Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-24
ARKANSAS.
All Quiet ON the Boulevards.
The Discord Shifts to a Minor
Key.
A Secretary of State in Search
of His Rights.
StiIl Searching at Last Accounts.
Brooks Ignores Baxter's Right
to Convene the Legislature.

State johnson, whose election has never
been controverted, called at the Statehouse
this morning and ordered Mr.. Brooks and
his men out Of his Office. They refused to
go, and Mr.. Brooks said since johnson had
signed Gov. Baxter's proclamation conven-
ing the Legislature and refused TO recog-
nize him as Governor, he would refuse to
recognize him Is Secretary of State. john
son then leit ID applied to Col. Rose for
troops to sist him in taking possession of
his Office. i he result is not yet known.
Ali is quiet to-day, no hostile demonstra-
tions on either side. The people generally
are satisfied with the call for the Legisla-
ture.
Orders from Headquarters.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The Secretary
of War to-day telegraphed to the command
ant at Little Rock that he might retire to
the arsenal with his command as soon as
danger is no longer feared, and the question
is 10 be settled by the courts.
furfher Details OF the New Compli-
cation.
LITTLE Rock, April 25.-Last night
Secretary of State johnson visited his office
in the State House and found Mr.. Brooks
in possession, surrounded by body Of
armed men. johnson asked Brooks whose
Office that was, his or Brooks. The latter
said it was JOLIlsOn's of course. Then
johnson said he had better get out of
there with his men. Brooks said he recog-
nized johnson as Secretary of State. John
son then left and went to the headquarters
of Gov. Baxter where he signed officially
the proclamation of the Governor eonvening
the Legislature.
This morning he went to the State House
and demanded its possession. He ordered
Brooks and bis men out Of the Office. They
refused to do so, Brooks remarking that he
no longer recognized johnson as Secretary
of State, he having signed Baxter's procia-
nation convening the Legislature. Some
hot words passed, johnson remarking that
he never heard that there was any contest
over his right to occupy the Office Of Secre-
taIy of State; that Judge WhytOck certainly
never ousted him, etc. Brooks remarked
that military necessity compelled his course,
and johnson left. After doing so lie ad-
dressed the following
Letter to MI. Brooks
Little Rock, Apra 23.-HOn. Joseph
Brooks: Sg:-On my return, after a short
absence from Little Rock, found the office
of Secretary Of State, to which was elected
in 1872, and which | have held regularly
since the 9th day of January, 1873, until
this time, occupied by crowd Of men un-
der your command, and this morning, in
demanding possession Of the same, was re-
fused by you, and now l am out Of my
Office by the action Of yourself and your
forces, and not able to perform with facility
the duties of such Office. When | left here
a short time since the Government Of the
State was being conducted under the man
agement and direction Of Elisha Baxter, as
Governor of Arkansas. / then recognized
him as the lawful Governor Of the State,
and have not been apprised of any lawful
change in that Office, and / know no other
person as the executive Of the State.
When left at the time named, Gen.
Frank Loring, my efficient deputy, was in
charge of the Office and carrying on the bus
iness of the Office satisfactorily, but on my
return find he had been elected from the
Office BY your men and had no control Of
the Office, the papers, seal, or anything con-
nected Herewith. The duties of my Office
cannot be discharged without great diff
| Guilty unless l am admitted to the place
where the papers and archives Of the State
are kept, and | now make a demand upon
! you to deliver or have delivered 10 me
possession of the rooms in which the office
of the Secretary Of State is kept and has
been kept ever since the time was installed
in the office on the 9th day of January,
1873, as we'll as the papers, documents, the
seal of the State and my official seal, Of all
which, under the law, l am the owner.
Very respectfully yours,
j. N. JOHNSON.
Secretary Of State.
In addition TO the above he addressed
another letter TO Mr.. Brooks, reciting that
under the law he was the custodian of the
public buildings and demanding that the
same be vacated; that the Legislature
would soon meet and he desired to have
the halls in proper repair.
As yet he has received no official re-
ply.
The Military Situation.
Col. John NJ. Clayton, brother of Sena-
| tor Powell Clayton, arrived last evening
with company of cOlOred men to assist
| Brooks. Gov. Baxter has sent back sever
al companies of his troops. Mr. Brooks
does not recognize the right Of Gov. Bax-
ter to convene the Legislature. The peo-
pie generally appear to be satisfied that the
| Legislature should settle the matter. 1t is
raining again to-day and very disagreeahle
out doors. All the forces remain in about
the same position as last night. The fI-
| neral of the late Major Hall to-day was
| one of the largest ever seen in this city.
| Mr.. Brooks made a speech to his forces this
morning in which he announced his deter
minatiOn to hold the StatehOuse in spite Of
| everything