The Van Buren press., 1874-05-12
GOV. BAXTER'S VIEWS.
From Littls Rotk Gazette.

correspondent of that paper, who was IN
structed to obtain, if possible, from the
claimants to the office of Governor oi
Arkansas, statements of their respective
views. The articles sere telegraphed to
New York and occupied, in loaded type,
an entire page Of the Herald and an ex
tended editorial leader according to Gov
Baxter the better case, accompanied The
publication.
We vary from the pt plished sommuni.
cation only in omttis, The direction 70
the New York Herald, ~'nd the signature
to the paper itself, suAsitutiug therefor
the Governors original certificate of ap
proval Of the statement:
Before the general election of 1872
such had been the management OF tn,
public affairs under the administration ol
Governor Clayton and his successor that
it was evident some change of tactics
must be resorted to in order to carry the
State for the Republican party, The OPP
position was jublant: the old citizen ele-
ment-no iuconsiderable body in the
State Of Arhaisas--w85 not0ri0usiy DIS
affected in consequence OF 1agrant abuses
that had been perpetrated under the name
and to the discredit Of loyalty For this
reason, may suppose, among others, 1t
was thought that the presentation of the
name Of an Arkansas union man, re-
moved from the active scene OF politics
of the past few years, might restore har
mony and save the election. Certainly,
was approached by Senator Clayton and
his friends with proposition Of NOM
ination for the Governorship. L have
never, since reconstruction, been an ac-
tive politician, and, occupying judicial
position better suited to my personal
tastes, it was with reluctance that | con
sented to accept. | insisted, however,
upon liberal platform, embracing,among
other things, the enfranchisement of the
entire people; and as this accorded with
the line of policy which had dictated my
own selection for the position, my views
were readily acceded to. The returns Of
election were, as by the Constitution re-
quired submitted to the Senate Of the
State, and the Senate declared me elected
by majority Of some 5000.
1t was claimed by the friends OF Mr..
Brooks that frauds had been committed
in the conduct Of the election. l have
only to say, what have always said be-
fore, that if frauds there were, have no
knowledge Of them. If frauds were com
mitted, they were committed at the in
stance of Senator Clatten. Chief Justice
Mcclure, and other leading men of the
victorious party, They, and not l, had
the management OF, the elections. Chief
Justice Mcclure, who administered to me
the oath Of office, subsequently took oc
eason to say in the Little Rock Republi-
can, Of which he was editor, that he was
himself eognizant Of the insuflciency OF
my election In that respect the Chief
Justice has the advantage Of myself
1t is said by the friends Of Mr.. Brooks
that the returns were tampered with. j
never saw the returns until after the an
nouncement, by the Senate, Of the result
SO much for that.
GOV. BAXTER THE GOVERNOR OF THE PEo
| am, this day, not upon the expert
mental trial of u candidate, but, after over
sixteen months Of administration, the
choice, for the Office of Governor, of
three. forrths of the people of Arkansas,
Of both coIors and Of all parties OF this
! feel assured. do not wish to be con-
sidtred rs attrbuting this endorsement
to any popular estimate of my personal
but to the fact that have in
good faith endeavorcd, while recognizing
to the fullest extent my obligations to
the party which elected me, to strengthen
the powers, and adopt the sole possible
means Of sustaining the supremacy, Of
that party, in the State by making il an
instrument, not of oppression and plum
der, but of enfranchisng the whole peo
pie, and protecting and advancing their
material interests
DEMANDS OF M'cLURE co
had scarcely been installed, when the
Chief Justice and his friends began a Sc.
ries of demands in partial or total viola
tlon Of every pledge upon the strength
81 wnich ! had been elected to office.
Unwilling to array myself against men
who had drawn me from comparative re.
tircment to exercise the functions OF
Chief Magistrate Of the Commonwealth,
and. above all, unwilling even TO appear
to furnish occasion lor dissension within
the Republican party of the State, at
first endeavored to effect compromise
bv Welding, 80 far as ! might without
substantial injury to the popular inter
ests When gave them an inch they
demanded an ell soon learned that to
satisfy them / must, at their every becl,
or nod, violate any and every principle
Of public policy, faith or honor-in short,
lha. | had to choose between being their
tool or their enemy
PARTIcuLARIzATioN OF THE yILLAINIEs
PROPOSED BY cLURE 4 co,
] may name, among the measures OF
which they attempted to compel my ap.
proyal, the subsidy bill by which certain
railway companies were to be released
from payment to the State, On accoun,
of bonds issued by them for the construc.
ton of their respective lines, about So
100000 the Metropolitan Police bill
which proposed to constitute The entire
area of the State Metropolis, the police
of which should have power to arrest
vithout warrant any citizen of the State