The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-15
THE ELECTIONS OF 1928.
"reminiscences of the Greeley Split from
the Republicans.
THE BROOkS-BAxTER ELECTION.
Accession of the Garland Admin
istration.
EFFECT OF THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

LITTLE ROCK. Feb. 10, 1875.
When the news reached here, on the 9Th inst,
that four out OF i've of the House Committee to in
vestigate the condition OF affairs in Arkansas had
reported in favor OF the existing government 1t
can be well imagined that IL was the cause OF
great rejoicing. Enthusiasm knew no bounds and
the glad tidngs were disseminated throughout
the state.
All branches OF industry have been awaiting this
issue with impatience and anxiety, knowing that
the welfare Of Arkansas was involved in II. IL
was, then, with sense Of great relief that the
people believed that they had at last been vindi-
Gated and a new and prosperous era was opening
before them. The nrst Information received OF
reliable character, which led fears that the az
fairs OF Arkansas were still In very great Jncer-
talnty, contained In the Washington special OF
the 4th, ioreshadOwing the Message OF the Presi-
dent presented 70 the senate on Monday the Sth
inst hat he should ADOPT such policy III the
face or the recent elections and IN direct conflict
with the majority report Of the Congressional Com.
mittee, among the signers OF which are two
puolcans, and one OF them Its chairman, seemed
altogether TOO preposterous Tor credence The
unexceptlonable relaoliity Of your dispatches,
however, caused much disquietude and uneasi-
pess, but the worst Tears were not realized till the
wires brought the remarkable document which
Washington correspondent was correct in every
particular-not only to the general tenor OF the
Message but even 10 the very argument HIS EX-
celiency would use as the pretexs icr interference
with the Garland government. an argument re-
markabe alike for It's absurdity and arrogance.
1t is impossible to give an idea Of the political
situation IN Arkansas now without first taking
retrospective glance at the causes which have led
TO the present results. will make this as brief
as possible. When the Convention provided for
by the reconstruction acts met 1t was largely
republican. and majority Of the members be,
longed to the class since known as carpet.
baggers," though most of the men in that body
now thus designated were men who had settled
In the country and were pursuing their various
avocattons IN lie as lawyers, merchants, farmers
&c. The reconsrruction measures gave them
political life, ana for the first time-at least here
they entered the political arena. The Old
democratic leaders, DISTINGUISHED as most OF
them were, undertook TO prevent reconstruc.
ton by the passive polcy-by taking no
part in the elecuon-and only succeeded IN max.
ing the Convention almost unanimously repuDli-
can. When the election Tor the officers provided
Tor by the constitution was ordered these disran.
cnised politicians kept the majority OF the people
frora votng, and he result that all the state
and county oaicials were republicans, most OF
them being OF the new Corners The republicans
soon quarreiled among themselves, and In 1872
Brooks, one OF the ablest among them. headed q
faction when declared agiinst Clayton and the
administrations both State and national and
BrooKs was nominated for Governor, the
Convention waicn nominated him indorsing
Greeley to secure the democratic vote.
Tue Democratic state Convention Endorsed
the BROOKS ticket The Clayton wing OF the
republican party nominated Baxter ana Endorsed
Uuapr arr n oil hos
denied the right to hold Office by the reconstruc.
lon acts were not permitted to vote, and there
was stringent regulation law which gave the
registrars almost absolute control OF the voting
franchise. These registrars and the judges whom
they appointed were all IN the interest OF Baxter.
and the former denied the right OF suffrage to
thousands VINO were legally entitled to vote while
many OF the latter stuffed ballot boxes and com.
United frauds OF every character to secure the
election OF Baxter. But even then, after the re.
turns we're made, 1t was found that Brooks was
elected, and the secretary OF State. with Baxter's
ronnivance, If not assistance, had them changed,
to sho " a different result, and
BAXTER WAS DECLARED ELECTED
by the President OF the Senate. whose duty It Is
made by law to open the returns In the presence
OF both houses OF the General Assembly. The re-
turns for members OF the Legislature are made to
the Secretary OF State, and 1t II his duty pre-
pare roll OF the members elected TO each house,
upon which roll toe Clerk OF the preceding House
organizes these bodies. In making these rolls
the secretary OF State returned seventeen mem.
bers OF the Lower House who, 1t was notorious,
were not elected. No contests were permitted
and these men retained their seats. During the
CANVASS OF 1872 there were quite DumDer or
opposed Mr.. Brooks; but they could
NOT. as In former years. control me
masses OF their party, and Mr.. Brooks, alter
m "A ed
nearly the solid democratic vote OF the STATE
and about seven thousand republican votes.
Inc democratic politicians at the Capital, as soon
as Baxter was Inauxu rateo. commenced playing
ior hun and soon captured him, so tAat wnen MI
BroVks presented his petition 10 the Legislature 10
allow nin to protest before mat body, "a motion
tue peution WAS rejected, only seven democrats
ala Two republicans Young TO receive II. VI tnose
who yosed 10 reject the petition. wnen the Legs.
lature adjourned, Baxter appointed iorty.two "
ofdccs N ais gut as Governor. Inc Attorney Cen.
era, elected on the same icEet with Baxter,
alter the Assembly had adjourned died q motion
Ia The supreme Court vi the STATE asking
tDat a writ OF quo UavTanto issus against baxter
or MN " answer oy waat right ne neld aua ex.
crossed the duties or the office or Governor. Inc
Court reused toe writ, Cniei Justice Mcclure aIs-
senting Baxter testified uelore tne Congressional
COMMITTEE THAT had tie Court granted the writ
he WOULD not nave ooeyed, and one VI dis militia
Oucers STOOD Ia the court roon wnen Inc decision
WAS being made. WIKI the
PRocLAhArios DECLARING MARITAL LAW
decision We adverse. Tue judgment or the court
was sa oral one, and Associate Justice Gregg was
ssASNNSo " "iisc tbc OpiutVu, W Uc dtctWtTu
AS orally delivered. IL SIMPLY deaied tie wit.
some weeks aiterwara the written opinion o. tue
Court was sent rom his home at Ray etteville by
Judse Gregg. anu ~ was IN accordance wItn tne
Judgment rendered. IL was glveu 10 Judge
II. =. Caidwei, Judge or tue United states DIS.
trct court, aud nc made an addenda 70 II winch
MADE the court say that no court In tie state
mad any Jurisdiction III such cases, ana the opln.
Ton WAS 30 recorded. Had tins really Teen u part
Of the opinion vi the court IL could oe only re.
gardsd as oos,er diotan., as 40 question OF lans.
1ictioD was before taem. During the tendency
OF thus suit Mt. BROOKS commenced snit Ia tie
circuit court VI Pu.asKt county 10 recover TIE
once vi Governor. demurrer was died Uy Bax-
ter's attorney and argued. Tue detison VI thls
demurrer last April ana the IalIure oil Baxter To
Iurtner plead, answer or demur, caused Wnytock,
the Juupc vi the Court, TO enter judgment OF
custer against him, ana upon his Judgment Brooks
ente ed the State house. Tnis was tue beginning
OF the Brooks.Baxter war. during tue pendency
OF TINS suit there MAS
COMPLETE CHANGE OF FRONT
by the political parties. The democrats bad gone
over nearly IN a boy to Baxter and the repuD-
lcans almost to man were supporting BlooKs.
Tie purchase OF Baxter mad been consumfnated,