The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
BAXTER OR BROOKS I
EpIroR OF V. B. Press

aiding and assisting TO destroy the Clay
ton dynasty, cared nothing for Joseph
Brooks personally or his political ante
cedants, on the contrary detested them.
His political record was not such that
would by any means recommend him to
the Democratic party and honest men OF
this State. He it was that was foremost
in foisting upon the people of this State,
our present Constitution and all the obi
Gus laws enacted Hereunder. Conse
quently there was nothing good for the
State the gentleman had ever done that
| could recommend him to me. II by
electing him Governor Of the State the
Radical carpet bag party could be ami
hilated | was willing to cast my vote for
hlm and see him Governor. ] expected
from his known capacity for being good
hater to his enemies, he would be able to
do more than any one man to overthrow
and destroy the Radical vampires in our
State.
In the same campaign Iopposed Elisha
Baxter, because il was feared he would
suffer himself to be used by the Clayton
ring-becausc he was the Radical candi-
date, and it was believed that that party
would certainly not espouse the cause of
any man for Office who, when elected
would not work in their interest The
honest people could not think of sup.
porting him while he was thus surround
ed by the bitterest foes Of our Stately
those who have plunged our State into
| hopeless bankruptcy-wh have stolen
our Railroad bonds-who have scratched
our Registration books-who have ma
nipulated the election returns and kept
out of Office those honestly and fairly
elected. This is why ! opposed Elisha
Baxter for Governor. But after the elec
ton, when he was installed in Office by
the Clayton outfit and by the aid and as
sistance of Federal bayonets, | gave up
all for lost-under the circumstances
could have no faith in him. When we
that he was not the tool the Radical par
ty calculated on. The breach grew wider
and wider daily between himself and the
party that elected him to office. He an
nounced doctrines that were not to be
tolerated by his party he refused to ap-
point men to Office because they had done
dirty work in the last election be refused
to issue any more Railroad aid bonds
and declared in his opinion all that had
been issued were void That the people
should have an honest election and their
will should as far as in his power lay, be
respected. He was thus carrying out eff.
fectually the very doctrines and princi-
Piles that were expected Joseph Brooks
had he been installed Governor What
more could the people want? Since
Brooks was not the choice of those who
voted for him only through necessity
Baxter was just as acceptable to them,
and | dare say more so than Brooks
would ever have proven himself to be.
Now then, what do we find The very
identical party that supported Baxter,
scratched registration BOOKS, stuffed bal
lot-boxes and otherwise committed the
most damnable frauds ever perpetrated
on civilized people, are rallying to the
standard Of Brooks--furnishing him
money and means to sustain himself by
force against the wishes of the people
in possession of the State House. What
is this for? Why have the Radical party
so suddenly become impressed with the
sanctity of the ballot-box? Why is it at
this late date they have discovered that
the man elected should by all means be
installed in Office 1t is almost universal
throughout the State that the Radical
party are rallying to the support of
Brooks. | ask in the name Of common
sense, are the people so credulous as to
believe for one moment that this action
on the part Of the Radical party is through
unselfsh or honest motives2 The ques
ton is put to the people, what means
this sudden revolution by that party p
what means the espousal Of the cause Of
Joseph Brooks by Powell Clayton his
most inveterate enemy? Surely he has
had promises from Brooks that he would
do more for him than Baxter 1t is not
to be imagined that if Clayton thought
| bTOOhS WOulu thc IlputSb
administration Baxter was giving us he
would for one moment support him.
There is something behind all this-Pow
ell Clayton X Co. are not so disntcrested
for nothing 1t all originates from the
fact thai they expect Brooks to do for
them what Baxter mas refused to do
Now then as to the principle iavolved
in this contest. Should the man be in
stalled in Office who obtained the highest
number of votes? answer emphatical-
ly yes, when that fact is legally shown.
The Legislature tells us Baxter was elect
ed the only proper tribunal in the case
Of contested election for Governor. But
l ask the people under the present aspect
Of affairs, what does the principle Of
whether Joseph Brooks or Elisha baxter
was elected amount to, when our State is
likely to be turned over in the hands of
that desperate leader Powell Clayton and
his followers' Suppose Joseph Brooks
was elected, as a great many assert but
which l think very doubtful, indeed we
have the decision of the Supreme Court
and Legislature tcstifying he was not;
but suppose he was, and we were well
aware of the fact, can we afford to see
him installed in Office surrounded as he
is by the most desperate men and poll
ticians in our State5 Was it not these