Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-18
The Arkansas Im b royIiO.
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
The following is among the latest kilograms
concerning the trouble in Little Rock:
LITTLE Rock, April2.
To Attorney General Williams, Washington:
In your dispatch to Governor Brooks infer
that you intend TO be understood as saying that
nor until his right has been fully and finally
recognized by the courts. l understand from
your dispatch to Governor Baxter that the
President cannot recognize him until his right
has been settled by the supreme court. The
supreme court will not be in session until June.
Now, what are we to do in the mean
time? Governor Baxter has Issued proc
lamation putting the city under martial
law, and armed men, pretending TO act
der his orders, are patroling the streets
stopping peaceable and uusrmed citizens, and
setting the authority of the city officers at def
ance, and arresting the police. Not only this,
but private property is being fOrcibly seized
aud appropriated in like manner. The con-
structlon placed on your dispatch by Governo
Baxter Is that 10 is a license to make attack
on the Brooks faction with an assurance in so
doing the Federal government will not inter.
tere. You will readily see that the city is sure
to become a scene of bloOdshed, and over a strife
ITS authorities are not responsible for, and which
they have not the power to settle, and placed
where an appeal TO either one OF the persons
claiming to be governor, lays the city authori-
ties liable TO the charge OF being the partisans
OF The one appealed TO. i desire to ask
II the federal government is powerless to pro-
tect the lives and property of twenty thousand
inhabitants who are sItIated as We are. 1t you
Will instruct the officers in command OF the
arsenal to aid the city pOlice in IN sking the
arrest of men who are openly violating the law
and setting the same at defiance, | could
preserve the peace OF the city without being
compelled to take sides with either OF the con-
tending factions. This question of who is the
Tghtful Governor can only be settled by the
courts, thing that may not be done for the
next twelve months, and 1 now implore Won, in
the name of peace, tO aid me all in your power
until the other question is settled.
FREDERICK KRAMER,
Mayer of Little Rock.
The following reply to the above was sent this
afternoon;
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, }
WASHINGTON, April 18th.
F cdeTtck krdmer, Mayor Of Little Rock, Ark.
gu must be aware that the President cannot
interfere in the domestic difficulties OF state
exec Ut in cOnfOr mity wi tn the constitution and
laws Of the United States. He cannot recog-
nize a call made upon him fer military aid by
the mayor of city. He has instructed the Off
Ger commanding the United States troops at
Little Rock to prevent bloodshed. That is all
be can 90 under existing circumstances. will
ask in answer to your inquiry whether tle
United States are pOweress TO protect p, 900
people, situated as the citizens of Little Rock
are, II the people OF Arkansas have not patriot
ian enough to allow question as to who shall
hold a state office TO be settled peaecably and
lawfully, and not bring upon their state the
disgrace aud ruin of civil war.
GEO. II. WILLIAMS, Attorney General.