The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-07
SOUTHERN AFFAIRS.


unsettled condition of affair in some Of
the southern states. On the l4th of
September last the G vernon of Louisi-
ana called upon me as provided by
the constitution and laws of the
United States to aid ia suppress.
ing domestic violence in that
state. This cal was made in view of
proclaim alton issued on that day by D. q
Penn, stating that he was elected Leuten-
ant Governor 10 1872, and calling upon
the militia of The state to arm, assemble
and drive from power the usurpers, Is he
designated the officers OF the state gov
eminent On the next day issued my
proclamation, and commanded the insur-
gents to disporse within five days from the
date thereof, and subsequently learned
that on that day they hal taken iorcible
possession Of tue State House. Troops
we're taken by me to support the existing
and recognized state government, but be-
fore the expiration Of five days the insur-
rcctionaIy movement was practically
abandoned, and the officers OF the state
government, with some lev exec ptions,
resumed their powers and duties. Con
sderlDg that tae present st1te administra-
ton of Louisiana had been the only gov
eminent in that state state for nearly
two years, that it has been tacilly ac-
knowledged and acquiesed in by Con
gress and more than once expressly
recognized by me, l regarded it as my
clear duty within the legislation called
upon for that purpose to prevent its over
throw by an armed mob under pretense OF
fraud and irregularitv in the election Of
1872. have heretofore called the atten-
ton of Congress to this subject, stating
that on account of he frauds and forgeries
co nmitted at said electi IN, because it
appears tina. the returns thereof were
never legally cauvassed it is impossible
to tell thereby who were chosen but from
the best source Of Information at my
command. have always believed the
present state officers received \ majority
OF the legal votes actually cast at that
election. repeat what said in my
special message of Feb Is. 1873. that in
the event Of no action by Congress must
continue to recognize the government and
officers recognized by me. | regret to
say that with the preparations for the
late election decided indication appeared
in some localities In the southern states
of a determination BY Aets of violence
end intimidation TO deprive citizens of
the freedmen class of the ballot because
of political opinions,
BANDS OF MEN MASKED AND ARMED
made their appearance. White Leagues
aud other societies we're formed, large
quantities of arms and ammunition were
imp or,ed and distributed to these organi
cations, military drills with menacing
demonstrations held and with all these
murders enough were committed to spread
terror among those whose political action
was to be suppressed if possible by these
intoerant anu criminal proceedings. In
some cases coIored laborers were compelled
to vote according to the wishes OF
their employers under threats OF
discharge if they acted otherwise
and there are toJ many instances 10
which when these threats ware dlsregarded
they were remOrsels5sly executed by those
by whom made understand that the
18th amendment to the constitution was
made to prevent this state OF things
ard the act OF May 81, 1870, with amend
ments, was PASSED to enforce It's provls
ions, the object of these being to guaran'
tee TO all cilzens the right to vote aud &c
protect them in the free enjoyment Of
that right onjoned by the constitution
and to take care that the laws be faith
fully executed Convinced by undoubtec
evlden &c that violence of said act hat
been committed and that a widespread
and fragrant disregard Of it was contem
pllted, the proper officers were instructed
to prosecute the offenders. and troops
,, were stationed at convenient points to al.
snanA cer-, if necessary, IN the pei
Is theseotLloi their official duties. Com
l. formance\ made 81 ibis iniessa41 s.--+
)" fb3idfe 5raIi authorities, but if said amenc
i, u,ent and act do not provide tor sue
interference under the circumstances a
above stated, then they are withou
- meaning. force or effect, and the whol
I scheme of coored entrauchisement Is
z. WORSE THAN A MoCKERY,
IS ard little better than crime. Posslbl
&c Congress may think it due to truth an
e Justice TO ascertain by means of cou
A. m,ttce whether the alleged wrongs
= coored citizens for political purposes al
a real or the reports thereof were manual
al tured for the occa ;ion. The whole nun
lie Der of troops IN the states OF LoulsiaD
III Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Car
lima, North Carolina, Kentucky. lei
nesser. Arkansas, Mississippi, Marylan
and Nir mia at the time OF the electo
-. were 4.uS2. This embraces the garrison
a oil all the forts from the Delaware 10 Il
:. Cult of Mexico.
~ Another rauble has arisen in Arka
W sas. Article Is Of the constitution o. Il
" state, which was adopted in 1868 al
=. upon the approval of which by Congre
=, ,he state was restored to renresentati
.sa as one of the states of the unionn pr
>" vldes in effect that before am amendmeI
TX proposed to this constitution shall becoI
~ a part thereof, they shall be passed
~. two successive assc mbies aud then ~
Ie. mitted to and ratified by majority
'a' the electors of the state voting thereo
Ms On the llth of May, 1874, the Govern
~ convened an extra session OF the Genel
'se Assembly of the State which on the Is
ug ofthe same mouth passed an act prov
=" ing for convention. According to I
ug cleo ion returns the constitution fran
NJ thereby was approved BY large major
of those qualified to vote thereon and