Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-04-22
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLE.

The unfortunate condition Of affairs in
Arkansas serves to render any information
about them of great interest to the public.
To supply this Information we make
brief resume of the history of the Baxter
Brooks contest from the beginning. At
the election for Governor in 1872, Elisha
Baxter was the regular Republican candi-
date, and Jas. Brooks was the Liberal Re-
publican and Democratic candidate. The
result of the election has ever since been
subject of dispute. Brooks friends
charge that Baxter was elected by fraud,
while Bakers friends claim he received a
majority of all the votes cast. The Legis-
lature canvassed the returns and decided
that Baxter was elected. He was soon af-
ter installed into Office as Governor
and has ever since been so obeyed and
recognized. Soon after the canvass
of the votes by the Legislature, Brooks,
through the Attorney General of the State,
instituted proceedings in the Supreme
Court of the State by quo oodrTdnto to de-
termine the legality of Baxter's exercise
of the office. The court decided four to
one that it had 40 jurisdiction of the case,
subsequently in the Wheeler-Berry case
the court re-affirmed its first decision. This
was supposed to be an end of the litiga-
ton and to leave Baxter Governor beyond
dispute. But few days ago, in an old suit
brought by the Circuit Court of Pulaski
county by Brooks before the decisions of
the Supreme Court referred to and which
| suit seems to have been treated as aban-
doned, the court in the absence of
| Gov. Baxters attorney, and without no.
| tice, rendered decision everything BaX-
ters demurrer to the jurisdiction of the
court. But instead of allowing the de-
| PENDANT to plead to the declaration and
join issue so that the court could hear the
case upon its merits, the Circuit Judge enter
ed final judgment, issued writ and had 1t
executed before Baxter had knowledge
that any proceedings in which he was in
terested were going on. This seems to be,
as near as we can gather from the conflict
ing reports published, fair statement OF
the history of the contest. What has oc-
Cured since Brooks took forcible posses.
sion of the State House our readers know
from what has been published in the
| CHRONICLE.
The political character of the struggle
seems to be mixed. Though Baxter was
elected as the Republican candidate, the
supporters of the two claimants for tha
office have partially changed grounds
Baxter, while still having q considerable
element of the Republicans supporting
him, is also supported by the mass of thu
Democrats. Brooks seems to have the mos
of the Republican leaders with him nov
and some Democrats. 1t is alleged by thos
who claim to understand the present figh
that it grows more out of railroad interest
than politics. Gov. Baxter lately opposet
some measures brought forward by tn
railroads by which they hoped to throw
upon the State heavy tax burdens. Thi
} Baxter opposed, and it is probable tina
this has much to do with the present con
a test.
f Gov. Baxter is the younger brother o
= Col. John Baxter of this city. He is a ma
: tive Of North Carolina, but has been 70
= over twenty years q lawyer, Judge AM
/ prominent citizen of Arkansas.