Year: 1875

j =. DtNHAM, Esp'-


Dear Sir. The late disturbances IN
Mississippi and Louisiana, and especially
the expulsion of members Of the Legisla-
turc Of the latter State by United States
soldiers, very naturally excites alarm and
apprchcnsion. What is done to day in
Louisiana may at another TINT be repeat
ed in any other State, whenever IN the
Judgment of a despotic Executive party
necessities may require it. hope how
ever that good will flow from it. The
people are rousing themselves up and en-
tering an indignant protest against this
unwarranted abuse of power, and | hope
that the President although highly exaIt.
ed will be taught that there is point.
land that point is nearly y reached beyond
which the people Of the United States
will not permit him to go.


n But the most exciting item OF news we
have had for long time, is the remark
able teiegraphic dispatch of Lieut.. Gen.
| Phil. Sheridan to the Secretary Of War,
| in which he assumes or rather asserts
that we have white leagues in Arkansas,
representing them as armed military or
carnations and state ofterrOrsm con
sequent thereon entirel inconsistent with
the peace and good order Of society /;
suggesting also the propricty OF the
Presidents issuing a proclamation de-
claring them bandiA, so that they may
be tried by military commission and
thus summarily disposed of. | have not
the dispatch now before me but this is the
substance of it, and a more unmitigated
libel against our peaceable and law abld-
! ing people was never uttered. | have
made good deal of inquiry and am sat
isfed that no such organization as the
white league or anything like it exists in
any part Of the State, and as to terrorism
it is wholly unknown in the State. No
elections were ever fairer than those Of
1874 There is not fair minded, honest
republican in the State but must admit
this How shamcfully then has the mind
of this man Sheridan been abused by the
base men, who have to long dshonored
and disgraced Arkansas. But it will
eventuaie in good. The whole country
will know that the dispatch is untrue,
and that gross injustice is done the peo
pie Of Arkansas; and the people of other
very naturally rally to the support of
wrongcd and injured people.


am still unable to predict the time
of Our adjournment. We have yet great
deal to do. Much Of the most important
business remains to be acted upon.


A bill to transfer all the pending suits
in the Pulaski Chancery Court, concern.
ing sixteenth section lands and other
State lands, to the Counties in which the
lands lie, was reported by me to the Sen
ate two or three weeks ago, and prompt.
ly passed 1t is now in the House. /
take it that q number Of my constituents
are interested in the passage Of this bill,
for many OF them have been sued to the
Pulaski Chancery Court, and if it comes
too late for some, provision is made that
in all future cases Of this character, suit
must be instituted in the County where
the land lies


We have bill pending in the Senate
for the relief of the people. 1t provides
that the collection of the State taxes, ex
cept the tax to pay the interest on the
public debt, shall be suspended Or rather
remitted for the years 1874 and 1875.
The year 1915 has been struck out, but
think it will pass as amended, embracing
only the year 1874 This bill is a sup.
plement to the Finance bill, and intended
to be auxiliary to it.


The Revenue bill has not yet passed,
nor the bill providing for the assessment
of property.


Should the General Assembly refuse
to take recess, shall obtain leave OF
absence for l2 or Is days, and hope in
any event very soon to be at Van Buren,


Very Truly,


JESSE TURNER