The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-09

'0S"eJ ooAou "Oou AOI euut puIpO6es
to prevent its overthrow by an armed
mob upder.pretense OF fraud aud FIRE.
gqlarisy in the election OF 1879. T
haye heretofore called the attention Of
O9Dgress to this subject, stating that,
on account-bf the frauds and forgeries
committed at the said election, and be.
canse it appears that returns thereof
were never legally canvassed, it was
Impossible to tell thereby who were
chosen; but from the best SOURCES of
Information ut my command I have
always believed the present State
officers received majority Of tho
legal votes actually cast ut that election.
l repeat what said in my special
message OF February %, 1872, that in
the event OF no action of Congress, 1
muet continue to recognize the Go
verument heretofore recognized by
me. [ regret to say that, with prcpu-
rations for the late election, decided
Indications appeared in son,e localities
in the Southern States of detormira-
ton, by acts OF violence mud in.imida-
ti0n to deprive citizens Of the freedom
OF tue ballot because Of their political
opinions. Bands of men, masked and
armed, made thoir appearance. White
Leagues aud other societies wore
formed. Largo quantities Of urus ind
ammunition were imported uud dis.
trlbuted to these organizations. Mill
tary drilis, with menacing demonstru-
tons, were held, aud with all, mur.
dcrs enough We're com mitted TO spread
terror among those whose poliiicul
action was to be suppressed. If posi-
ble, by these Int0leruut and crimina!
proceedings. In some places culored
laborers were compelled to vote nc.
cording to the wishes Of their employ
ers, under threats of discharge If they
acted otherwise, and there are too
many instances in which, wheu these
threats were dsrcgarded. they we're
remorseless!y executed by those who
made them. understand that the
fifteenth amendment to tho Constitu-
ton was made to prevent this uud IL
like state of things, aud the Act OF
May 3lst, with amendments, WAS pass
ed to enforce its provisions--the aim
OF both being to guarantee to nll citi-
zens tho right to vote and protect
them in the free eploymnnt of that
right. Eujoinsd by the Constitution
ito take care that the laws be faith
fully executed. and convinced by un-
doubted evidence that violations of
said ACT had been committed, and that
widespread and fragrant disregard of
1T was contemplated, the proper ui-
hoers were instructed TO prosecute the
offenders. aud troops wer. stationed
at convenient points to all these VI.
I |,
OF their offioiui duties. Complaints
arc made Of this interference by Fede-
ral authority, but if said amendment
and ACT do not provide for such inter
ference under the circumstances as
above stated, then they arc without
moaniug, force or effect, aud the whole
scheme Of colorsd ont is
worse than mockery aud little better
than crime. Possibly. Congress may
hnd 1t due to truth aud Justice to as.
certain by means Of committee whe-
ther the alleged wrongs to coiured
citizens for political purposes are reul,
or the reports thereof were manufac.
iursd for tho OCCASION.
The whole number of troops i'll the
States Of Louisiana. Alabama, Geor-
giu. Florida, South Caroliua, North
Carolina. Kentucky. Tennessee. Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Maryland aud
Virginia. ut the time OF the election,
was 1902. This embraces The gnrri-
SONS of oil the forts from the Delaware
to the Gulf OF Moxico. Another ;rou.
BILE has arisen in Arkansas. Article l3
OF the Constitution Of that State,
(Which was adopted in 1868. and upon
thu approval Of which by Act of Con
greSs the State WAS restored 10 repre-
f"n:ntinn ns one of tho States of the
Uuion,) provides in effect that before
proposed to thia Conatl.
tuition shall become part thereof. they
shall i,a passed by Two au:eessiYe Az
sctnhlies, and then enH:uitie;i TO AID
-a!'iirl hy q majority g: IL" electors -!
the Stat" voting thereon. Ga tho ll,ll
May, 1871. the Govern u convened an
extra session of the ti:nc...l Asso:mb.,
Of the State, which. on the 18TH of tho
SAME naopth. passed an Act providing
Ter convention to fraaic Il i.c~ Con-
s.itution. Pursuant 10 this act, and IL,
an election held on the ;IO,h June,
1871, tho convention was approved and
delegates wcra chosen thereto, who
assembled On tho 1l!h o; last July, md
formed new Constitution, the scile.
dnle OF which provided for tho ciec.
ton nf an entire new set Of State Oil
GERS III manner contrary to the thea
existing election laws Of ii,c state. Oa
the 18Th October, 1871, this Consi.u.