Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-16

OF COlOrcd acknowledgements u worse than
mockery and little better than crime
Possibly Congress may find itdue to truth
and Justice 10 ascertain, by means of n
committee whether the alleged wrongs TO
colored citizens for political purposes are
real or the reports thereof were manufac-
tured for the occasion. The whole number
of troops in the State of Louisiana. Ala
hama Georgia, Florida, South CHrolinA,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Maryland and Virginia
at the times of the elections, was four thuu-
sand and eighty-two. THIS embrace the
garrisons Of Hll the forts, from the Della
ware to the Gulf of Mexico.
Arkansas.
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas.
Article thirteen, Of the constitution of the
State. which was adopted in 1868, and up
on the approval of which by Congress, the
State was restored TO- representation rs one
of the States of the Union, provides, IN f.
feet, that before any amendments proposed
to this Constitution shall become u
part thereof, they shall be passed bv two
successive assemblies, and then submitted
to and ratified by n majority of the electors
of the State voting thereon. On the clev-
enth Of May 1874 the Governor convened
an extra session of the General Assembly
of the State which, on the eighteenth of
the same month passed an act providing
for a convention to frame a new Con -titu-
ton. Pursuant to this act, at an election
held on the thirticth Of June 1874, the
convention was approved and delegates
were chosen there, who assemb ed on the
fourteenth of last July and formed new
Constitution, the schedule of which pro-
vided for the election of an entire new SET
of State officers in q manner contrary TO
the then existing election laws of
the State On the thirteenth oi October,
LA, this Constitution, as therein provided,
was submitted to the people for their APP
proval or rejection, and according to the
election returns, was approved by n large
ma iority Of those qualified to vote thereon,
and at the same election.persons were chos-
en- to fill all the State, county and town
ship offices. The Governor elected in 1872
for the term of four years turned over his
Office TO the Governor chosen under the
new Constitution. whereupon the Lieuten-
ant Governor, also elected in 1872 for u
term of four years, claiming TO act as Gov
ernor, and alleging that said proceeding
by which the new Constitution was made
and new set of officers elected, were un-
constitutional, illegal and void, called up
on me, as provided in section four, article
four of the Constitution, to protect the
State against domestic violence. As Con-
gress is now investigating the political af-
fairs of Arkansas, have declined to inter-
fere with the subject, for Executive inter-
ference with the affairs Of State is repug-
nsnt to the public, and to the feelings Of
those who, from their official capacity,
must be used in such interpostion, and TO
him or to those who must direct others
most clearly on the side of law, such in
reference becomes acrime without the law
to support it, and he is condemned without
a hearing. | desire, therefore, that all ne
cessity for Executive direction in local at-
fairs may become unnecessary, and invite
the attention not of Congress, but OF the
people of tie United States, to the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions.
Is there not disposition on one side to
magnify wrongs and outragos, and on the
other side to belittle or justify them? If
public opinion could be directed to n cor
rect survey of what is--and rebuking
wrong, and aiding the proper authorities
in Furnishing it., Il better state of feeling
would be inculcated and the sooner we
would have that peace which would leave
the States free indeed 20 regulate their own
domestic affairs. | believe on the part of
our citizens of the Southern States, the
better part Of them, there is a disposition
to be mw-ahiding aud to do no violence
either 10 individuals or the laws existing,
But DO they do right in ignoring the eN-
isteEcc of violence and blOOdshed in resist
ance To constituted authority | sympa.
thize with their PROSTATE condition, and
would do all in my power TO relieve them,
acknowledging the fact that in some in
stances they have had most trying govern
ments to live under, and very oppressive
ones in the way of taxations for nominal
improvements, not giving benefits equal TO
claim themselves entirely irresponsible for
this condition? They can not Violence
has 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 fur
Their interference on the part of the Federal
Government to protect citizens in State
where the State authorities fail TO give pro-
lection. This is a mistake. While | re-
main Executive, all the laws of Congress
and the provisions Of the Constitution, IN
Guiding the recCTt amendments added
thereto, will be enforced with riGor, with
but regret that they should have added one
jot or title to execute duties and powers,
Let there be fairness in the discussion of
Southern questions the advocates of both,
or all political parties giving honest, truth
full reports Of occurrences, COndemning the
wrong and unfolding the right, and soon
all will be well. Under existing Circum-
stances the negro votes the Republican
ticket because he knows his friends are OF
that 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 oppos-
"A to negro rule This is most delusive
cry. Treat the negro rs a citizen and voter
as be is aud must remain, and soon parties
will be divided. not on tho color line, but
on principles, and then we shall have no
complain Of sectional interferences.
CiVII Service.
The rue, adopted to improve the civil
service Of the government, have been ad-
hcred to rs clOse ms hos been practicable
with the opposition with which they met.
The effect, / believe, has been essential on
the whole, and has tended to the elevation
uf rhe service, but it is impossible to main.
.tu them without the decided Uud 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
form. Removals from office without pre-
ferring charges against the parties remoy-
ed, are frequently cited as departures from
the rules adopted, and the retention of those
against whom charges are made by ire
sponsible persons aud without good grounds,
is also often condemned as a violation of
them. Under these circumstances, there