The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-13
PEACE IN ARKANSAS.

that Grant sent to Congress his astoundin
= message on Arkansas, is a remarkable CON
mentary on the infamous nature Of that revo
lutionary document.
On the same day that the Chicago T'ibau1
expresses its entire approval of the finding G
the Congressional Committee and rejoices tina
peace once more smiles on troubled Arkansas
Caesar lights his cigar with the committee
report and swears that, SO help him the Radi "a
Congress-, there. shall be no peace in Arkan
sas nor any other Southern State; and, b,
will soon add, nor in any Northern State tina
on the "kingly crown
| Peace in Arkansas.
There is cause for general rejoicing at the
almost unanimous conclusions reached by the
Congressional Committee on Arkansas AT.
fairs. The purport of the majority report,
signed by Messrs. Poland, Scudder, Sayler
and Sloss, four out of the five, is that Con-
gress and the Federal Government shall let
Arkansas alone to abide by the Constitution
and government which a majority of the
people of that State have adopted by popular
vote. This is wise conclusion, thoroughly
| in keeping with the nature of our govern
ment and the principles of the Republican
party.
Mr. Ward, of Chicago, the remaining mem.
Der of the committee, dissents from this re-
port, no doubt under the honest conviction
that the recognition of the present Garland
government will be dangerous to the rights of
the negroes of the State and menace to con-
stitutional principles, as he says. But we pre-
fer to believe that his zeal is mistaken, and
that the judgment of the majority of the COM
mittee is not only the best solution of the diff
fculty, but also fair conclusion on the evil
dence before it.
To appreciate the relative merits of the two
reports, we shall recall in word the series of
complications in Arkansas. Brooks and Bax-
ter were the opposing candidates for Gov
ernor in 1872. Brooks on the De nocratic
ticket and Baxter en- the Republican ticket.
Subsequent revelations have proved that
Brooks received large majority of the votes,
but Baxter, as the Republican candidate, was
declared elected and duly installed. Some
time after both these gentlemen reversed their
political creeds, Baxter becoming a Demo-
crat and Brooks turning Republican. There
upon the Republicans in Arkansas, headed by
the two Senators from that State, united to
depose Baxter and place Brooks in power.
Brooks set up government of his own, rely
ing on the Supreme Court Of the State, which
changed its politics when he did, and also
upon recognition of the Federal Government
The two factions came to open war, and Pres
ident Grant was asked to interfere. He pur-
sued the same course he had taken in Louisi- |
ana, recognizing the de .facto government, |
ordering the Brooks faction to dispense as in
surgents.
Peace being thus restored, Constitutional
Convention was called, which adopted new
Constitution providing for State election in
October last. The new Constitution was
adopted, and under it, A. Fl. Garland Demo
craft was elected Governor by an almost
unanimous vote, the Republicans generally
refusing to vote on the ground that the cleo
ion was illegal and the new Constitution void.
Baxter, the de .facto Governor, recognized the
validity of the election; but one Smith, elected
Lieutenant Governor on the Baxter ticket,
hough he sat in the Constitutional Conven-
ion and sanctioned all the proceedings, after
wards issued proclamation claiming to be
he Governor of the State since Baxter had
esigned. Smith had no following and was
peedily squelched
This was the tumble and confusion of
Arkansas politics for two years, and, when the
Committee arrived at Little
Rock, they found new Constitution, a rec
'gnized government, and peaceful condi-
ion of things throughout the State. For the
irst time in two years there was no conflict,
nd the people had Constitution and gov
ave been exceedingly unwise for the Con-
ressional Committee to have recommended
ny Federal interference with this condition 9
My to restore the confusion and anarchy ,
hat prevailed before.
The committee find, moreover, that the
ew Constitution is republican in form and
n improvement over that of 1868; that the I
resent Governor was elected not only by
Majority of those voting but by.a majority of ,
ne voters in the State; that Arkansas is as
eaceful as any of the Southern States, all 1
aving desperate class of young men to con-
end with; that the late election was held in
ne form Of law; that, though the promulga- 7
ion of the new Constitution by Convention
lstead Of by the Legislature may be defective,
was adopted by majority Of the people of
1e State, who have the right to choose Con-
,itution that suits them ; and, finally, that
ongress should not interfere.
This decision, we believe, assures peace in
rkansas, and henceforth a rule by the major
y in that State. We wish all the troubles in
lie Southern States might be settled as
lsily.- chicago Tribune, Feb. 8h.