Year: 1873




the accusation that he had sold out
to Mcclure had been mado wanton-
ly and without evidence, we could
not blame him for the strong Ian
guago used IN his denial. But with
out ovon referring to direct and po-
sitivc evidence, which exists, we
think the ccircumstantial evidence is
alone conclusive OF the truth of the
charge.


Mcclure was the warm, earnest
and persistent friend of threc par
ticular measures, in one of which he
had a deep personal interest, TO all
of which measures, Baxter was hit
tcrly and earnestly opposed. This
was the first indication Of absolute
disagreement between them. When
Mcclure saw that if Baxter opposed
the railroad bill, its defeat WAS ccr-
tain, il is q notorious fact, well
known to every member Of tho last
legislature, that Mcclure and his
few friends openly declared that if
Baxter vetoed that bill, ho would
not be allowed to act as Governor,
binting at tho samo time at the sup
posed invalidity of his election rs
the means ofvcngcanoe against him.
1t is equally notorious that Brooks,
up TO tho breach between Mcclure
and Baxter, with words OF scorn
and q scowling face, had refused to
contest for tho oiiico of Governor
before the general assembly, giving
rs his reasons for this conduct, that
tho Legislature was bogus, that he
would not submit his claims TO such
u corrupt and illegal body, and that
any democrat who took his scat in
this corrupt and bogus legislature,
would bc q vile traitor TO the reform
party, he inviting and urging the
democrats at the same time, to set
up ascparatc state government that
is, to mako another Louisiana out
OF Arkansas. Upon tho refusal OF
tho democratic members, Brooks
and his desperate followers disoharg-
cd thoir resentment against thom in
bittcr and insulting dcnunciation
and then subsidcd. When the
breach between the Governor and
the Mcclure faction had been made
impossible by his open, undisguiscd
opposition to tho Senate election
iniamy and tho Metropolitan Police
bill, which wcro manilestly aimed
at the political and personal liberty
of the people, and to keep them in
an endless condition ofpolitical vas
salagc; these bold conspirators
threw Off all disguise, and openly
declared that Baxter had not boon
duly elected, and proceeded to act
accordingly. When making these
declarations, Mcclure had not only
to confess himself an unscrupulous
liar, but also that he had been q
leading party to a most infamous
fraud upon the people. He had
repeatedly declared in his paper
that Baxter had been lawfully elect
ed Governor, and it seemed that h,
could not find language emphatic
enough to express his adherence o
tho rebel claims Of Brooks. Nay
as if hc could not do too much tC
provo his faith in the perfect fair
ness of Baxtcr's election, he ascend
cd the speakers stand, and in the
presence Of the legislature and gal
leries crowdedwith enthusiastic re
publicans, he administered to Bax
ter the oath of Office. Mcclure hai
discovered nothing since then abou
tho election which he did not know
before and if he knew that Baxter
was not elected, why did he lenC
himself to this wicked fraud upor
Mr.. Brooks and the people? Ant
when Elisha Baxter had finished hi
inaugural address, and was retiring
amidst the rapturous applause o.
the republicans, (for be ]. rcmem
bcred, not a sound broke tho digni
fed silence upon the democratic
side Of tho house, who were thoro
witnesses ofthc scene, that did not
mark the grin Of triumph which The
chef justice bestowed upon the de-
mocratic members? 1t was only