The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-23
Arkansas,

The conflict Of authority between Baxter and
Brooks, both claiming to be Governor Of
Arkansas, is serious matter for the
people OF that State, and especially for the
city Of Little Rock, the capital. The Mayor Of
the city addressed letter to the President,
asking assistance from the U. S. troops to keep
the peace, and arrest offenders, stating that it
was strange condition Of things that the Uni
ted States had not power to suppress insurrec-
ton and disorder in a town Of that size. At
torney General Williams, replies, refusing the
application, and in answer to the wonder. of
the Mayor, says it is equally strange that the
people Of Arkansas cannot submit their disputes
to the courts and abide the decision, and keep
the peace while the question Of right as between
claimants is being adjudicated.
The Baltimore American of the 18th gives
the following summary OF the situation in that
State. Going back to the election of 1872, it
says:
Baxter was elected, or at least he was in
stalled as Governor, although Brooks claimed
that his rival had been counted" in. Neither
the Courts nor the Legislature could be persua-
ded to interfere, and for year and a-half Bax-
ter retained possession of the office. In the
meantime Baxter qllarrelled with some OF his
former adherents, and there was division In
the party ranks in the Legislature which
brought about the election of Nh. Dorsey to
the United States Senate in opposition to the
regular Republican candidate. There was a
good deal of indignation ut ithe very s'cOnser-
vative'' course adopted by The Governor in his
administration, and frequent complaints were
made that sound Republicans were overlooked
in the Executive appointments, land lucrative
places given to Democrats. It happened that
Mr.. Brooks recovered from his attack Of con-
servatism about the time these troubles began,
as did also Judge Whytock, of the Circuit
Court, who ran for Supreme Judge on the
Greedy ticket in 1872. Mr.. Brooks quietly
gathered up the evidence which had been put
into shape when he made his contest before the
Legislature, and filed a petition in Judge
Whytock's Court demanding that he be put in
possession of the Office of Governor. A writ
was served on Gov. Baxter, but he paid no at
tention to it, and declared that he would not
allow himself to be turned out OF Office by any
decree that the Circuit Court might pass. The
case was heard er porte, and an order was
signed awarding the office to Brooks. By
singular coincidence this decree was passed on
day that Baxter happened to be absent from
the Executive apartments. When the Govern
or returned he found that Brooks had taken
possession, and guard of hundred armed
men surrounded the State House to protect him
from all interference. Baxter retired to the
suburbs and set up another Executive office,
which has become sort Of military headquars
His retainers, calling themselves estate mill
tia,' have formed a camp in the neighborhood
of the house in which Baxter pretends to be
exercising the functions at Chief Magistrate of
Arkansas, and are preparing to recapture the
State House whenever the Comnlander-in-
Chief shall order the assault.
AS a matter of course, both parties have APP
pealed to Washington, but the President refu-
SEES to interfere. The. officer in command of
the United States troops at Little Rock has
been instructed to take no part in the contest
except to preserve the peace. Whichever par
ty begins hostilfties will be confronted with
United States bayonets. Brooks has possession
of the State House, and exhibits the order OF
Judge Whytock as his title to the Governor
ship; he is, therefore. recognized by the au-
thorities at Washington as the Governor de
facto and until some court of superior juris-
diction reverses this Decree he will be address,
ed as s'Hon. Joseph Brooks, Governor OF Ar
Kansas ".
The Presidents direction to the Secretary of
War to order fine commander of the United
States military post of Little Rock, Arkansas,
to preserve the peace and to prevent b1oodshed,
will meet.with the approval OF AZ parties. II
not permlttedSto light, the 1riendsl. o. the re-
spective Governors will be compelled to sub
NIT the claims Of their chiefs to the adjudica-
ton of the courts. 1t is very apparent, how
ever, that the President does not mean to toll
crate any '.fooling'' on either side. As soon
as it was intimated to him that Baxter was
with the telegraph, and that official
dispatches We're not promptly delivered, he in
structed Colonel Rose to take possession of the |
office, and exercise such supervision as would |
prevent the suppression or mntilation of dis |
patches. Baxter has sent the President long |
dispatch, in which he states his side of the case
with much warmth. He begs the President to !
order the United States troops back to their
and pledges himself to scale
Brooks barbados and retake the State House |
in very few minutes. All that he wants is |
permission to Ego in,'' without Interference
from Colonel Rose. We have nothing from
the otherside except the text Of Che decree OF
the Circuit Court awarding the office of Gov
ernor to Henry Brooks.