Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-07
Tue Clayton Investigation

Inc TtNtldtipur tiidt are DtiHp Uldte
before the Congressional Committee
now engaged 10 investigating the foul
murder of Col. John NJ. Clayton at
Plummersville, Arkansas, Immediately
following the last Presidential election,
are startling in the extreme. They show
a condition of society beside which the
Indian tribes Of our reservations would
have many points of superiority. 1t Is
difficult to believe that in State of this
great Union, in a community ostensibly
civilized and christian, there could be
found snc1 an atmosphere Of absolute
barbarsm as has been shown to have
surrounded this Clayton tragedy.
The details of this crime are well
known to our readers. Col. John NJ
Clayton, one OF the ablest and bravest
white men in the South. was candidate
for Congress in the second Arkansas dis
trict against Clifton K. Breckenridge. 1t
was district in which the black vote
considerably out-uumbered the white.
The colored people were unit in their
support Of Clayton. In addition to this
he had large white following. 1t is
evident, therefore, that with anything
like an honest election he would have
been successful by an overwhelming ma
jority. As usual, however, in that State
the Democrats by the most sweeping and
bare-faced frauds, succeeded in getting
majority returned for their candidate
At one place where the ballot box con
Clayton 1t was stolen by masked men
armed with revolvers. So palpable and
outrageous were the methods used in de-
featiug his election, that Col Clayton
felt confident that, after a revie W Of the
facts in the matter, Congress would per.
nit him to take the seat to which the
people Of his district had chosen him
With this purpose in view he
set resolntely to work to gather
testimony as to these frauds. He had
not the slightest trouble in procuring an
abundance Of it, and felt absolutely con.
fident Of gaining the seat to which he
had been fairly elected. In the course
OF his Investigations he came to Plum.
mersville where the ballot box had been
stolea, Here he was shot and killed in
his room by parties who fired upon him
through the window from the outside
Never in the long list Of foul political
murders that have stained the name of
the South, has there been one that ex-
cited more widespread horror. The
whole nation was filed with the great
est indignation. The Bourbons of Ar.
kansas saw that this crime was political
mistake on their part and fastened to
condemn it in unmeasured terms. en-.
deavoring by the vehemence of
their protestatious to make up for
their insincerity. They even rushed
into print to show that the murder
was not political one. In the
North American Review Of March, 1859, |
appeared an article by Senator James K.
Jones, Of Arkansas, under the caption |
"was Clayton's Murder a Political
Crimes'' 10 that article the able Senator
essays to prove not only that this muir
der was not political one, but that the |
mere thought of such thing was an in
suit to the people of Arkansas. He de.
clared that nowhere had this ''crime
been so keenly felt and strongly con-
demued" rs In that State. He pointed |
to the fact that 1t had been denounced |
In the State press. in public meetings of
the citizens, and that rewards had been
offered for the apprehension Of the
assassin, as . proof Of this. He de
clared that the sheriff was doing all iu
his power to ferret out the mystery and
make known the Offenders and asserted
that any charge THAT this asssssina-
ton WAS for . political purpose
and with political end In view" was
absolutely untrue" and that there was
nothing to sustain it,. These were
very strong statements for Senator Jones
to make. The results of the investiga
ton, however, have already knocked
IL bottom out Of them. Judge W.
n. Clayton, twin brother Of the muir.
dered man. for ever puts the lie to the
statement that the people Of Arkansas
that d, the Burban portion Of them-feltI
keenly concerning this murder unless Ill
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