Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-17
Governor Baxter Says FOrbearance
Is at an End.
Martial Law and a Marshaling Of
Forces.
Brooks in a close Place.



LITTLE Rock, April l7,-Darlng the
warlike movements of last night Colonel
Rose, eommandant Of the United States
arsenal, brought company down town,
stationiug them at the corner OF Main
and Fourth streets and sent word to
each side that while he had no orders to
Interfere in behalf Of either party, he
was directed to prevent bloodshed. The
company returned to the arsenal at day
light this morning, there appearing to
be no immediate danger
Governor Baxter has contracted his
lines to the vicinity of the Anthony
House, aud is now proceeding as before
to exercise the duties of Governor,
making the Anthony House the capitol
for the time being.
This morning both the private seere'
taries of Brooks and Baxter applied at
the postofiee for mail matter addressed
to the Governor Of Arkansas. The post
master declined to deliver it to either
party, and telegraphed to Washington
for instructions.
Governor Baxter has issued the follow
ing proclamation:
Executive OFFICE, LITrLE Rock. /
April Is. lS7t. }
To the People of Arkansas:
An insurrectiou, organized in the IN
terest of certain parties disappointed in
an attempt 10 secure the influence Of the
Executive Tor proposed frauds in the ap-
preaching election, has effected the SEX
ure Of the capitol and nov attempts 70
usurp the functions Of the government
The momsntsry success OF this lnsur-
rection SO ia. as regards the occupation
OF the building is nothing, since the
political traditions of the American
people give TO the legitimate govern
ment in time OF peace the armed sen
tries and loaded cannon, which for the
moment support the usurpation within
the precincts of the Stste-house, bat this
has not been deemed requisite to the
maintenance Of q Recognized govern
ment. The uneLpected and forElals &c
cupation Of the buildinE coul1 1ss II the
instant be successfully resisted AuHr-
sion to unnecessary t31so2shsst hHE IIr 3
few hours Withheld ths arm 81 me ei-Eiz
government from the lnnAtH1A F11sil-
cation OF lis rights ant EiCIlfT- FEr-
bearsnce has sssEaE u14F 10 subEins1
the iupudenes Ct tss hEnt-iIl IL lIlsUr-
gents. Po.osSrz-es q .dsrEiisrs AZ Ia
end.
General order No. !. s-1n hs,h5sIEr-
ters Of the militia Of AFkz-Ez-ss VIII -Eis
corresponding With that q i-1B yrscls-
nation, declares marital l2g % ths
county Of Pulaski. II i due % ne Dso-
pie OF the State that the Circumstances
which have rendered Necessary this
course Of action BE- Published. ~ the
election Of 1872 ! was returned Governor
Of Arkansas. Al a late stage u the ser
sion Of the Legislature, chosen - the
same time, my opponent, Joseph Brooks,
ESQ, sought bis sole legitimate and con
stitutional method Of redress--bad he
been injured in the decision u tho cleo
tion-by an.appeal 70 the representatives
Of the people. The appeal was eumma'
rily rejected Application Was then
made 10 the highest Judicial authority Of
the State, the Supreme Court, for writ
Of quo wauanto, which should determine
my right 10 the Office Of Governor. In
that case, as in the suit instituted for
the Office Of Auditor Of State, the highest
judicial tribunal Of Arkansas decided
that, under the supreme organic Law Of
the State, the determination Of the ques.
ton Of election Of State officers is exclu.
sively vested In the Legislature. Public
excitement was allayed; the State set
tied itself 10 quiet under an admiblstra'
ton which, trust, has not been uniaith'
ful 70 its professions or obnoxious TO the
people.
Meantime a proceeding has been insti.
tuted before a circuit court OF a county
for the possession Of the Office OF Gov
ernor. l do not care at present TO com.
ment upon the question Of authority OF
such a court to adjudieate a matter, from
the decision Of which the Supreme Court
OF the State had, upon constitutional
grounds, not merely Ehrunk, but atlrm'
atiyely denied its own jurisdiction. The
Pulaski Circuit Court did clandeshnely
assume upon a demurrer filed 10 court,
but never submitted to the court for its
action, to render judgment OF custer
against the officer who for fifteen months
had exercised the functions OF Chief
Magistrate Of the State. The judgment
was rendered upon the call OF the con
testant's attorney, in violation OF the
express agreement Of counsel that the
case should not be taken up in the Alb
sence Of the representatives OF either
party. Il was rendered, therefore, IN
point fact, without the knowledge or
even the suspicion Of the Governor or oil
his counsel, in pursuance of a plot al
ready matured. In anticipation OF the
decision ofthe circuit court, the conspira-
tors forgetting in their haste that no writ
custer had ever been issued, betook them
selves to the room where the Chief JUS
tice Of the State, the sole dissenter from
the decision Of the Supreme Court in
the matter, awaited them by previous
appointment, aud then armed With the
Chief Justices attestation to Mr.. Brooks
| oath Of Office. proceeded forcibly 10 eject