The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-02-25
THE ARK ANsAS TROUBLE-G GRANTS
CONSISTENCY.

business may serve to illustrate not
not only the villalny at the bottom of
the affair, but the utter Inconsistency
of Grants action and the part he has
taken in the wicked plot. In 1872
Baxter was the Republican candidate
for Governor of that State, running on
the SAME ticket with Grant for Presi-
dent. Joseph Brooks was the Liberal
Democratic candidate for Governor,
running on the ticket with Greeley.
Clayton, now Senator in Congress,
was then Governor Of that State, and
had the full control of the election re-
turns, and. whateyer was the true re-
suit OF the election, he saw to it that
the electoral vote was given to Grant
aud that Baxter was counted in as
Governor In course of time Clayton,
finding that he could not control Bax-
ter and secure his aid in several
swindling schemes in which he (Bax-
ter) was interested, involving several
millions of dollars, attempted to undo
what had been done under his auspices,
namely, to oust Baxter and seatBrooks,
with whom he had made peace, and
whom he thought be was able to con-
troll for that purpose and procured
q, County Court Judge to issue
aedccres in favor of Brooks, not
withstanding the Supreme Court of
the State had decided that the State
Jadiciary had nothing to do in the
premises, and the Legislature, in the
exercise off its rightful powers, had
declared Baxterto be fairly elected, and
he was duly inaugursted. In May
Last, Clayton and Brooks endeavored
to put Baxter out Of Office, when Grant
under tho duties imposed upon him
by the Constitution, to "repress do
mestic insurrection," upon the call of
tho Legislature of State, or in the
absence oftthat body, of the Governor,
came TO the relief of Baxter and issued
pthe following: rs ~.
tJri s..c In Hay, 1874.
l"By the President Of the United States
"a proclamation:
"WHEREAs, Certain turbulent and
disorderly persons, pretending that
Elisha Baxter, the present Executive
of Arkansas, was not elected, have
combinsd together with force and
arms to resist his authority as such
Executive, aud other authorities of
said State and
MWHEREAs, Said Elisha Baxter has
been declared duly elected by the
General Assembly of said State, as
provided in the Constitution thereof,
and has for q long period been exer-
cising the functions OF said Office, into
which he was inducted according TO
the Constitution and laws of said
State, and ought by its citizens to be
considered the lawful Executive there
of; and
"WHKREAs, The said Elisha Baxter,
under Section i of Article Nv of the
Constitution of the United States, aud
the laws passed in pursuance thereof +,
has heretofore made application to me
to protect said State and the citizens
thereof against domestic violence !;
now, therefore,
Il, Ulysses S. Grant, President OF
The United States, do hereby make
proclamation and command all turbu-
lent and disorderly persons to disperse
aud retire peacsably to their respect
/ i've abodes within ten days from this
date, and hereafter submit themselves
to the lawful authority of the said
State, and invoke the aid and CO oper-
ations of all good citizens to uphold
law and preserve the public peace.
a. .,,..,. ,..s,.,..-s U. S. GRANT"
| Pursuant to law of the Arkansas
Legislature the people of that State
on the Both -of June. by a vote Of SO,-
057 to S,507 decid I'D in favor of a Con-
yention to frame q new Constitution
for the State. The Convention was
held, the Constitution framed, and
submitted to the people for their rail-
fication OH the 18th of October, 1874,
and the people, by vote of 1867 to
A,S07 approved the new fundamental
Law. An election was held OH the
same day on which the Constitution
was ratified, . Governor, State officers
and members OF the State Legislature
were chosen, and at that election, Hon.
A. ii. Garland was elected Governor,
receiving 76,453 votes, being a large
majority of the votes cast, at an elec-
ton the fairness and quietness OF
which canno: be denied.
| On the 1lth of November, 1874,
Governor Garland was inaugurated
and Baxter, whom Grant had up to
that time declared to be the legal Gov.
erpor, delivered over the office to him
There is no .pretence that the new
Constitution was not fairly adopted
that it does not represent tho will OF
the people of the State, that it is in
any particular in conflict with the
Federal Constitution, that it fails to
afford full protection to all cIa.se. OF
citizens. There is no pretcnce that the
Government is not being fairly ad.
ministered, the people generally ,atis-
fed and contentsd. There is no in.
surrectiOn or invasion, and if there
were it would be the duty of the Pres.
ident to maintain the authority of the
thus recognized officers of the people
Yet Grant sends q message to Con.
gress, asking that this peaceablc condi.
tiou be Overthrown, and threatening
to do SO if Congress Deglects TO re.
lieve him of the responsibility. While
the President is permitted to exercise
such despotic powers there can be nc
such thing as Republican government
This is Grants message of
February, 1875.
To the Senate OF the United State.
"Herewith have the honor TO send
in accordance with the resolution OF
the Senate of the Sd inst, all the i'll
formation in my possession not here
| tofore furnished relative TO Affairs i'm