The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-03

that very much fear that YOU have been
as slow in obtaining information concern
ing these election crimes as YOU were some
ume ago concerning the condition OF the
convict camp at Coal Hill. You will re-
member that while helpless convicts there
were being whipped to death and treated
win unparalleled cruelty and brutality, YOU
knew nothing about what was going on
aithough as penitentiary commissioner the
law required you to keep your eyes and
ears open and see that these helpless crea-
lures were protected from the rapacity of
grasplng contractors That dsgraceful
condition OF affairs would still exist but for
the iact that johnson county had a cor
oner VINO was more mindful of his official
responsibilities than you seem to be.
NOW ior q few words in answer TO the
charges you have made against me and
the Republican administration in Arkan-
sas. 1t is not true that during the Re-
| publican administration the cost of carry
| ing on the government amounted TO
| -, 532,232, nor anywhere near that sum.
and 1t is not true that Democratic nd.
ministration, during a like period cost
only 81, 100000. 1t is a fact however
| that auditors warrants drawn upon the
treasury Tor two years OF my admnistra.
ton were less by about 5000, 600 than
similar warrants so drawn during the same
period under your administration. Ii the
large amount was expended for public
printing, as stated by you, it was
so expended under a contract made
by Gov Baxter, who, as Governor,
the Republicans repudiated and your
party adopted, having indorsed all his acts
by twice offering him the nomination,
unanimously, think, for n seconl term
as Governor. 1t is true that some wears
after vacated the Governors chair / be.
came, by purchase, the owner OF some of
the stock Of the Republican Printing COM
pany, and held stock for short period;
but II is not true that | had any owner.
ship in that company in conjunction
with Judge Mcclure or some OF the other
gentlemen named by you, nor Is il true
that at any time during my ownership Of
said stock any contract was entered into
between the State and said company for
public printing. / never received one
cent oil dividend or other profits on my
stock, and l sold II 10 Mr.. Price for great
deal less than II cost But what has all this
10 do with election fraudsn Arkansas? Ii
Is true, that while Governor twenty years
ago, on account illegal and fraudulent reg
registration in certain counties OF Arkan-
sas, but in the performance Of these acts
did just what the law required me 10 do in
such cases. II is true, that during the re-
construction period certain persons, who
are now voters, were dsiranchised, but the
law did II and not /. To discuss the reasons
for the acknowledgements would carry us
back 10 the war and its Responsibilities.
which would be Improbable. IL is
true, that issued proclamations certify
ing 10 the election as shown by ii
returns Of certain members OF Congress.
but II any person ever denied their ee =
ton or contested their seats, have never
heard OF II. IL IL true that on the ith day
OF November, 1863 the day after the cleo
ton and about twenty years ago, | issued
a proclamation OF martial law in certain
counties OF this State, the necessity Of
which will best be understood by refer.
ence 10 a little history several months be-
fore the issuance OF my proclamation. |
Your party, in national convention as
sembled, adopted the following
1--WE regard the reconstruction acts lso
callcd) OF Congress, rs such, AS usurpatiOns
and unconstitutional, revolutionary and
void"
Acting under this authoritative an
nounccment your party In Arkansas pro-
cccded TO organize kukluz klans or knights
OF Ali Locust, for the purpose Of villiiying
and overthrowing the State government
erected under those acts OF rcconstruction. |
The knights made a reign OF terror in sew. |
cral counties Of the State, during which |
member OF Congress was shot and a prom. |
inent citizen then n member Of the l.cgis- |
laturc, accompanying him, was severely |
wounded. Another member OF the legis- |
laturc was shot through his window, from |
the effects Of which he carries an empty |
sleeve today. Another member was shot |
and wounded while travelling along the |
road, and barely escaped with his lite and |
still another member was shot aud |
wounded while accompanying the |
hcarsc containing the dead body |
uf his dear wife. The sheriff |
Of Drew county, was killed, together with |
n negro, and both were tied together and |
left by the roadside as embracing each |
other. Gen. upham, OF whom You have |
spoken, was shot and severely wounded |
whilo nding along the road. Citizens
were called TO their doors and shot down
upon their doorsteps. An agent Of the
State, who was charged with the duty Of
fcrrctng out these crimes, was executed
and his body thrown In well. Many
others were Killed and drowned, and hun
drcds Of pcaccablc citizens were visited at
their homes at night by bodies Of masked
maraudon aud whipped and otherwise
outraged. During all this time con-
slant application was made 30 me
for protection, but Notwithstanding the
pressure WIS great | waited patiently until
the election was over aud then sent forth
the militia Of the state 10 meet force with
force. In that contest did not ask for
man or q gun from the United States gov.
cnmcnt, but the result was your illegal
and revolutionary organization went % the
wall aud your attempted notification of
the reconstruction acts failed. Although
twenty years have elapsed the chagrn Vi
the failure crops out upon every occasion
Of political excitement have been will.
ing to draw the veil OF oblivion over
those dark deeds. but YOU will not
have Il 10. You have evidently misn.
tcrprcted my silence. ] say 10 YOU now,
II nothing else will suit YOU but the re-
opening oi these old sores, 80 he IL. ] am
ready 10 defend my militia policy II you
are ready TO defend your kuk.ux policy
and iis acts which made the militia ncccs.
fary. think however. most people will
say. "What has all oi this 10 do with these
late Arkansas election fmudsY' In conclu.
sion, permit me 10 remind you that In COM
pairing Republican with Democratic admin.
isiration In Arkansas you forgot 10 say
anything about deialcations Of public ol.
hcer-. will supply omission. Under Re.
publican rule there were no dcialcaiiona