The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-29
Light At LAST.
A Complete Story Of the Ar
kansas Conflict,
The Herald appealed To by the
GubernatOrial Contestants.
BROOKS STATEMENT.
Fraud and Corruption the
Secrets Of Success.
MONEY BEFORE PRINCIPLES.
His "Peaceable" Possession Of
the State House.
BAX ER'S STORY.
The Inner Political Life of a
Reconstructed State.
Wholesale Charges Of Vilany and
Attempted Plumber.
QUESTIONABLE JUDICIAL TACTICS
A Militia Called Out to Prevent
Violence and Robbery.
Bloodshed Still Prevented by the United
States Troops.
Wholesale Charges Of Villany and
Attempted Plumber.
QUESTIONABLE JUDICIAL TACTICS
"A Militia Called Out to Prevent
Violence and Robbery.
Bloodshed Still Prevented by the United
States Troops.
MR. BROOKS STATEMENT.

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LITTLE Rock, Ark, April %, 1874
10 TIE EDITOR or THE HERALD
$ There was never any question as to my election.
The friends OF Elisha Baxter all admit this. Under
me constitution Of the State the returns Of eler.
tson for Governor are sent to the presiding ofcer
q the State Senate, whose duty 1t is.surinc the
nrst week Of the SESSION to open the returns and
declare the name OF the person who has received
tne highest number Of votes as shown by the re.
sorna TO be duly elected The Legislature has
nothing to DO with counting the vote ana cannot
etther admit or reject q vote OF either
township Or county At the time
Who vote was announced by the presiding
Ocncer Of the Senate the returns from the coun.
Ties Of johnson, Greene and scott, all OF which
gave me large majorities, were not in hts hands.
but were suppressed and withheld by the County
Clerk whose duty 1t was to nave forwarded the
same. In other instances the County Clerk would,
IN making up the returns for his county. put down
townships giving majority for Baxter
and reject those in my favor ON the
counties the evidence shows the ballot boxes
were changed. In townships having not over
% registered voters the vote was returned as
high as 800 for Baxter. To give you a detailed
statement OF the fraud and now 1t was perpetrated
would require more time than can now spare.
Tho members Of the Legislature in their election
received the advantage Of the frauds alluded to.
Many or hem held their seats by as feeble tenure
% Baxter did his.
ALLEGED PURCHASE OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Towards tho close Of the session Baxters ad.
herents evinced some dissatisfaction with him.
and presented my petition to be allowed to con.
test the election, having an assurance at the time
Of doing so that II the conservative and demo.
cratic members that supported me IN the canvass
would vote for the contest republicans enough
would come to my support to carry it through
the House. In the meantime Baxter, knowing
Of the contemplated movement bought
except seven. with promises TOR on1ces
for themselves and friends. which most OF
them afterwards obtained. When the petition
Wp presented to the House member moved. az
soon as he heard the name OF the petitioner an.
nounced and before is was even read, ssthat the
same be rejected" The vote was taken ut once.
and all but nine votes we're in favor of Its reec-
tion. This was NOT q determination BY the
Legislature that Baxter was elected or
that l was not It was simply refusal
to determine anything, although tho con-
ssisution declares that the Legislature shall
hear and determine all contested elections Nv
petition being rejected 50 unceremoniously in the
House, did not present it to the Senate for the
reason that the assent OF both houses be sep.
arate,y obtained before Joint committee can he
appointed to take testimony.
THE QUO wARRANTo PRocEEDiNss
Ihad nothing personally to do with quo ,carranto
proceedings in the supreme Court OF course
watched IL with some interest; but as 1t was not
proceeding that would put me fn ONCE, the remedy
aid not meet my wants. An impression seems
10 nave pone abroad that I was party 10 the
quo soarranto proceeding, and that tho decision
m that case determines my rights in the case
pending In the Circuit Court There is no such
ching IN this state as an information in the name
'of quo 'rd'7anto but there Is of quo mar.
snnso proper. quo ,ca,von,o proper can only be
eOsained Tor the assertion and determination OF
states rights, and Is not . remedy thar tnc c,,,.
sens can resort TO. II the Supreme Court
had ousted Baxter this would not have de-
termned my right TO the once or authorized
me 10 have taken possession Of the Governors
once. Before ! could have done 50 legally my
right mad to be ascertained and declared either uy
me courts or Legislature. ] had nothing TO do
Win the suit mstitpted hy the Attorney General