Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-08

der the circumstances as above stated. then
tney are without meaning, force or effect.
anu the whole scheme Of cOlored enfran-
enlSement Is worse than mockery and little
better than a crime.
Congressional Investigation Asked.
Possibly Congress may find it due to
truth and justice to ascertain by means Of
acommittee, whether the alleged WRONGS to
eolOred citizens for political purposes are
real, or the reports thereof were manufae-
tered for the occasion. The whole number
OF troops in the States of Louisiana. Ala
bama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina.
North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee. Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Maryland and Virginia.
at the time Of the election, was 1852
This embraces the garrisons Of all the forts
from the Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Arkansas ImbrOEIIO.
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas.
Article Is of the Constitution of that
State, which was adopted in 1868. and M
on the approval of which by Congress the
State was restored to representation as one
Of the States of the Union. provides. in
effect, that before any amendments pro-
posed TO this Constitution shall become a
part thereof, they shall be passed by two
successive Assemblies and then submitted
20, and ratified by, a majority of the cleo
tors Of the State voting thereon. On the
nth OF May, 1914, the Governor convened
an extra session of the General Assembly
Of the State, which, on the 18th Of the
same month, passed an act providing for a
convention 10 frame a new Constitution.
Pursuant to this act, and at an election
held on the 3Oth Of June, 1874, the con-
yentiOn was approved and delegates were
chosen thereto, who assembled on the
18th of last July and formed
new Constitution, the schedule Of which
provided for the election of an 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 COnsti-
tuition, as therein provided, was submitted
to the people for their approval or rejection.
and according to the election returns was
approved by large majority of those quali-
fed to vote thereon, and at the same cleo
ton 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 under the new Constitu-
tiOn, whereupOn The Lieutenant Governor,
also elected in 1872, for term of four
years, claimed 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, and called upon me as pro-
vided in section 4, article 4, Of the COnsti- |
tution,to protect the State against domestic |
violence.
As Congress is now investigating the po-
litieal affairs Of Arkansas, L have declined /
to interfere with the subject. Executive /
with the affairs Of a State is
to public opinion, and TO the
feelings of those who, from their official ca
paeity, must be used in such interpositlon,
and to him or those who must direct.
Unless most clearly on the side Of law,
such interference becomes crime. With |
he law to support it, this is condemned
without hearing. desire, therefore, that
Ill necessity for executive direction in 10
al affairs may become unnecessary and OBJ
,Olofa