New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-01
POWELL CLAYTON OF ARKANSAS.
A DEMOCRATS SKETCH OF HIS CAREEE-HIs STAND
ING AT HOME.

| 4 DEMOCRATS SKETCH OF HIS CAREEI-HIS STAND
ING AT HOME.
| To IN. EdttOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: Having large and important business
relations in for many years past, AIN natnr
ally much Interested in her public men, and beg leave u
Give you short sketch Of General Powell Clayton who
is now being so freely discussed by many 10 rnas OF the
country, aud correct some wrong Impressions which
have gone abroad concerning him. Allow me to begin
with the statement that am Democrat
General clayton Is in tue prime of manhood, a
native of Delaware County, Penn. where the family
have lived since william Pcnn's time, being the same
stock a. the Claytons of Delaware and Maryland He
served all through the war. occupying yariOns ranks
from Captain Breadiereneral and In 1868 married
an aniable and accomplished your ady-Miss Mctraw'
OF Helena. Ark. whose family were Oh the other side
being Southern by birth and education.
Immediately on being mustered out OF the service
General Clayton purchased plantation near Pine Blum
Ark which he still owns and whore he lived quietly
with his family for over two years or his taxing any
part in politics After the passage OF the re construction
measures I'm 1863 he nominated by the kepupcah-
and elected Governor. Those were stormy times IN
Arkansas TO re construct a State with about forty
thousand majority Of white voters against him, was no
ordinary task It required OF iron nerve and great
decision The most notable act. however, OF his admin
stroou was his declaration ~ Martial Law In several
counties Of state and calling ont the state militia 10
suppress tho go called KultluG or-nnizltion These
At tho time 10 very hostile ana litter feelns against him
~, tina mart Of his political opponent But this feelnig
aa IA raai measure aubsdfd, n being nov generally
admitted that he established and upheld peeoc ad order
In tho state uptrtnpr clayton wa7 elected to the United
aeios scnnie in sI1 nhd served pht h7 nl Torn u" 7'
Yeats ON retiring from the Senate be- entete1 aautab
in pti,nic pnta,ds, among 0thef HniHfplsea having
oisinafad and bplt hr E1fsta Springs RAILROAD ~
.tt,h to +, iir ,loo- president ana gnbod bthhgar
i,s1ra ds Interest 80 ths tnnd b" snll owns b't ~"
plantation iD1 liul, ana Las o'i Iais" hl'i'+lH
Ifom tbn establishment ~ the Republican party IA
Ar4insa. up ,anntort lylohs teilf"Grh nom tAY5o
utr, hr wa, ihr r"l" "hd u1lsp",l "" =, ~ up ~
tlr state, bat on lrlYlu5 me soma, lh' lr, snp pas
fr,ndly feeling had ever existed brtween them Dor,D
had stl Two years a. servo Ia ie nen"t" ahd under 9l
uInlr patronage IN Arkansas. The consequence was
hat clay TONS friends were all turned ont o. once ana
Don ,rI's friends substituted. Nhbn lhe Hhllohh on
vrutlon assembled AT Chicago in 1850 Clayton was del
gate bat Dorsey heade the deleg o ara was Pnt III
Cnyton'- place upon the National Committee ON oar
ion % Id chairman OF the STATE Central Com
ittoe and on the demand Of the Republicans OF ArEan
sas was last winter substituted on the NatoII C3n
in the state is now undlspucd He also rendered the
Governmept valuable assistance IN ulcaftmnS the ot'
Route frtds us be testified to by e1PoStnaster
General James and exAuOrney General hcNeagh 1t Is
remarkable fact that even his bitteres political enemies
have never accused him OF yenaty or Of any corrupt
nractices for persona ACKNOWLEDGMENT AN incoltr0
vertiblc proof OF the estimation IN wlch ne Is INV nosu
in Arkansas by even us T fro late issue Of
TIs Lite Rock GG=ete-s Democratic Journal OF my
Ira' standiugthe leading paper IN the state ami cog
infant OF every Of General Clay ton puDc career
both military ana civil: ., l.. -
Colonel benjamin of Arkansas. whose speech IN DO
half of General Powell Clayton before the vote was taken
for teuporary chairman OF the Republican convention
was printed in Wednesdays Ga.eAe. missed agOdeO
porinity OF General ClayOns bravery ana a1iny a.
soldier OF his capacity shown as senator ana also Us
Covprnor much could have been sald. Wherever placed
General Clayton has shown hlgh caIacly IehuLs c"n
ceel by hiS strongest personal aud political enemies
This coming from the leading Democrats: paper ~ tne
state is certainly very high compliment 70 Oenera
S1ayton ' c. JOHNSON
Nelc- York. June %. 1884.