Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-07

4 hCIOn was 70 De suppressed IOSSlbk6 Dy InGfG
! intoleTant and criminal proceedings.
In some places colored Iaborers were COM
PEELED to vote according 70 the wishes of their
employers under threats OF discharge II they
! acted otherwise, and there are too many in
| stances IN which, when these threats were dis
regarced, they were rem0rse essly executed b.
! 18th amend ment TO the constitution was mad
TO prevent this and like state CT things. and the
! act OF May 81, 1870, with amendments, was
J Patsed to enforce It's proyislcUs,-the object of
both being to guarantee 10 all citizens the right
/ to vote and to protect themselves in the free
| enjoyment of that right. Enjoined by the con-
sutution 'tO take care that the laws be faith
/ fully executed" and convinced by untoubted
/ evidence that violations o. SaId act had been
/ committed and that a Ui1tslread and fla
! grant disregard OF it was contemplated, the
| proper officers were instructed to pros
| ecute the offenders, ami troops were
| stationed at convenient points 10 aid these
! officers. IL necessary, in the Performance o.
| their Official duties. Complaints are made OF
| this il IterfeTence by federal authority, but n
| said amendment and act do not provide for
! such IN teTfercnce under the circumstances as
| above stated, then they are without me aning.
! f'rce o. effect, and the whole scheme OF COlCred
! entrsnchisement is worse than mOckery and lit
! ue better than crime. Possibly Congress may
/ find IL due TO truth and Justice TO ascertain by
| mems of committee whether the alleged
vTCngs TO colOTed citizens for pOlti al purposes
| are real, or the re ports thereof were manutlc-
| tGfed for the occasion. The whole number OF
! troops in the states OF Louisiana, Alabama,
| Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky,
| Tel nessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland,
| and Virginia at the times of the election were
| 4,OS% This embraces the gsrrisons OF all the
| fUIts from the Delaware TO the gulf of Mexico.
| Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas. Arti-
| Gle 10 the constitution of that state, (Which was
adopted in 1868, and upon the approval OF
! witch by Congress the state was restored to re-
| presentation as one of the states OF the UniOn,)
| provides in effect that before any amendments
| proposed TO this constitution shau become a
| part thereof they shall be passed by two sue
| cefsiye assemblies. and then submitted t. AMI
ratified by mejority OF the electors Of the state
| voting thereon.
On the 18th of May, 1874, the governor CON
VeTed an extra session Of the general assembly
OF the state, which, on the 18Th OF the sane
/ m'Dth passed an act providing for con ventOn
| 20 trane a new constitution. Pursuant to this
act anG at an election held on the 3Oth of June,
! ia, tie conyeLtion WAS approved, and dele
/ gates we're chosen thereto, who assembled or
! the lith CT July and formed a new constitution,
| the schedule OF which provided for the election
! CT an entire new set of state officers in manner
contrary 10 the then existing election laws OF
tie state. On the 18Th OF October, 1874, this
! constitution, as therein provided, was submit
tee 10 the people fer their approval or rejection;
and, according 10 the election returns, was ap-
| proved by large majority OF those qualified 20
| vote q eTCOn, ard at the same election persons
@ Etre cnostn 20 LII All the state, comfy and
| township Offices. The governor elected IN 1872
Tor the term OF four years, turned OTerhis Office
10 the governor chosen under the new cOnstI.u-
tlon, hereupon the lieutenant governor. also
| elected in 1872 for term of four years, claim
lTg to act as governor and alleging that said
! proceedings by which the new constitution was
4 uhCe ara new set OF OfnCeTS elected. were
| constitutional, illegal and vOid called upon me
| IS provided In section four article four OF the
| constitution to protect the state against domestic
| violence.
! AS Congress is now investigating the political
| aLalTs of Arkansas. have declined TO interfere.
