Year: 1874

I


been telegraphed BY Attorney Genera


Williams that the President declines Il


interfere only to preserve the peace, Ii


Arkansas. N'-'s ~ ''fS


LITTLE Rock, April l6,-4 P. NJ


There Ia but little change in affairs


Gov. Baxter still occupies ST. Johns Col,


lege, and is making preparations 10 sus


tain himself.


Mr.. Brooks holds the State House will


two pieces oi artillery and about 100 men


armed with improved muskets, He ha


issued the following. proclamation:


TO tho People Of ArkdnSdS As yol


will recollect l was o candidate for thI
office oi Governor at your election in 1872
That l received q majority of votes cas-


for the Office has never been denied, ever
by friends Of Elisha Baxter. I appealed
to the Legislature and asked to be allow.
to contest the election for the office o
Governor, and my petition, at the instance
and by the oonnivance Of 4. Baxter, wht
corruptly used his official patronage L
bribe members OF tho legislature, wal
rejected, and was denied not only thI
right Of petition the constitution guRran
tees TO every citizen, but the right t
have the question OF election investigated
or passed on Tho Attorney Genera
asked the Supreme Court for o writ O
quo warranto against Elisha Baxter fol
the purpose Of compelling him 10 show
by what warrant and authority he assum
ed 10 discharge the duties of the office ol
Governor. That tribunal declared they
had no jurisdiction to hear and determine
contest for the office Of Governor, and
the cause was dismissed for the want ol
jurisdiction. commenced action against
Baxter under the provisions Of the code
in the manner prescribed by law, for the
recovery Of the office and the salary re,
ceived BY E Baxter during the time he
wronglully Withheld the same from
me. l served a notice on Bax-
ter that would at certain
times and places named in said notices
take testimony in support Of my claim
Baxter, for reasons best known TO himself
neglected and failed to appear at the
times and places mentioned, and treated
the Court proceeding with derislon and
contempt, openly boasting In public and
private speeches and conversations that
he would resist the execution oil the judg.
ment Of any Court OF the State with the
militia, II they attempted TO in any mau'
ner interfere with, his discharge Of the
duties ol the Office Of Governor. Not
withstanding his threats, continued to
take testimony and prosecute the suit
for the purpose Of asserting my own rights
and vindicating your choice at the
ballot box. On yesterday Ne Circuit
Conrt rendered q Judgment in my favor
for the Office and the salary, and l at once
took the oath Of office and took posses.
sion OF the same, and 1t Is TO be hoped
that you join your voice with mine In
rejoicing that the man you chose for Gov.
ernOr has at last been duly installed in
the Office. Being in the Office, 1t is but
fair thRt that I to some extent define my
future policy, which the adherents oI
Elisha Baxter no doubt misrepresent for
the purpose of advancing personal inter.
ests and gratifying their own ambition.
For my political tenets, l respectfully
refer you TO the platform Of the Reform
party, on which ] was candidate in '72
From the principles therein l have never
yet departed, and God helping me, never
will. No one man in the State has felt
the power Of ballot box suffers and politi.
cal thimble riggers to the extent that l
have. say to you that so far as in me
lies the ballot.box and election machinery
Of the State shall never again be made an
engine Of fraud and oppression as 1t was
In 1879. This is a Republican form Of
government where the voice Of hepeople
should rule, and so far as I am concerned
It shall rule from this time henceforth, and
so long as l occupy the executive chair
every man shall have the tree and undis-
turbed right TO vote for whom as 10 him
shall seem the best, and that vote when
once cast shall be counted for the man for
whom the voter intended 1t should be.
Efforts no doubt will be made by design
ing men TO convey the impression that It
Is the duty Of the people 10 rally to the
standard Of a man who no doubt will claim
he is Governor Of Arkansasl HhO you oil
know was not elected, and who has no
more right or claim 10 the office than any
one Of you have that was not a candidate.
For the purpose Of placing that man
again in the Executive Office I say frank
ly to you that all such attempts will lead
to strife and bloodshed, for I shall resist
and suppress the acton OF all mobs that
may assemble together under the banner
or at the call Of Elisha Baxter. Norman
In the State can more deeply regret strife
and bloodshed than myself, but feeling as
1 do that sell.government rather than
sell.aggrandisement is in tho issue shall
employ every means at my command to
maintain its supremacy. Elisha Baxter
forced me from the legislature 10 the
courts, and thus far l have patiently
borne with the laws delay, at
all times feeling that justice would
be dono me by the judgment Of a
court Of competent Jurisdiction. am in
tho Executive Office. When 1t Is ad.
Indicated that am not there legally,
will bow my head in silence TO the decree
Of the Court, be it what 1t may. The
power that Elisha Baxter used 10 force
me into the Courts will now use tomake
him respect It's DEGREES. To one and all
! say, keep quiet and pursue your different
vocations. Your services are not needed al
the Capital TO preserve either peace OF
good order. Should the time come when
they will be needed you will be notified
in duo time through the proper channels
u. Signed JOSEPH BROOKS,


VI - .,--.rg G0rrnor Of Arkansas.


To-day the attorneys oi Gov. Baxter
appeared in the Circuit Court and moved
10 set aside the judgment Of yesterday
also, TO correct the records Of Monday
wherein 1t appeared that the demurrer In
case o! Brooks rs. Baxter was submitted
BY their consent. These motions will be
argued Tomorrow.


The Flood in the Cumberland River.


NASHVILLE, April 16.-The Cumber-
land River Is still rising one inch an
hour. Several hundred yards Of Market
street, south Of Broad street Is now sew,
eral leet under water. 10 the great dam