The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-12-15
delegates chosen thereto. who assem-

entire new set of state officers in "a
manner contrary to the then existing
election laws of The state. On the 18th
of October, 1874, this constitution az
therein provided was submitted TO the
people for their approval or rejection,
and according to the election returns
was approved by n very large majority
of those qualified to vote thereon, and
at the same election persons were cho-
sen to fill the state, county and town
ship offices. The governor elected in
1872 for the term of foua years, turned
over his Office to the governor chosen
under the new constitution whereup-
OIL the lieutenant-governor also elected
in 1872 for term of four years, claim
ing to act as governor, and alleging
that said proceedings by which the new
constitution was made and new set of
officers elected were unconstitutional,
illegal and void, called upon me, As
provided in section 4, article 4, of the
constitution, ! to protect the state against
domestic violence. AS Congress Is now
investigating the political affairs of Ar
kansas, / have declined to interfere.
The whole subject of execu tive inter
ference with the affairs of state is re-
pugnant to public opinion, to the feel
ings of those who from their official ca
pacity must be used in such interposi
ton, and To him or those who must di-
rect, unless most clearly on the side of
law, such interference becomes crime,
with law to support it, 1t is condemn
ed without a hearing. ! desire, there
fore, that all necessity for executive di-
rection in local affairs may become un-
necessary and obsolete.
invite the attention, not of Con
gress, but of the people of the United
States, to thecauses and effects of these
unhappy questions. Is there not "A
disposition on one side to magnify
wrongs and outrages, anh on the other
side to belittle them or Justify them ?
If public opinion could be directed to
correct survey of whites, and to re-
buking wrong and aiding proper an
chorites in punishing it. a better state
of feeling would be inculcated and the
sooner we would have that peace which
would leave states free, indeed, to reg
ulate their own domestic affairs. | be-
lieve on the part of our citizens of the
southern states, the better part of them,
there is a disposition to be luw-abid-
ing, AMI To do no violence either to
individuals or to laws enisting. But
do they do right i'm ignoring the exist
ing of vio.eicc and bloodshed in resist
ance to constituted authority" ! SYM
pathiZe with their PROSTATE condition
and would 90 all in my power to relieve
them, acknuw ledging that in some in
stances thex have had the most trying
governments to live under and very
aggressive ones in the way of taxation
for nominal improvements not giving
benefits cT@a to the hardships imposed,
but run ii,.N proclaim themselves ell
tirpiN irrp- poii>ible for this condition
They raIinot, ~ violence has been
rampant in some localities, and has
either been justified or denied by those
who could have prevented ii. The
theory is even raised that there is To be
no further interference on the part of
the general government to protect citl-
zens within state where the state au-
thoritses fail to give protection. This
is great mistake. While | remain
the executive ofall laws of Congress and
the provisions of the constitution, in
Guiding recent amendments added
thereto, will be enforced with rigor,
but with regret that they should have
added one jot or little To executive
duties or powers
Let there be fairness in discussion Of
southern questions, the advocates of both
or all political parties giving honest and
truthful reports Of occurrences, ,condenning
the wrong and upholdiug the right, and
soon ali will be well, Under the existing
conditions the negro votes the republican
ticket, because he knows his friends are
of that party. Many good citizen votes
opposite. not because he agrees with the
great principle of state which separates
parties, but because generally, he is op.
posed to negro rule. This is most de.
lusive cry. Treat the negro as citizen
and voter as he is and must remain and
soon parties will be divided, not on the
color alone but on principle. Then we
shall have no complaint of sectional inter.
ierences.
The attention Of Congress is invited to
the report Of the secretary of the interior
and to the legislation asked for by him
The domestic interests Of tho people are
more intimately connected with this de-
partment than with either Of the other
depaI tments of the government. Its du
ties have been added to from time to time
until they have become so onerous thai
without the most perfect system and or
der it will be impossible for any secretary
of the interior to keep pace OF all oficla
transactions, having his sanction aud don't
in his name, and for which he is held per
sonally responsible. The policy adopted
for the management of interior affairs
known as the "peaco policy" has beer
adhered to with most beneficial results
1t is confidently hoped that few year
more will relieve our frontier from th
danger of Indian depredations l com
mend the recommendation Of the secre
tary for the extension Of the homestea
laws 10 the Indians and for some sort @
territorial government for the India
Territory. A great majority Of the 10
dians occupying this territory are believe
} to be incapable Of maintaining their right
against the more civilized and enlightene
3 white men. Any territorial form Of gov
, ernment given them, therefore should pro
tect them, their homes and property 70
. a period of at least twenty years, and be
. fore its formal adoption it sho1ld be rat
5 fed by majority Of those affected Th
act of Congress providing the oath whic
t pensioners must subscribe before drawin
. their pensions, cuts off from this bount
/ q few survivors off the war Of 1872 resid
s ing in southern states, recommend tn
0 restoration of this bounty 10 all sucl
: The number Of persons whose name
? would thus be restored to the list of pen
t siouers is not large. They are all old pei
: sons who could have taken no part IN tn
1 rebellion, and the services for which the
r we're awarded pensions were in defence {
d the whole country.
The rules adopted to improve the civ
!, service of the government have been az
hered to as closely as has been practical
i with the opposition with which they NEE
: The effect, l believe, has been bene6ci
Q on the whole, and has tended to elevatio
j. Of tho earv;ce hnt IL Is imnracticable