! TIE whole subject of Executive interference
| with the afaTs of state is repugnant to public
| 0pniOr, 10 the feeling Of those who, from their
| CEclGl capacity, must be used in such interpO-
sltIen, and TO him, or those who must direct
| | niISs mCst clearly on the side Of law such in
I DeHQmnE q Ia
witLOut a hearing desire, therefoFs,
| mat al necessity for Executive direction in
| local affairs may become unnecessary and obsO.
| lete' ! invite the attention, not of Congress,
| but ot tie people of the United States, TO tae
causes and effects of these unhsppy cuestious
i there GUt disposition on one side u ms sgfi-
| " Wforgs aId ou;rages, and On the other 81 le
H. beICi e them Or JUSTIFY them? Ii public opin-
ION cGGd be directed TO correct survey Cf
what iss ard TO rebuking wrong and Ridia. tie
proper authorities in Furnishing it, batt state
OF feeling would be inculcated, and the sooner
we would have that peace which woulI leave
TIE tat Tree, indeed, TO regulate their cTn d.
.rsstic fairs.
bell. re On the part Of oUr citizens OF tho
, S0utheIH Statas-the better part OF them-therc
IS 2 disposition TO be law abiding, and to DO 40
yicleT c., either to iudvIdua or TO the laws eK
isting. But do they do light in ignoring the eN-
isteHce violence AMI b'Oodshed in resistance
to cOnst.tu' onsl autbP-i. y? sympathize with
tEeir pTOstrste condit On, and would do all in
my power 70 relieve them acknowledging that
! in some instances they have had most trying
governments to i've under and very OppTes-
sive ones in the way Of taxation for nom
lD2i improve neEts not giving Dement'S equal .
the bsrcshiFs imposed. But can they pr0c.al n
themselves entirely irresponsible tor tIis cOudi-
tlOn? They cannot. Violence has been IA u
pant IN some localities, and has either been JUS
| ufed CT denied by those who could have pre-
vented 1t. The theory is even raised that there
| is to be no further interference on the part OF
| General Government to protect citizens within
| q state where the state authOritiesfau ID give
nf0rpntlDT. a mf1taEh I
remain Executive all the laws OF Congress and
| the provisions OF the Constitution including,
| the recent amendments added thereto, will De
enforced with rigor, but with regret that they
| should have added one jOt or title to Executive
| duties or powers. Lst there be fairness in the
| discussion Cf southern questions, the advocates
| Of both or all political parties giving honest,
| truthful reports of occurrences, cOndemning
| the wrong and upholdiBg the right, and soon ali
| Will be well. Under existing conditions the
| negro votes the Republican ticket because he
| knows his friends sre Of that party. Many
good citizen votes the opposite not because he
| agrees with the great principles Of state which
| separate parties, but because, generally, he il
! opposed 20 negro rule. This is a most delusve
| cry. Treat the negro as citizen and voter
/ she is and must remain-and soon parties will
1 be divided not on the color line, bat on princi-
! pie. Then We shall have no complaints Of sec
! tiOnal Interference.
| The report of the Attorney General contains
| valuable recommendations relating TO the adj
! minsiratiOn CT justice in the courts of the
! United states, TO which invite your attention.
UfincTeasing the number OF judic cial districts ia
/ the United States 10 eleven, the present num-
bcr beirg nine, and the creation OF two add
| uOnai jldgships. The territory to be traversed
by the circuit judges is 20 great, and the bust
ness OF The courts so steadily increasing that it
| Is growing more and more impossible for them
! TO keep up with the business requiring ther at
tentiOn. Whether this would involve the neces-
| sity OF adding two more justices OF The Supreme
Court to the present number, 1 submit 20 the
| jud dgment of Congress. The attention of Con-
| gress is invited to the report OF the Secretary
| OF the Interior and to the legislation asked for
| by him. The domestic interests of the people
are more Intimately connected with this Depart
| ment Than with either OF the other departments
OF Government. Its duties have been added to
| from tine 10 time until they have become 50
| Onerous without the most perfect system and
order IL will be impossible for any secretary of
| the Interior to keep trace of all official
| transactions having his sanction and
| done in his name, and for which he
I is held personally responsible. The policy
| adopted for the management OF Indian affairs,
| known as the peace policy, has been adhered
| to with most beneficial results. 1t is confidently
! hoped that a few years more will relieve our
1 frontiers from danger OF Indian depredstions.