Year: 1875

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, February 8,
1S75.-The Presidents message on Ar
kansas is universally considered by
thoughtful men in Washington as one
Of the most important documents he


has ever sent to congress. 1t is the first
gun OF new and most alarming policy.


In explaining to friend to-day the oc-
casiOn of this message, General Grant
said, that while in terms it referred to
Arkansas alone, 1t had, in his opinion,


been made necessary by information he
had received from other parts of the
south, which fully convinced him of the
purpose of the white people of the States
in which the Republicans still retain
power to overthrow the reconstruction
State constitutions. AS the adoption OF
those constitutions was essentially the
condition on which the southern States
were readmitted into the Union, the
President believes that it is the duty Of
congress to make provision in advance
to meet these grave issues as they arise.
In other words, the President seems to
think that it is the duty of congress to
prevent by positive laws any material
changes in the constitutions OF the re-
constructed States, and he hints that if
the legislative branch of the govern
ment does not do this be shall. He still
pleads his desire to be relieved from all
responsibility in the matter, but says he
shall act in accordance with his under
standing of his duty in case he has no
specific instructions from congress. The
friends of Governor Brooks claim to
have even more positive assurances from
the President than he has given to
others. They report him as saying that
his information is that if the United
States government fails to take notice
of the methods by which the Garland
resolution was accomplished in Ar
kansas, every other southern State now
in the hands of the Republican party
will be revOlutionized in the same way,
and that these changes will be brought
about within ninety days after the ad-
jOurnment Of congress. Thus far the
President has absolutely refused to re-
cOghize Mr.. Garland as governor of Ar
kansas, and the latter has resorteG to
several expedients to secure recognition.
After various attempts had failed, he
made requisitiOn upon the secretary of
war for the quota of arms to which Ar
kansas was entitled. No attention was
paid to this requisition, and Governor
Garland was not even notified that il





State department q communication no.
tifying to the government tint he had
made certain person commissioner of
the State at the centennial exhibition.
The President then directed the secre.
tary OF state to write him officially SIM
ply acknowledging the receipt of his
various letters, but to admit in no way
that he was the governor of the State.
Mr.. Brooks, who is here, feels very con-
fident that if either the house or the
senate should, by resolution or other
wise, recognize him as the legally elect
ed governor, Mr.. Garland would give
way without resistance. His friends
here ara also confident in the belief that
unless congress takes some action upon
the message, the President will construe
the failure to act as he did the failure to
settle the Louisiana question, and will,
when congress adjourns, recognize
Brooks as governor, and use whatever
force he finds necessary to replace him
in power. 1t is but fair to say that the
President, in this case, is acting without
the advice Of Attorney General Will
liams, whose position on this question
was fully set forth in his opinion in the
case Of Brooks against Baxter. In that
opinion he said:


Respecting the claim that Brooks received q
ma aIoriIy of the votes at the election 1t must be
said that the President has no way to verify
that claim. II he had, it would not, in my
opinion, under the circumstances of the case,
be q proper subject for his consideration.


And again:


think 1t would be disastrous to allow the
proceedings by which Brooks obtained posses
sion OF The office to be drawn into a prece-
dent. There is not State in the Unlon in
which they would not produce a conflict and
possibly blOodshed, They cannot be upheld
or justified upon any ground, aud in my opin-
ion, Elisha haxter should be recognized as the