The Portland daily press., 1874-12-08

fo med a new Constitution. the schedule of
which provided for the election Of an entire
Sc OF state officers in a manner contrary to
the then existing election laws of the state.
On October 18th, 1874 this constitution. as
iefein provided, was submitted to the people
ior their approval or rejection, aud accord ng
10 tue election returDS was approved by q large
maJority OF I'll ose qualified to vote thereon, and
at the same election persons We're chosen to
fill all the state, county and townships offices
The governor elected ia 1872 for the term of
four years turned over his Office to the govern
or chosen under the new constitution where
upon the lieutenant governor also elected in
1872 for term OF four years, claiming to act as
governor and alleging that said proceedings
by which the new constitution was made and
al Illegal and void, called upon me. as proyid
ed in section A, article OF the Constitution to
protect The state against domestic violence.
as congress is now investigating the political
auairs OF Arkansas l have declined to inter-
iere. Inc whole subject of executive inter-
ference with the affairs of state is repugnant
te pubic opinion, to the feeling of those who
from Their official capacity must be used in
such lnterposition, and to him cr those who
must direct. Unless most clearly on the side
OF the laws such interference becomes crime
wGlie the law to support it is condemned with
ont nearing. L desire, therefore, that all
necessity for executive direction in local affairs
may become unnecessary and obsolete. l in
vlte the attention, not only of Congress, but of
the people OF the United States, to the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions. Is
there not a disposition or one side to magnify
wrong and outrages and on the other to belittle
them? If public OPP Mon could be directed to a
correct survey OF what is, and 10 reouking
wrong and aiding the proper authorities iu
punishlng 1t better state of feeling would be
lncnicated, and the sooner we would have that
peace which would leave the states free indeed
TO regulate their own affairs. 1 believe, on
the part of our citizens of the Southern states,
the better part of them, there is disposition
10 De law abiding and do no violence either to
individuals or to the laws existing. But do they
do right in ignoring the existence OF violence
and bloodshed in resistance to constitutional
authority? Isympathize with their PROSTATE
condition, aud would do all in my power to re-
lleve them acknowledging that IN some in.
stances they have had most trying governments
TO live under, and very oppressive ones in the
way OF taxation for nominal Improvements
not giving benefits equal to the hardships inn
posed sBut eau they proclaim themselves en-
tirely irresponsible for this condition? They
cannot Violence has been rampant in some
localities, and has either been justified or de-
med by those who could have prevented it.
The theory IS even raised that there is to be no
further interference on the part of the general
government to protect citizens within state
where the state authorities fail to give protec-
ton. This Is great mistake. While l re-
main executive all the laws of Congress and
the provisions of the Constitution, including
the receat amendments thereto, will be en-
forced with vigor, but with regret that they
should have added one jot or tittleito the execu
tive duties or powers. Let there be fairness liz
the discussion OF Southern questions, the adyo-
Gates OF both or all political parties giving
honest truthful reports of occurrences, con-
demning the wrong or unfolding the right,
and soon all will be we'll Under the existing
ticket, because he knows his friends are of the
party Many good citizen votes the opposite,
not because he agrees with the great principles
OF state which separate parties. but because,
generally, he is opposed to the negro rule.
This is most delusive cry. Treat the negro
as citizen and voter as he is, and must re-
main, and soon parties will be divided, not GU
the color line, but in principle. Then we shall
have no complaint of sectional interference.
judicial Matters.
The report of the Attorney General contains
valuable recommendations relating to the adj
ministration OF justice in the courts of the
United States, to which invite your attention.
respectfully suggest to Congress the propriety
OF increasing the number Of judicial districts in
the United States to eleven, the present num-
Der being nine, and the creation of two addi-
tonal judgeships. The territory to be travers-
ed by the circuit judges is SO great and the
business OF the courts is SO steadily increasing
that 1t is growing more and more impossible
tor them to keep up with the business requir-
ing their attention. Whether this woud in.
volye the necessity of adding two more justices
OF the Supreme Court to the present number 1
submit to the judgment of Congress.
Indians.
The attention of Congress is invited to the
report OF the Secretary of the Interior, to the
legislation asked for by him. The domestic in
terests OF the people are more intimately con-
nected with this department than with either
OF the departments of the government. Its
duties have been added to from time to time
until they have become so Onerous that with
out the most perfect system and order it 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 be is held personally responsible. The
policy adopted for the management of Indian
AFFAIRS known as the peace policy has been ad-
heIed to with the most satisfactory results. It
is confidently hoped that a few years more will
relieve our frontiers from the danger of Indian
depredations. l commend the Recommendation
OF the Secretary for the extension of the home
stead laws to the Indians and for some sort of
territorial government for the Indian Terri
tory. A great majority of the Indians occupy
ing this territory are believed 10 be incapable
OF maintaining their rights against the more
civilized and enlightened white man. ANY ter
rtorial form of government given them, there.
fore, should protect them in their homes and
property for period of at least twenty years,
and before its final adoption should be ratified
by majority of those affected. The report of
the Secretary of the Interior, herewith attach
ed, gives much interesting statistical infor-
nation which abstain from giving an ab-
stract, and referyou to the report itself.
Pensions.
This act of Congress providing the oath which
pensioners must subscribe befor4 drawing their
pensions cuts off from this bounty few sur
viyors OF the war of 1872, residing In the South
ern states. l recommend the restoration of
this bounty to all such. The number of persons
whose names would be restored to this list is
rot large. They are all old persons who could
have taken no part in the rebellion aud the SER
vices for which they were awarded pensions
were in defence of the whols couHtry.
The Centennial.
The report of the commissioner of agriculture
herewith contains suggestions of much interest
to the general public and refers to the APP
preaching centennial and the part his DEPART
ment is ready to take in it. feel that the ma
ton at large is interested in having this expo
stion G success, and commend to Congress
such action as will secure greater general in
terest in it. Already many foreign pations
have signifed their intention to be represented
at it, and It may be expected that every civliz-
ed nation will be represented.
Civil Service Reform.
The rules adopted to improve the civil SER
vice to the government have been adhered to as
closely as have been practicable with the oppo-
sition with which they meet Their effect, be-
lieve, has been beneficial on the whole and has
tended to the elevation of the service, but it is
impracticabe to maintain them without direct
aud positive support of Congress. Generally
the support which this reform receives is from
those who give it their support only to find
fault when the rules are apparently departed
from. The removal from Office without pre-
ferIipg charges against the parties removed are
frequently cited as departure from the rules
adopted and the retention of those against
whom charges are made by irresponsible per-
sons and without good grounds is also often
condemned as a violation of them. Under
these circumstances, therefore, announce that
if Congress adjourns without positive egisla-
ton on the subject of civil Service Reform
will regard such action as disapproval of
the system and will abandon it except so far as
to require examinations for certain appontees
to determine their fitness. Competitive ex-
aminatons will be abandoned. The gentlemen
who have given their services without compen-
satIon as members of the board to devise rules
and regulations for the government of the civil
service of the country have show much zeal and
earnestness in this work, and to them as to
myself It will be source of modification if it
is tobe thrown away but repeat that it is i'm
possible. to carry the system to successful is.
sue without the general approval and assist.
ance and positive law to support it.
Labor Questions.
have stated that three elements of PROSPER
ity to the nation-capital, labor skilled and uu-
skilled, and products of the soil--still remain