The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-10

Of the Postmaster General and to his suggestions
In regard TO an equitable adjustment of the ques-
ton of compensation to railroads for carrying the
| mails.
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Your attention will be drawn to the unsettled
condition of affairs in some OF the Southern
| States. On the l4th of September last the Gov
ernor of Louisiana called upon me- provided
by the Constitution and laws Of the United
states TO aid in sup2ressing domestic violence
day by d. b. Penn, stating that he
was elected Lieutenant Governor in Ss2 and call
ing upon the militia of the State TO arm. assem-
| Bile and drive from power the usurpers. as he
designated the officers of the State Government.
On the next day | issued my proclama-
perse within five days from the date
thereof, and subsequently, learned that ON
that day they had taken forcible possession of
| support the existing and recognized State Gov
| ernment. but before the expiration of the five
| days the insurrectionary movement was prac-
| ticaly abandoned. and the officers Of the State
| government. with some minor exceptions re-
snmed their powers and duties. Considering
that the present State administration of Lonis.
in that State for nearly two years
that il had been tacity acknowledged and acqu
esced in rs such by Congress, and more than
once expressly recognized by me, | regarded it
| as my clear duty when legally called upon for
that purpose. to prevent its overthrow by an
armed mob under pretenss Of fraud and irregu-
| called the attention Of Congress to this
| subject. stating that account OF the frauds
and forg-ries committed at said election, and
because it appeared that the returns thereof were
never legally canvassed ii was impossible to tell
thereby who were chosen, but from the best
sources of information At my command l have
always believed the present State officers
ceved ma ority of the legal votes actually cast
at that election. repeat what said in my special
message of Feb. ID, 1873. that in the event of no
action by Congress must continue to recognize
the government heretofore recognized by me.
l regret to say that with the preparations for
the late election a decided indication appeared
IN some localities in the Southern States of de-
termination, by acts of violence and intimida-
tion. to deprive citizens of the freedom of the
ballot because o their political opinions; bands
of men masked and armed made their ap-
pearancc: White Leagues and other societies
were formed; large quantities of arms and am
muniton were imported and distributed to
these organizations; military drills, with men
acing demonstrations, were held, and. with all
these, murders enough were committed to
action to be suppressed if possible by these
intolerant and criminal proceedings. In some
places colored laborers compelled to vote
according to the wishes of their employers, un-
der threats of discharge il they acted other
wise, and there are too many instances III
which, when these threats were disregarded,
they remorselessly executed by those by
whom they were made. l understand that the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was
made 10 prevent this and the like state of things,
and the aci of May 81, 1870, with the amendments,
passed to enforce its provisions, the object OF
this being to guarantee to all citizens the right to
vote and to protect them i'll the free enjoyment OF
that right. Enjoined by the Constitution to take
care that the laws be faithfully executed and
convinced by undoubted evidence that violations
of said act had been committed, and thata wide
spread and iiagrant disregard of 1t was contem-
plated the proper officers We're instructed 10
prosecute the offenders, and troops were sta
toned at convenient points to aid these officers,
if necessary. in the performance of their official
duties Complaints are made of this interior
by Federal authority, but if the said
amendment and act do not provide for such
interference under the circumstances as above
stated then they are wihout meaning, force or
effect. and the whole scheme of colored enfran-
chisement is worse than mockery and little bet
ter than crime. Possibly Congress may find 1t
due to truth and justice to ascertain. by means OF
Il committee, whether the alleged wrongs to col
ored citizens for political purposes are real or
the reports thereof were manufactured for the oc-
caslOn.
The whole number Of troops in the States of
Louisiana. Alabama. Georgia, Florida, South
Carolina. North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland, and Virginia
at the time of the elections was 40S2. This EN-
braces the garrisons of all the forts from the
Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico.
