The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-21
ARK ANSAS ANARCHY
BROOKS VS.. BAXTER.

BROOKS VS.. BAXTER.
BRooKS-THE LAW To DECIDE-THE PRESI
DENT WON'T TAKE HAND.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, April 16-4 p. NJ
There is but little change in affairs. Cover.
nor Baxter still occupies st. Johns college
and is making preparations to sustain him
self. Mr.. Brooks holds the state-house, with
two pieces of artillery and about one hun
bred men armed with improved muskets
He has issued the following proclamation:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
LITTLE Rock, ARK, April Is.
To the People Of arkansas:
As you will recollect, was candidate for
the office of governor at the November cleo
ton of 1872. That 1 received majority of
the votes cast for that office has never been
denied even by the friends of Elisha Baxter
L appealed to the legislature. and asked to be
allowed to contest the election for the Office
of governor, and my petition, at the instance,
and by the connivance of Elisha Baxter,
who corruptly used his official patronage to
bride members of the legislature, was re-
jected and was denied, not only the right
of petition, which the constitution guaran-
tees to every citizen, but the right to
have the question OF my election in
vestigated or passed upon. The attorney
of pro warranto against Elisha Baxter for
the purpose of compelling him to show by
W hat warrant and authority he assumed to
discharge the duties of the office of the gov
ernor. That tribunal declared it had no
jurisdiction to hear and determine contest
for the office of governor and dismissed the
case for want of jurisdiction. then COM
menced an action against Elisha Baxter
under the provisions of the code in the man
ner prescribed by law for the recovery of the
Office and the salary received by Elisha Baxter
during the time he wrongfully withheld the
same from me. / serviced notices on him
that l would, at certain times and places,
named in said notices, take testimony in
support of my claims. Baxter, for reasons
best known to himself, neglected and failed
TO appear at the times and places mentioned,
and treated the court proceedings with de-
rision and contempt, openly Boosting, in
public and private speeches and converse
lions, that he would resist the execution of
the Judgment of any court of the state, with
the militia, fit attempted TO, in any manner,
interfere with
HIS DISCHARGE OF THE DUTIES
of the Office of governor. Notwithstanding
his threats, continued to take testimony
and to prosecute a suit for the purpose of as
sorting my own rights and vindicating your
choice at the ballot box. On yesterday the
Circuit Court rendered judgment ill my
favor for the office and the salary, and 1 at
once took the oath of Office and took possess
sion of the same. Elisha Baxter no longer
holds the executive Office and it is to be
hoped that you will join your
voice with mine in rejoicing
that the man you chose for
governor has, at last, been duly installed
into the Office. Being in the office, it is but
fair that /, to some extent, define my future
policy, which the adherents of Elisha Bax-
ter will no doubt, misrepresent for the pur- !
pose of advancing personal interests and
gratifying their own ambition. For my po-
litical tenets 1 respectfully refer you to the
platform of the reform party on which, was |
4 candidate in 1872. From the principles |
therein enunciated have not departed and, |
God helping me, never will. Noone man in |
the state has felt the power of
the ballot.b box suffers and political
to the extent 1
have. / saw that so far as in me lies, the |
ballot box and election machinery of the |
state shall never again be made an engine |
of fraud and oppression, as it was in 1872. |
This is a republican form of government, |
where the voice of the people should rule, |
and so far as / am concerned 1t shall rule |
from this time henceforth, and so long as 1
occupy the executive chair every man shall
have tie free and undisturbed right to vote
as to him shall seem best, and that vote
once cast shall be counted as tie
man who cast it intended it should
be. Efforts no doubt will be made
by designing men to convey the impression
that it is the duty of the people to rally to
the standard of a man who, no doubt, will
claim that he Is the governor of Arkansas,
who, you all know, was not elected, and
who has
NO MORE RIGHT
or claim to the Office than any one of you
have that was not a candidate, for the pur-
pose of placing that man again in the execu-
tive Office. I say frankly to you that all
such attempts will lead to strife and blood
she'd, for / shall resist and suppress the
action of all mobs that may assemble to-
yether under the banner or at the call of
Elisha Baxter. No man in the state can |
more deeply regret strife and bloodshed
han myself, but feeling as L do, that self
government rather than self-aggrandizement |
s in the issue, shall use every means at my
to maintain its supremacy. Elisha
Baxter forced me from the legislature to the
courts, and thus far / have patiently borne
With the laws delay, at all times feeling that
ustice would be done me by the judgment
II court Is Oh x ecmpesen of,ee when i
8 adjudicated that am not
here legally, will bow my
,ead in silence to the desire of the court, be
{ what it may. The power that Elisha
Baxter used to force me into the court, l
will use to make him respect and abide its
iecrees. To one and all say keep quiet
md pursue your different vacations. Your
services are not needed at the capitol to pre-
Ierve either peace or good order. Should
he time come when they will be needed,
you will be notified in due time through the
proper channels. (Signed,)
IT .,e JOSEPH BROOKS,
.-.st-.ae Governor of Arkansas.
To-day the attorneys of Governor Baxter
appeared in the Circuit Court, and moved to |
yet aside the judgment of yesterday; also, to
correct the records of Monday, wherein it