The New York herald., 1874-12-08


CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN srArEs-LoUIsIANA.
Your attention Will be drawn to the unsettled
condition Of AFFAIRS in OF the Southern states
On the l4th or September last the Governor OF
sna ts p @
aid IN suppressing domestic violence in that
ans oa %ad' on .da Ia We. sy
b: :. Penn, claiming that he was elected
sSs in s and cans
ss sass On me Il.
day issued my proclamation, commanded the IN
surgents to dispense within 1--WE days from the date
thereof and subsequently learned that on that
day they had taken fOrcbe possession OF the State
House. Troops were taken by me to support the
before the expiration Of the 1ve days the insurrec-
sionary movement was practically abandoned, and
! nor exceptions, resumed their powers and duties.
Considering that the present State administration
State ior nearly TWO ~ years. @ that It has been s
sacitly acknowledged ana acquiesced in as
expressly recognized BY me. / regarded It as my
/ clear duty, when legally called on for Mat pur.
70 Of ~ snd @ py an IN S
eecIlon OF 1872. have heretofore called the
attention Of Congress to this subject stating mat
at SAID election, and because 1t appears that the
returns thereof were never legally canvassed, It
was impossible to tell thereby who were chosen.
But. from the best sources Of information at my
command, l have always believed the present
|
actually cast as that election. Irepeat what said
be my special message OF February l3, ls73-tnat
In the event OF no action by Congress must con-
tinue to recognize the government, heretofore
recognized by me.
I regret to say that with the preparations
for the late election decided indications ap.
S Of 1s yoe%ce sn
intimidation to deprive citizens Of the freedom OF
the ballot because Of & their political opinions %
pearance, White Leagues and otner socet were
formed, large quantities Of arms and ammunition
tions, military drills with menacing demonstra-
tions were neld, and with all these. murders enough
were committed TO spread terror among those
whose political action was TO be suppressed II pos
slDle, by these lntolerant and criminal proceed
ings. In some places colored laborers were CON-
PEELED to vote according to wishes Of their
pOyers under threats OF discharge II they acted
which, when these threats were disregarded, they
were remorseessly executed by those who made
FEDERAL INTERFERENCE AT THE SOUTH
understand that the Fifteenth amendment TO
the Constitution was made to prevent this like
1870 with amendments, was passed to
enforce Its provisions. the object OF
vote and to project them in the free enjoyment OF
that right enjolned by the constitution to take
vinced by undoubtsd evidence that violations of
said act had been committed and that wide-
spread ana nagrant disregard OF It was con!em, n
prosecute the Offenders, and troops were stationed
at convenient points to aid these ON,
Of this interference BY federal authority, but
such interference under the circumstances. as
ABOVE stated, then they are without meaning,
enfrancnIsemenl is worse tnan mockery and little
better than crime. Possibly Congress may fnd
aue Committee Whetnsr the alleged wfonss to
colored citizens for political purposes are real or
whether the reports thereof were manufactured
1Or the OCCASION
TROOPS IN THE SOUTH.
The whole number OF troops in the States Of
Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee,
MISSISSIPPI Maryland %, ana %b yrgna at
the garrisons OF all the forts from the Delaware to
the Gulf OF Mexico.
| Another trouble has arisen IN Arkansas. Ar
| ticle IL oi the constitution OF that State
was tie m ss na e Was yne ae r
stored TO representation as one OF the States or
the Union) provides in effect that before any
come part thereof they shall be passed by two
successive Assemblies and then be submitted to
the state voting thereon. On the litn Of May.
1874, the Governor convened an extra session Of
18TH OF the same month, passed an act providing
for q convention to frame new constitution pur-
suant to this acs, and at an election held on the
sOtn Of june, 1874, the convention was approved:
and delegates were chosen thereto on the l4th OF
schedule OF which provided tor the election OF an
! entire new set OF state officers, IN manner con-
trary to the then existing election laws OF the state
On the 18th Of OCTOBER, 1874, this constitution,
| as herein provided was submitted to the
ccording to the election returns, Was approved BY
large majority OF those qualified TO vote thereon,
and At the same election persons were chosen to
| fill all the State. county and township Offices The
Governor elected in 1872 for the term Of four years
turned over his office TO the Governor chosen un-
der the new constitution, Whereupon the Lleuten-
| ant Governor, also elected In 1872 for term Of
four years Claiming to act as Governor,
which the new constitution was made
! and new set OF Oflcers elected were unconstitu-
vided in section l. article T. OF the constitution, to
| protect the state against domestic violence. AS
Congress Is now investigating the political anairs
OF Arkansas, have declined TO interfere.
THE PRESIDENT ON EXECUTIVE INTERFERENcE.
The whole subject OF Executive interference with
the affairs OF State is repugnant TO pubic opln-
Ion, to the feeling OF those VINO, from their onicial
capacity, must be used IN such nterposstlon stn,
law such interference becomes q crime.
With the law to support it it is condemned with
out hearsay. desire, therefore, tnat all neces-
sltv for Executive direction in local affairs may
ASKS THE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS
invite tile attention. not or Congress, Dut
OF s ne Of taese e 70
tions. Is there not disposition on one
side to magnify wrongs and, ana outrages RACES and
justify them II pubic opinion could be directed
to u correct survey OF what is and TO re6uking
/ WIOHB duu dluuS VIC ~ opci dutHoIltlco Ia pun
ishing 1t better state Of feeling would be incui-
Gated, and. the sooner we would have that
peace which would leave the states Tree indeed
TO regulate their own domestic affairs
TUE PRESIDENTS VIEWS THE SOUTH.
/ believe on the part OF our citizens OF the
Southern States, the better part OF them, there Is
disposition to be law-aDidlng, and to do no vlo-
ence either to individuals or to the laws existing
but do they do right in Ignoring the existence OF
violence and bloodshed, IN resistance OF consttu.
ted authortys | sympathlze with their prostrate
condition. and would do all In my power to relieve
them, acknowledging that In some instances tney
have had most trying governments to live under,
and very oppressive ones in the way OF taxation,
for nominal improvement not giving Dement'S equal
to the hardsbips imposed; but can they proclaim
themselves entirely irresponsible for this condi-
ton, they cannot. Violence mas been rampant In
some localities, and mas either been justified or
denied py those who could have prevented IT.
| THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE EN-