Another trouble mas arisen in Arkansas. Ar
tice thirteen of the Constitution of the State,
which was adopted in 1868. and upon the ap-
proya of Ahich by Congress the State was re-
stored to representation as one of the States of
the Union, provides. ill effect, that before
any amendments proposed TO this Cmstltu-
tion shall become part thereof they shall be
passed by two successive Assemblies and then
submitted to and ratified by majority Of the
electors of the State voting thereon On May
H. 1874, the Governor convened an extra SEES
sion of the General Assembly OF the State,
which. on the 18th of the same month. passed
an act providing for a convention 10 frame u
constitution pursuant to this act, and at
an election held the Both OF June, 1874,
the convention approved and delegates
were chosen thereto, who assembled on the llth OF
last July and formed a new constitution. the
schedule of which provided for the election OF an
entire new set of State officers in a manner con
trary to the existing election laws OF the State.
On the 18th of October, 1874, this Constitution,
as therein provided, was submitted to
the people for their approval or rejection,
and according to the election returns was ap-
proved 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 ohce
to the Governor chosen under the new Constltu-
ton, whereupon the Lteutcnant-GoVefnor. niso
elected in 1872 for term OF four years. claiming
to act Governor. alleging that said proceed
ngs by which the new Constitution was made
and new set of officers elected were unconsti-
tutional and illegal and void, called upon me. as
provided in Section 4, Article I. of the Constiu-
tion, to protect the State against domestic vio-
lence As Congress is now investigating the
political affairs of Arkansas | have declined to
interfere. The whole subject of Executive
interference with the affairs of State Is re-
those who from their official capacity must be
used in such interpositiou. and to him or those
who must direct. Unless most clearly on the
side of law such interference becomes crime:
with the law TO support it, it is condemned
without a hearing. | desire therefore. that all
necessity for Executive direction III local aiiars
NAV become unnecessary and obsolete.
invite the attention, not of Congress. nut OF
the people of the United States, to the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions. ls there
not disposition on the one side to magnify
and utran M
little and Justify them: II public opinion could
be directed to correct survey OF what exists ana
to rebuking wrong and aiding the proper authori-
ties IN Furnishing it, better state OF 1eellng
would be inculcated, and the sooner we would
have that peace which would leave the States
free indeed to regulate their own domestic
affairs.
believe that on the part of the citizens OF
the Southern States, the better part of them
there is disposition to be law-abiding and 10 90
no violence either to individuals or the laws
existing; but do they do right III x,
noring the existence of violence and
bloodshed-in resistance to constituted
authority? | sympathiZe with their pros
trate condition, and would do all in my power to
relieve them. acknowledging that in some in
stances they have had most trying governments
to live under and very oppressive one In the way OF
taxation for nominal improvements. not giving
benefits equal to the hardships imposed; but can
they proclaim themselves entirely blamable for
been rampant in some localities and
has further been justified or denied by
those who could have prevented it. The
theory is raised that there is to be no further
interference on the part of the General Govern
ment TO protect citizens within a State where
the State authorities fail to give protection.
This is great mistake. While re-
main the Executive all the laws
of Congress and the provisions OF
the Constitution, including the amendments
added thereto will be enforced with rigor, with
but a regret that they should have added one
lot or title to the Executive duties and powers
Let there be fairness in the discussion OF South
ern questions the advocates of both or all polit.
ica parties giving honest and truthful reports Of
occurrences condemning the wrong and uphold
ing the right and soon all will be well Under
existing circumstances the negro votes tne
Republican ticket because he knows MS
friends are of that party. Many good
citizen votes the opposite, not because
he agrees with the great principles OF
state which separate. the parties, but pc
cause generally he is opposed to negro
rule. This is a most delusive cry: Treat the
negro as a citizen and voter, as he is ana must
rem lin. and soon parties will be divided, not on
the color line. but ON principle. Then we shall
have no complaint of sectional interferences.
JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
The report of the AttOrney-ieneral contains
valuable recommendations relating 10 tne al
mnistration of justice in the courts OF the united
Srates TO which invite your attention.