The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-05-08
what srate Nexts

tFros, the Lake Charles Echo, May adj
Arkansas comes to the front with two
GOvernols-Josepli Brooks and Elisha
Bsxter-both claiming to have been
elected In 1872. In 1873the Legislature,
conceded to be the only legal authority
Ia decide tile question, opened the re-
turns and declared Baxter elected. He
was sworn I'm and took peaceahle pos
session of the Office. ThereupOn Brooks
drought suit for the Office in the Circuit
Court of Pulaski county, and the Attor-
new General brought suit In the name oil
the State for the same purpose in the
Snureme Court. by suing out a writ of
0no war1anto against Baxter. The SUI
IRENE Court decided that the State had
no control over a contested election for
Governor. This was generally regarded
~ Il settlement of the matter in Baxters
favor, SO far as the courts were concern
I'D, and netAing more was done until q
few days age, Bakers attorneys, deslr-
ing to dispose Of the suit OF Brooks III
the Circuit Court, filed therein q demur-
rer thereto. For the information of our
READERS. WBMiH explain thata demurrer
I'll plsa which admits as true the aIle-
cations sE the plaintiff Is petitioner COM
nIaint. but denies the therein alleged
legal consequence. 1t is equivalent To
tho defendants saying to the court, u
acknowledge that what the plaintiff says
Is tue, but Z deny that it legally entities
him 10 the relief he demands, IA de-
mnrrer may be general or special, Tn
this case 1t was special-yiz., to the ju-
risdiction of the court.
During the absence Of Governor Bax-
ser's attorneys from the court room, the
attorney of Brooks stated to the court
that he and GOvern0rB Baxter had agreed
to submsit the demurrer to the decision
or the court. This was on the 18th nit.
About II o'clock al. Al, next day, iii tho
absence of Bakers attorneys from the
eourtruD theC Circuit Judge lWhylockl
overruied the demurrer, and nome of
BaNter's counsel being present to an
swer, plead over, or move for an appeal,
d Judgment 0f custer was rendered
against Baxter, 3 writ placed in the
hands DE the Sheriff. and she court was
adjourned. Early next dag, Brooks
took the oath of onaees and id i've Min-
1ltes afterwards, ut the head of az harmed
band, was Iii tile Governors 9f3ce de-
nianding possession. Governor Baxter,
declining To give mp possession, was
fugoibly OusNed. and Brooks took pos
session of the State House, and issued
his official (1 proclamation. Governor
Baxter t~laeraupon established his head
quarters 1t st. Johns College, in the su-
tIurbs De Little KOgk, the State capital.
Then Brooks and Baxter commenced.
ii d0alIe teIegraDlaic siege against the
President, which was vigorously sas-
tainad as last aagiees. The President
~urudeutly declinRd To Interfere, but
rather snubhed Brooks, lRadical,1 and
favored Baxter. The friends of both
paptieB foclscd To theie heaaqiarters,
the negroes generally going to- fhe aid
Gf Brooks. Civil war begun, and the
streets of LATHE Rock res0anded with
che roar of muasetTy, and the grustlIs OF
the wounded and dying. al small force
&c Federal soldiers got between the coE
tending factions. md prevented bytheir
presence alone. further b~IOOdsheG. Us
confidently expected that Governor Box
tor Will win the light and be speedily
restored til his original p0sifOu,