The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-12
ARKANSAS At PEACE.
A Healthful Repose of Pc
litical Passions.
PUNISHMENT OF RUFFIANISM.
The Civil Rights Law Of the Stale More Severe
Than That Of Congress-
NEGROES IN OFFICIAL LIFE.

LITTLE ROCK, March 20. 1875
or one thing can speak with positiveness, and
that is, that Arkansas Is to-day as peaceable
state New York or Massachusetts,, and far more
peaceaDle than Pennsylvania. 1 assert this on
me authority OF leading men or both parties. No
bne whom l was able 10 pretended doubt on
The subject. la Little Rock ITSELF where more or
the political soreneads are found there Is not ev en-
Political discussion. Inc edltorlof the Brooks or
Ean assured me that there Is no viole nee, and
that q close perusal OF the country journals and
mis- own correspondence In different parts OF
the state convinced him that industry has re-
vived ali over the State; that the people were at
work, and that Arkansas promises this year. II
The season is favorable, to produce more corn,
wheat and cotton than ever before. All this was
sorroborated by leaders of the Garland party; and
as the well-inlormed men OF both sides thus con-
cur 1t may be accepted az fact Moreover. OF Gov
ernor Garland leading men OF the Brooks side
nave told me that he Is man OF good character,
nrm, determined TO execute the laws and able to
DO SO. He himself assured me that he meant TO
put down with q strong hand any attempts
At lawlessness, should such occur, and
ne struck answering very well the de-
Bcription his political opponents gave me OF MIN
a man OF decided character. biusterer, but
nrm, solid and likely TO Oe calm, and to carry out
u definite policy in a straightforward manner. or
course, 1t Is great piece or good fortune for the
State TO have man OF such make at the head OF
Affairs AZ this time.
RUFFLANIsM.
II is admitted by everybody that the State has
among Its people men OF a rurianly character,
idle, vicious and prone to murder; these It Is the
business OF the Governor to hold to accountability
Tor their misdeeds. Tney are not numerous, and
there is no good evidence that they shoot with
political purposes A couple OF months ago two
young men, drunk and reckless, shot at the engine
driver OF q railroad and another person The latter
was q Northern man but supporter OF Garland,
and this fact shows that there political
purpose or anlmosity In the attempt at murder.
what happened. however, shows the spirit OF
Arkansas just now. The Sherin OF the county, .
negro, pursued the two men and the whole
county, white as well as black, turned
out TO help MIN In the hunt. The criminals
escaped into Louisiana. but under the energetic
pursuit OF Governor Gariands law of1cers, we're
captured brought back, and now IN PRISON
awaiting trial There Is just now dlmculty In
Scott county. This lies in northern part OF the
State, where there but few negroes, ana the
cause OF quarrel is exclusively among white men,
and has no relation TO politics or the negro. The
negro Sheriff Furoush. IN Lee county, was re-
ported in February to have been murdered. but
saw q letter from him OF recent date, IN which no
alusion was made 10 political or other disturb
ances In his county.
ARE UNION MEN sAFES
To the one vital question which Northern men
"Are Union men, white and black. secure OF
life. property and political rights In Arkansas ~
am therefore persuaded the answer ls-"Yes, they
are sou And this answer rests on the very best
testimony, that OF republicans and Brooks men
themselves. | may add that the phrase "Union
men, is not used in Arkansas. "we are all Union
men, said a Confederate General TO me; sand
you Northern people do a serious injustice
when you rank only the republicans, a. the South,
as Union men. We have here lifelong Northern
republicans acting with the democratic party ];
ana on the other hand some OF the very
leaders OF the republican party in tns State were
not merely democrats In the North, but copper
heads during the war; and he cited ex-cnIeI Jus
tice Mcclure t.Poker Jack'D as such . man.
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
In casting about for proofs OF the actual condi-
ton OF the state, peace ana liberty, IL occur
red TO me that II there had been unrepressed
violence, lawlessness, political assassina-
ton and terrorism, sucn as we heard
or during the winter and such as the
Brooks men during the Arkansas struggle
In Washington described, there must have been
frequent appeals 70 the federal Commissioners
FOR protection under the Enforcement aets. /
therefore made curry or the Clerk OF the United
every such matter must come. and he assured
me there had not been a single case. he thought
that complaints had sometimes been made
10 the District Attorney, but they had
never been brought before tse Grand Jury,
and were, therefore. presumably ground
less. The United states District Attorney
vas absent, but the Judge corrooorated the testl-
mony Of the clerk. The sum OF my information
this point IL that not a single case redress
federal Enforcement acts mas been made In the
Eastern District OF Arkansas; and In the Western
districI, far 1 could learn, the onlI cases
we're appeals on the part.of democrats complain
ing OF republican registrars OF election in 1872
There are nfty-three federal commissioners In the
state, who receive, / believe, no Balary. The
federal supervisors OF election lot the whole
State cost $4,000 for election, when
the full list Is appointed. Vow. IL - hard to prove
negative; TO show. namely, that the state Is not
dlsordery. But IL seems 70 me clear that n white
and black Union men had been seriously or con.
tinuously harassed and in peril they would have
appealed 70 the federal authorities established for
that purpose TO protect them and punish their op-
pressors.
STRINGENT STATE LAWS.
The fact In that the Dorsey-Clayton faction ruled
Arkansas with an iron rule and did put down
permptorily ana eTectualiy ali political
disorders. For this they deserve credit fol
there 10 no doubt that when they TOOK
possession OF the state, IN 1868, and for some time
Eterward there was . grave aud perilous condi'
zion OF society. In March, 1869 they adopted q
Ku Klux law or uncommon and even dangeroui
severity. II prohibited all secret political organi
EatIons, and declared their members Infamous
and public enemies II made even the possession
Of uniform OF such an order a criminal onence,
or the knowing Of is existence, without giving
Immediate Information to the public autnori.
uea II authorized the Arrest or a MEMBER
anywhere. at any time, oy any citizen,
without q warrant Il prescribed . penalty
OF $500 nne and from one to ten years In the Pen.
icsntiary, and forbade the member OF such society
20 be juror before or q witness after conviction.
IL allowed the Grand jury to summon witnesses