The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-02-19
ANOTHER ASTONISHEE.
Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer

more startling sensation than hisspecial
message to-day upon Arkansas. Even
his own friends aresurprised. 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 government as
the lawful State government of Arkan-
sas. There have been no Cabinet meet
ings held lately on the subject, but for
weeks past Senators Clayton and Dorsey
have been quietly operating upon
Grant. Both of these men know that
if the people of Arkansas are allowed
sclf-government they are doomed to
political death when their Senatorial
terms shall expire. In addition to this
there is :, huge railroad job, involving
over $5,OOO,OGn, to bc effected III this
mode, by which the Clayton and Dorsey
ring expect to grow rich ut the On pense
of the people.
II will be remembered that Grant
sustained Gov. Baxter in lS72-3, and
again also in BaX tiers contest last spring
with Brooks, Mr.. Williams delivering
an elaborate opinion on the subject,
which it was then supposed closed all
idc:, of Federal interference. The report
obtains that the President came mp
lately to the Capitol ,and sent for Messrs.
Poland, Schudder and Ward, the three
Republicans of the Special Committee
on Arkansas Affairs, and endeavOred
to induce them to frame such Il report
us would justify the overthrow by
military force of tho present State
government. Two of these gentlemen,
Mcssrs. Poland and Scudtler, refused to
surrender their honest and independent
judgment il the matter, and the result
is Il report drawn by Poland and signed
by four out of five members of the
Committee, declaring that the Consti-
tuition of Arkansas 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 overturn it, or the State
government of which Gov. Garland is
the head.
The message to-day is undoubtedly
meant as an entleavor by the President
to induce Congress to rcpudiate the
Poland 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
revolutionize Arkansas, whether Con-
gress sustains him or not, and is isregarded
by the Democrats us the boldest and
most autlacious stride toward military
dcspotism that Grant has YET made.
The feeling produced by it among
Democratic Senators is one of deprcss-
ion, unc,siness and alarm. They re-
gard the situation as critical in the last
degree, and recognize Il desperate pur-
pose on the part of the President to
maintain himself in power by extreme
measures, and by forcing 4 conflict with
the Southern people. In this way he
expects to awaken the passions and the
Old war feeling OF the North, and under
cover ola pretended necessity, the re-
suit of his own deliberate usurpationS
and expressions, to extend the rule OF
the sword all over the country.
Some of the most prominent South
crncrs are really doubtful whether this
or any other act of usurlation will
arouse the Northern people in time to
arrest the success OF thcthirtl term plot.
They rightly condemn, as impruttcnt
under present circumstances, the pros
positions made to the Georgia and North
Carolina Legislatures, to modify the
State Constitutions.
There can be no doubt that these
proceedings give great satisfaction to
Grant, Morton IL Co., as atlor,ing Il
prrtrNt for exercising military control
over the Southern States. WclI-infornl-
cu Observers Of the situation here are
amazed that members OF these State
Legislatures should fail to understand
by how slender Il thread they keep the
control OF tiicir State government, and
that as long as Grant is President they
are liable to be upset any day by the
army, and no help for it.
In the House of Representatives there
is II strong hope, on the part of prOmi-
nrnt Democrats, that many of the Re
publican members will stand up to the
Poland report and the message. Much
depends on the manner in which Mr..
Poland will stand up to his own report.
He has declared to day, since the mess
age was read that he will not surrender
or modify his position.
The subject is not expected to como
up in the House for Il week. If the
House shall, by an emphatic vote, dc
clare that there is no authority for the
Federal Government to interfere with
the State government of Arkansas, and
public opinion shall be manifested with
curof decision, If is npscibfp that IN