New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-10
ARKANSAS.

INDICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PREsTDENT-HoPEs on
GOV. BROOKss FRIENDs-GOv GARLAND PER-
sIsTEHTLY REFUSED RECOGNITION BY THE AID
MISUNDERSTANDING INTERFERENCE Ex-
PECTED AFTER CONGRESS ADJoURNs.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. Q. 1875
The Presidents message on Arkansas is univer-
sally considered by thoughtful men in Washington
as one of the most important documents he has ever
sent to Congress. 1t is the first gun of new and
most alarming policy. In explaining to friend TO-
day the occasion of this message, Gen. Grant
said that while in terms 1t referred
to Arkansas alone, it had in his opinion
been made necessary by information he had received
from other parts of the South, which fully
him of the purpose of the white people of the States
in which the Republicans still retain power to over
throw the reconstruction State Constitutions AS
the adoption of those constitutions essentially
the condition on which the Southern States were re-
admitted into the Union the President believes that
it is the duty Of Congress to make provision ID
advance to meet these grave issues as they arse III
other words the President seems to think that u Is
the duty of Congress to prevent by positive laws any
material changes in the constitutions OF the recon-
structed States and he hints that if the legislative
branch Of the Government does not do this he shall
He still pleads his desire to be relieved from all
responsibility in the matter but says he shall act In
accordance with his understanding OF his duty III
case he has no specific instructions from Congress
The friends of Gov. Brooks claim to have even
more positive assurances from the President than
he has given to others. They report him as saying
that bis information is that if the United states
Government fails to take notice of the methods oy
which the Garland revolution was accomplished IN
,fh thorn
in the hands of the Republican party will be
reyolutionized in the same way. and that these
changes will be brought about within ninety days
after the adjournment of Congress Thus far the
President has absolutely refused to recognize MIR.
Garland as Governor of Arkansas and the latter has
resorted to several expedents to secure recognition
After various attempts had failed, he made requl-
sition upon the Secretary Of War for the quota
of arms to which Arkansas was entitled.
No attention was paid to this reduaition. and Gov.
Garland was not even notified that 1t had been re-
ceived. He then sent to the State Department
communication notifying to the Government that
he had made certain person Commissioner OF the
State at the Centennial Exhibition. The President
then directed the Secretary of State to write him
officially simply acknowledging the receipt of bis
various letters but to admit III no way that he was
the Governor of the State.
Mr. Brooks who Is here, feels very c0nhdeht lnat
if either the House the Senate should BY resolu-
ton or otherwise recognize him as the legally
elected Governor, Mr.. Garland would give way
without resistance. His friends here are also
confident in the belief that unless Con-
gress takes some action upon the message the
President will construe the failure to act he did
the failure to settle the Louisiana question, and
WILL when Congress adjourns, recognize Brooks as
Governor and use whatever force he finds necessary
to replace him in power 1t is but fair to cay that
the President in this case is acting without the
advice of Attorney General Williams whose position
on this question fully set forth in his opinion in
the case of Brooks against Baxter In that opinion,
he said
Respecting the claim that Brooks received q ma
ory of the votes at the election, must be SAID mat
the President has way TO verify that clalm III ne
had IL would not, in my opinion, uEdcr the circui-
stances case, be proper subject Tor HE cono
Grafton,
And again
think II would be disastrous to allow the proceedings
nv which Brooks obtained possession Of the office TO be
Union in which they would not produce conflict ana
upon any ground, and in my opinion Elisha Baxter
should be recognized as the lawful cAocuu'o vi ''0
State OF Arkansas.