Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-12

are no Conditions as the President er-
/ roneously suggests, binding on the State
. OF ArKansas, as to the terms on which
II holds place In the Union, that are
! not equally binding on all the other
[ States. The Presidents message, while
| IL msy make hope enliven the bosOms
| OF little group OF bad men for q short
Z time, would bring apprehensions of
1 further misery, wrong and spoliation to
/ the minds Of nearly half million of
/ the people OF this State, comprising four
| hfths Of its population, il they could be-
ileve that congress would execute it to
their disadvantage and injury. We
have no fear that congress will so act;
! and We believe that the President does
not at heart wish it should. He is mere
ly playing a hand that may win point
/ TO his political advantages; believing
that people who have stood so much
can endure yet little lOnger-not quite
| to tue ldes Of March.
Courier-Journal Washington Special
The extraordinary message OF the
| President upon Arkansas affairs has
/ produced in congress a greater impress
sion even than the Louisiana usuTpa-
ton, and is regarded rs settling the
! question decisively that he is now ready
10 go all lengths in order TO maintain
himself in power. What is most remark
able about the matter is, that not the
cabinet, and not even Mr.. Williams,
were consulted. The Presidents ad-
visers were Clayton, Dorsey, and the
other Arkansas carpetbaggers, and Boss
Shepherd, chief Of the late District ring.
The message is said to bear most sus-
piciOus semblance to the closing para
n 4In rid Z
DOrity report Just made by jasper d.
Ward, Of Illinois. Clayton, who some
years ago insisted publicly in the United
States senate that Baxter was chosen
governor in 1872, is the master spirit of
the conspiracy, which assumes as its ba-
sig and starting point that Brooks was
elected, and is the lawful governor of
Arkansas. On the fifteenth of May,
1874, Baxter and Brooks being then both
applicants for Federal aid in suppressiug
insurectiOn, the United States attorney
general delivered an elaborate opinion,
in which he said:
"I think it would be disastrous to al
low the proceedings by which Brooks
obtained possession Of the Office to be
drawn into q precedent. There is not
State in the Union in which they would
not produce a conflict, and probably
blOodshed. They cannot be upheld or
justified upon any ground, and in my
opinion Elisha Baxter should be recog-
niZed as the lawful governor Of the State
Of Arkansas"
This opinion was adopted by the Presi-
dent, who then sustained Baxter, but
eats his own words for dynastic and cor
rupt purposes, and says to congress,
"BrOoks was elected" The effect OF
the Presidents message is to alarm his
own friends in congress even more than
the Democrats. They begin to see that
he is dangerous, and that it is impOssi-
bic to say what he will not do. In the
house there is very extensive revolt
among the Republicans, and an agree
ment or understanding, when the mat
ter shall come up, to take the most de-
cisive action in repudiating the message,
so as to render impossible the execution
Of the menace which it contains.
Messrs. Poland, Scudder and Tay-
lor, OF the committee, are preparing
speeches in vindication OF their
report. Judge Poland is said to
be very indignant at the course of
the President. The document is regard
ed as very disrespectful to congress. In
the senate, the resolution Of inquiry, as
proposed by Clayton, called for the
Presidents views as well as information
about Arkansas, but this Was objected
to by Senator Johnson, and the call for
the Presidents recommendation was
stricken out Even General Logan
seems to have been surprised. It is con.
ceded by well-infOrmed Republicans
that the message will have very dam
aging effect upon the approaching elec-
tions in New Hampshire and ConHecti-
cut.
Washington Special TO Cincinnati Enquirer.l
No act of Grants administration has
produced q more startling sensation
than his special message to-day upon
Arkansas. Even his own friends are
surprised. Attorney-General Williams
stated only the other day that he had
no reason to believe that the President
had changed the views which led him
last spring to recognize the Baxter gov
ernment as the lawful State government
of Arkansas. There have been no cabi-
net meetings held lately upon the SUBJ
ject, but for weeks past Senators Clay
ton and Dorsey have been quietly oper-
ating upon Grant. Both of these men
know that if the people of Arkansas are
allowed self-government they are
doomed to political death when their
senatorial terms shall expire. In addi-
ton to this there is huge railroad job,
involving over five million dollars, to
be effected in this mode, by which the
Clayton and Dorsey ring expect tc
grow rich at the expense of the people.
1t will be remembered that Grant sus.
tanned Governor Baxter in 1928, and
again also in BaXter's contest last spring
with Brooks, Mr.. Williams delivering
nla o
which it was then supposed closed all
idea of Federal interference. The report
obtains that the President came up late
ly 10 the capitol, and sent for Messrs.
Poland, Scudder and Ward, the three
Republicans of the special committee
on Arkansas affairs, and endeavOred to
induce them to frame such report az
wOuld justify the overthrow by military
force Of the present State government.
Two OF these gentlemen, Messrs. Poland
and Scudder, refused to surrender their
honest and independent judgment in
the matter, and the result is q report
drawn by Poland and signed by four out
of the five members OF the committee,
declaring that the constitution Of Ar
kansas was lawfully adopted and ratified
by a large majority of the voters, and
that there is no authority in any branch
Of the Federal government TO over
turn it, or the State govern ment
Of which Governor Garland is the head.
The message to-day is undoubtedly
meant as an endeavOr by the President
20 induce congress to repudiate the PO-
land report, though made by an extreme
Republican partisan, and to prepare the
public mind for action, after congress
adjOurns, similar to that of Sheridan at
New Orleans. The message is construed
as declaring the settled purpose of the
President TO TevOlutionizs Arkansas,
whether congress sustains him or not,
and is regarded by the Democrats as the
bOldest aud most audacious stride
toward military despotism that the
President has yet made. The
effect produced by it among DEM
ocraiic senators is one OF depression, un-
easiness aud alarm. They regard The
situation as critical in the highest de-
gree, and recognize s desperate purpose
on the part Of the President TO maintain
himself in power by extreme measures,
and by forcing a conflict with the SOUTH
ern people In this way he expects to
awaken the passions and the old war
feeling Of the north, and under cover Of
pretended necessity, the result Of his
own deliberate usuTpatiOns and oppres-
si0ns, to extend the rule Of the sword
ali over the country. Some of the most
prominent sOutherneTs are really doubt
ful whether this or any other act of
usUrpatiOn viii arouse the northern peO-