The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1872-12-26

Without any official returns before them
without any of the official data on which
alone their action could have been right
hllv based. they have presumed to pro-
claim the results of the elections The
declaration by them of the votes cast in
the different parishes is as purely fanciful
as if no election whatever had been held.
They have arbitrarily reduced and
increased the votes on one side or the other
in different parishes to suit their purposes.
In several parishes while returning or
even adding 10 votes east for their candi-
dates, they have simply annihilated or
stricken out entirely the votes east for their
opponents. They have not pretended to
furnish the public with any statement or
the basis on which they proceeded or the
theory on which acted Their whole con
duct is without any kind Of reasonable ex-
plantation We submit to the people Of
the United States that such proceed
rugs reach a point at which the whole
theory of popular government Is reversed
and overthrown. The means by which
such results have been reached a.
enough 10 startle the public mind, but; .ne
results themselves are not less arr rs
Aside from the general affair CO.
State, we find the Legislature q wy Ia az
delivered over into the has u mn VIZ
were not elected, and u'o are uttGrIy uhIt
-. ,,,,;.;o ~ eI'I responsibility. As
~; H., ,,,,y,,s,4 ut its organization, it
oore ,mSsS GS Ftrsons of color, most of
tGn,i, tot,u, uneducated, with very
Sr,au r,;~jrity Of whites. Since that time
| tbc, I've expelled members whose seats
W. uncontcsted; they have unseated
Iembers returned elected by their own
BOARD. and seated their defeated opp0-
nents on the simple ground that the for
ner had not appeared to claim their seats.
The result is that originally bad as the
Legislature was, it makes itself worse day
0y day, and the prospect is that soon the
conservative element of the State will have
no representation whatever To those
who tatter themselves with the hope that
hr. Kellogg would not willingly abet any
scheme Of outrageous government, il is
now apparent that even surprising this to
| De true, the power of restraining has pass
| ID entirely beyond his control, and that
| should he attempt - thwart the schemes
! II this legislature, his own Impeachment
! would be probable event of the future
! In conclusion we would state chat we
have attempted to perform the duties OF
our mission in the pureSt non partisan
spirit; that we have not sought to furish
capital u any political party, or to excite
popular clamOr in the interests of any fac.
lion. We have laid our case before the
President and his Attorney General and w
willingly testify that we have been courte
lusIy received and patiently listened
70. While they have refused the
specific measures OF relief foi
which we applied. they have given reason,
Tor such refusal in no manner implying
their indisposition u see justice done
They have referred Us e. Congress. and
we feel assured that we shall have the i'm.
mediate sanction Of the President, So fan
as we invite an impartial investigation Ol
the facts Of our case, and that we shall
nave his desperation in any measures Of
relief which Congress may adopt after
lust investigation. The pc pie OF Llull
anna ignoring party, are conscious al al
honorable effort t. place in office men u
p tried prJbity They seek Justice not gen
: srOsty They ask tor calm. Impartial
examination of the recent extraordinary
events within their borders, and that there
may be a speedy correction OF the danger
jus evils now threatening the very life Vi
their State