The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-17
w ASHIN
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1875.
THE PRESIDENTS EXPRESSION ON THE ARxAN-
sAs QUEsT1oN-THB PEOPLE DESTROYS OF
DEFINITE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
BUSINESS AND CREDrr-AN ENORMOUS PUB
LILO DEBT PRAUDULRNTLY CONTRACTED.
In conversation with Mr.. Brooks. the Arkansas
claimant, the President yesterday said that the
peaceful condition OF Arkansas was in his opinion
every much like the lion and lamb lying down to-
gcther, but with the lamb inside OF the lion. It
was rather severe on the lamb he thought He
continues TO be very much in earnest about Arkan-
sas a1airs. and SAYS that this case is the
key to the solution OF all the Southern
irregularities. He Is said to be urgent that Con-
gress shall declare BROOKS the legitimate Gov
ernor. but NO one has peen able to get from him
an authoritative or positive declaration that he will
abstain from interference In case Congress does
nothing and gives him no direction. He Is as
silent on TINS IS on the third term question.
Meantime numerous reports are circulated here
OF great number OF indictments found in Arkan-
sas for political of1ences and OF the
passage OF laws virtually enslaving the
negroes. The act to regulate labor, OF which
80 much has been said turns out, however. on in.
quiry, to have been framed and advocated BY
republicans In the Legislature. Its purpose was
State from Tennessee and mississippi at the ex-
pense OF planters hiring them. and to give these
lien upon the labor for their advances, but Gov
ernor Garland replied to-day to the question,
"Have the act to regulate labor and the
vagrant act passed will they pass ?"
In these words, "Neither one of the
acts has passed, nor will they. They
are both dead. Further, no indictments for
political offences have been found at ALL and only
two or three persons have been indicted for
felonies, where 1t was proved before the Grand
Jury that they had been concerned IN robbing the
State treasury by forged warrants"
The uncertainty OF tue future paralyzes all indus
try in Arkansas, and several prominent citizens
have come here to-day to see II something
cannot be done in time to prevent the
loss Of the entire cotton crop. Northern mer
chants refuse TO make advances to Arkansas
merchants, and the factors New Orleans
and st. Louis upon whose help the planters de-
pend to put in their cotton, are alarmed and de-
cline to give the required ad. The State is at
peace, in every way, and but for the unfortunate
attitude OF the President industry would 20 on
and the people would prosperous. Arkansas
men just from their State are very urgent that
Congress shall at once and definitely settle their
matters and thus enable the people to 60 to work.
They are unable to see why they should sufYer IN
order to afrecc other Southern States.
The attempt OF Governor Garland and
the Legislature to regulate the finances OF
the State has brought to light series OF
astoun ding frauds on the treasury and OF extrava.
gance which are reported In a resolution OF the
state Senate. From this 1t appears that IN 1858
the whole bonded debt OF the State was So 900.
1t had no floating deot, and had over
$500, 900 in the treasury. From July, 1868,
to october. 1874, the treasury received
over $8,5oo,0oo. a floating debt was In
CURED OF nearly 50, ooO,oOo and the bonded debt
increased S. $780, 000-that IS to say in six years
the men who ruled Arkansas-some OF whom are
now here in wassington-spent $1,000. O00 and
this IN State which has less than hall million
OF people.
ALARM OF THE BROOKS FACTION.
The Brooks men are in anxious consultation to-
night at the Ebbitt House. and seem to DE IN an
uncomfortable lrame Of mind.
A NEW MANOEUvRE WITH THE HABEAS CORPUS
BILL.
The caucus Habeas Corpus bill is to be trans
ferred to the Mississippi Committee, in the hope
that they will agree to report It. An effort will be
made to get 1t before the House. and the oppo-
nents OF the bill on the republican side not at
all I'm willing that 1t shall come up.