The Van Buren press., 1879-01-14


olments of companies of State Guards have been made The
report of the Adutant General the force remaining
b substantially as before. essaa -sssss s.san saaasm.a
1t having been recently represented that irregular orgaiz
tions military form, without sanction of authority and
not properly mustered and reported existed in localities
orders issued throughout the requiring the dis
! bandment of such organizations if any there were
The State possesses, nominay 1,l62 Springfield breech-
loading rifle musket 10 muze-loadng nlskets 81 shot
guns, (l2pouder) Parrott gun, complete and (64-
pounder siege with ordnance the Re
port. invite attention the statement and recommendation
made in regard the collection of this property
There due the State of Arkansas, the United
States, on her quota of sll 977.49 1t has been
deemed best to defer drawing the until there could
submitted to the General Assembly the proposition,
mended by the Adjutln General. in which concur au
horzng the Governor, in he shall time be able to
commute portion of the quota for money! to exend
the in the construction of suitable accommodations for
the preservation of the of the State etc.
There has been OCCASION during the present administration
for the actual employment of the militia, in counties
of the State and in each instance has been
that of the enforcement of civil law add. in each
instance ITS use has resulted i'll saving of boodhed appa
rety imminent and more than the preservation
property the destruction of which otherwise nevit
bic earn further that i'll each county the repression of
awlessness has apparently final and quiet order and
public security have been restored The report of the Adju
tant General presents sufficient of the details of
these cases and need refer to them but briefly.
My predecessor in Office had least twice during the two
of his administration. had occasion dispatch his Off
of militia Scott County, investigate troubles exist
mg there and take strengthen the hands of the
evil authorities Early in January 1877, information
authentic sources was received by that collision
dangerous to the public in all probability take
place. at the opening of the Scott Circuit Court between two
hostile factions collision such experience had already
shown, and subsequent have demonstrated beyond
doubt the authorities of the would be unable to re-
press without assistance The of the militia of the
then constituted warmly enlisted on one or
the other side of the dispute There opportunity
for the Sheriff to call, in upon other militia for
sstance, or for me to communicate with him. The Lega
ture being in session, without power call out in
the meaning of that term employed in the Constitutions anv
portion of the militia At the time, if disturbance
be obviated there not hour spare therefore
caused small party Of State Guards under discreet officer
to he marched from Franklin County, upon any ordinary
parade exercise for instructions and to encmp near the
of Scott there hold themselves subject to tbe
call of the Sheriff of the county call which the law
lied that officer to make any upon his response
blty The presence of the troops rendered their en-
poyment unnecessry and in few days they returned to
their homes have the personal of the gentleman
then holding the position of Sheriff and of Others that the
vicinity of this little force although was not employed in
all probability the peace the county at that time
In the month of March, 1877, the unprovoked murder in
Union County of coloed men, by rfans connected
with of outlaws haunting the borders of adjoining States
aroused the Indignation of the good of the county
without respect of color that meeting held
which, among other measures adopted permission was
asked to organize two companies of militia white and
of eoored men, and to have them armed by the State
assist the civil authorities in maintaining the supremacy
the law The request accorded and rewards offered
the of the murderers having to their cap
in Texas and threats having been an undertake
ing b, armed mob from abroad rescue the prisoners
directed the detail from Hampstead County of small guard
of militia to escort across the country the officers charge
and the delivery of the parties arrested to the proper
authorities. -t +t # f t.f CT -'' -.' ', --#f
In July of the year, the Sheriff Scott County re-
ported, in person. at the Capital that the county seat had
seized by party of depeadoes who occupied strong
building, deed him the town. or to attempt the
performance of the functions of his Office declined to
render him assistance until he should first have the
remedies afforded him by the law among which Revised
Statutes Sec 2o6O was the right to command many male
inhabitants OF his county as he might think proper and any
military companies in his county, armed and equipped
him overcoming resistance execution of process or
1916 the enforcement case the civil or GRIM
ina law. The Sheriff did return issued his proclamation
calling the citizens of the support and raised
sufficient force to enable him. without boodshed to
the county seat and to the discharge of his
duties Arrests, and indictments conspiracy to osruc the
administration of justice, and for MURDERS followed The
conduct and history of these belongs Judicial
the Executive, department of the Government.
Meantime, the Adutn General had been dispatched to the
county, with directions to ake by authority such measures
might be required under the provisions Constitution
and laws of the State order to render full protection and
the local civil authorities The former militia of
the county dbanded; the Shers armed posse was Or
ganzed militia force armed and equipped and an add
oa body of State Guards selected good character and
standing and freedom from partisan bias was formed to
assist these authorities in of need The value of this
precaution became evident in the following year. when the