected by Baxter, on the grounds that
he had submitted substantially the same
proposals to Brooks some time ago and
they were Indignantly rejected, Brooks
announcing that be would have nothing 10
do with the Legi>laturc-that they had no
jurisdiction. and he would not recognize
them or anything they might do. Baxter
further stated that there was quorum of the
Legislature then assembled under his call.
with the Presidents assurance Of protection.
and that they were TO meet on the following
day and determine the question. He finally
recommended the calling Of "A Constitutional
Convention with view Of resubmitting the
whole question To vote of the people.
Brooks signified his acceptance Of the pro-
posed agreement, ut the same time asserting
that the Supreme Court of the state l. the
only tribunal that has authority TO construe
the provisions of the Constitution bearing on
the matter. and that such decision was al
ready recorded in his favor.
kilograms from the President were received
by both Baxter and Brooks, on the 1lth, re-
commencing that the members Of the Legs-
lature then present at the Capital adjourn for
ten days. in order to give Brooks an opportu-
nifty 10 call in the members who are friendly
to him. The Federal authorities wouldEive the
necessary protection TO the Legislature in
meeting and transacting its business at the
Stafa-hnusa and n was iIrganflv reaupstpd