Nevada County picayune., 1889-10-09
CLAYTON'S "UNHAPPY CIR.
CUMSTANCES."

| the ''intcrview' the Gazette pub
lished Tuesday that he may be com
PEELED to write book. He said on
this point:
| If | am to be so favored. it will afford me
an opportunity to do what have long con-
/ templated that is, to publish to the people
of the United States II true history of the
unhappy circumstances which existed in tins
/ State in 1868, ard which compelled me, as
/ Governor, to resort to the last desperate rem
/ edv of n icopardzcd State, known as martial
4 law. Up to the present time | have alb
stained from such action, not desiring to re-
open old issucs, which might lead TO fruit ess
! controversy. But our friends of the Gazette
| school Of politics seem determined, for reas-
ons which seem to me apparent, to revive
! these old questions and present them in II
false light, putting me in position where
silence might be construed ms assent upon
my part to their assertions. feel that the
time has come when it is due to myself, to
my family, and to the good people of the
State and nation, who love truth and fair
! play, and to lay before them the facts which
| governed my actious.
What "unhappy circumstances
existed in the State for several years
prior to the beginning of the work of
the reconstructionists i'm 1868?
Isaac Murphy was Governor from
January, 1868, to March, 1868, his
successor being Powell Clayton. We
assume no one questioned the loyalty
of the one man who voted against
secession in the Constitutional Con-
vention of 1861, and who, to the day
of his death, was known and re-
spected as an honest, uncomprons-
ing, unconditional Union man.
The records show that during his
entire term of three years and three
months Gov. Murphy offered only one
reward for the apprehension of a mur-
derer, and issued only seven requisi-
tions on the executives of other
States for the return Of criminals.
This was just before reconstruction
began; and as Gov. Murphy never
failed to perform his daty, the facts
prove that the "rehcls" Gen. Clay
ton afterwards hunted down were es-
sentially law-abiding citizens. As
all who then lived in Arkansas knew,
the people were quiet and orderly.
When Gov. Murphy went out of Of
flee in March, 1868, the State Treas
ury contained several hundred thou
sand dollars. When Clayton went out
six years later the State Treasury was
empty, a bonded debt running up in
to many millions had been created,
the counties had been plundered and
bankrupted and absolute ruin seemed
to stare the people in the face.
1t is evident the unhappy circum-
stances" Gen. Clayton insists existed
in 1868, did not exist during the three
wears and three months immediately
preceding his advent as Boss and
Governor. They were ushered into
/ life hy the reconstruction crowd, of
which Gcu. Clayton was leader One
object OF reconstruction WAS political
revolution. The State was to be stolen
for a Republican candidate for Pres
ident, and Republican Congressman
were to be elected by getting rid Of
Democratic votes in strong Demo-
cratic counties.
AS the Gazette has shown, the Re-
construction Constitution was ratified
by questionable methods earl in 1868.
The Reconstruction Legislature met
in July, 1868, and began passing reg
istration and militia laws. There was
no trouble in the State at the time,
but it was -shadowed that the
h-handed acts of the Governor and
Legislature would create the trouble
they apparently invited; so regis
tration act was passed to remove all
doubts about carrying elections, and,
given a militia law, the Governor, as
early as July and August, began or
ganizing his militia.
Hundreds of telegrams and letters
reveal the purposes of the Reconstruc-
tionists. They had organized to dis
franchise, to plunder and to oppress.
The machinery was provided, and the
men were appointed to make life o
burden to the "rebel Democrats.
Under the circumstances it is not
surprising that unhappy circum-
stances" began to confront Gov Clay
ton in 1868. If with all the factors to
produce them they had not sprang in
to existence, the studied efforts to or
ganze hell in Arkansas would have
reflected little credit on the ability of
the men who seized the State and con-
trolled it for six years. Gazette.
Grin and Bear 1t.
My son, your brow is clouded ;
something has haDDened that didn't