Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-11

General, and to Ills suggestions In regard
TO an equitable adjustment of the question
OF compensation to railroads for carrying
the mails.
THE SOUTHERN TROUBLES.
Some attention will be drawn to the unsettled con-
dition Of Affairs in Of the Southern States. on
the 14h Of September last the governor Of Louisiana
called upon me, provided by the Constitution and
laws Of the United States toad In expressing domes
tic violence In that State This call was made in view
Of proclamation Issued on that day. D. b. Penn claim
ing that he was elected lieutenant. governor In 1872
and calling upon the militia Of the State TO arm, as
semble, aud drive from power the usurpers he des
ignated the officers OF the State government On the
next day issued my proclamation, commanded the
Insurgents to dispcrse within 1--WE days from the date
thereof and subsequently learned that that day
they had taken Orcbc possession Of the state house
Troops were taken by me to support the existing and
recognized state government But before the cIpira
ton Of the hve days the insurreciionary movement
was practically Abandoned aud the Officers Of the state
government, with some minor exceptions, resumed
their powers aud duties. Considering that the pres
ent state administration Of Louisiana been the only
government in that State for nearly tive years. that
has been tacitly ACKNOWLEDGED and gcquceced In az
such by Congress and more than once recognized by
me, regarded It my clear duty Whtn legally called
on for that purpose, ~ prevent It's overthrow by
armed mob under the pretence u fraud and irrogu.
ary In the election oi 1874 have heretofore called
the attention Of Congress to this subject stating that
ON account Of frauds aud fOrgericH committed said
elections, aud because 1t appears that the returns
thrreoi were never legally canNnssrd, was mposble
to tel thereby who were chosen but from the best
sources at my command have always believed that
the present state officers received majority Of the le
gal votes actually cast. repeat what / ead in my
special message Of February 49, 1873 that In the
u no action by Congress- must continue 10 recognize
the government heretofore recognized by me.
regret to say that with preparations Tor the cleo
ton decided indications appeared Ia some localities IN
the southern States Of determination, by acts Of Nio
ltnce aud intimidation to deprive czeuH II the free
dom Of the ballot, because Of their political opinions.
Bands VI men, masked and armed, made their appear
anco while leagues and other societies were formed,
large quantities Of arms and ammunition were impOT
ted aud distributed to the orgRuia Aous military drills
with menaciuR demonstrations were held, aud with all
these murders enough were committed 10 spread ter
rOr among those whose political action to be sup
pressed, II possible, by these procecding- III some
places cplorcd aOOrers were compelled to vote accord
ing to the views Of their emf uyurs under threats Of
discharge II they voted otherwise, aud there too
many Instances ia which, where these threats were
disreSardcd, they were fom1Tscl' tsy executed by
those who made them. understand the fifteenth
amendment to the Constitution vas made to prevent
ike state Of things and the act Of May 81 1870 with
amendments, was passed TO enforce it, provisions the
object OF this being to guarantee to all citizens the
right TO vote aud protect them in the full enjoyment
Il that right Eniuncd by the Constitution to take
care that the Laws he faithfully executed and cunyinc
ed by uud iubai evidence that violations 81 the said
fragrant disregard II il was contemplated tie proper
officers were instructed to The Offenders and
troops we're stationed a. CUuyeurn. points TO- Aid thgm
II necessary In the Performance If their pfcAl duties
Complaints are made Of this intcrf, renee 10y federal
authority, but II saii amendment and do pro-
vide Tor such interference under The circumstances
above stated then they Without Snng force and
ct yct and the whole sCfuIr q CuITtd tUfrauCl-c-
htut is worse than m'ckery aud lice batter than a
crime. Possibly Congress may md It due tutruth aud
Justice TO ascertain - mcAha II committee whether
all the alleged wrongs Of colo red c!ye- for political
real whether the REPORTS thereof were
manufactured for the occasion. Toe whole number
u troops Ia the States u Alabama, Louisiana Georgia.
Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky
Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi Maryland and Viz
ginia, at the TIM Of the election, 4us4, aud these
embrace the rArrisons Of all thr forts FROM tne Della
ware TO the Gulf Of Mexico.
Another trouble has arisen 80 Arkansas. Article 10
81 the constitution u that state, which adopted
1868 aud upon the approval u which by Congress the
state va rcsturcd approximation one 81 thu States
81 the Union, provide. IN eject that before any
amend ments proposed o. this constitution shall be-
part Of IT, they shall b. passed hy tvo succcs-
Five assomb and then submitted 60 and taih,d L.
ma J1riy Il the electors Of the state voting thereon
On the lIth Of May, 1854 the governor convened 40
extra heesiun q the general lssrUhly o. the state
which on the 18th II tho same NTH passed au at
providing for a convention to frame new c1usttu-
non. fursuaut &c this act and At an election held
June 80 1874 the convention approved aud dole
gates chosen theFetl who nj led uu the 9TH
OF last July and formed new constitution, the tched
ule Of which provided Tor the election Il entire set
STATE ohcers IN manner contrary t. the then eIist
Ing election laws Of the State On o t1hrr H. is7I
this c1u0ttuton th,r,n provided was submitted to
the people for their appruSa rejection aud accord
ing to the election returns n was ,proy,dIy larrc
majority 81 those qualified - vote thereon. At the
same election persons were hosea g. MI all the State
county, and township offices. The governor elected
in 1917 for the term Of four yeaTs turned his IL
fee to the governor chosen under the new consttu-
ton whercupon the tgoycruor also elected
in 1917 for term u four are claiming to act gov
eruor, aud alleging that said prooc, dings by which
new constitution vaz made and ret ~ officers
elected, unconstitutional gal aud " a. called
upon me- as provided In section L. article T. Of the
Constitution to protect the Sta.c AGAINST d ste Vi
uencc. As Congress i nov investigating The polite
al Affairs Of ArkanrAs have declined to Interfere.
The whole subject u executive interference with
the affairs Of State is ropuguant II public opinion
aud 70 the iesngs Of those VINO r. IL their uheal
OF those who must direct. Unless most clearly the
side Of tn" laws, such Interference becomes crime
he Ia - d a
hearing. desire therefor" that al necessity for e1-
e'uttve direction IL lotal hiirs may become
sAry and obsolete
/ invise the attention, MT only q Congress
but Of the people Il the United States to the causes
and effects Of these unhappy quetions l. there not
adispo1i"n on one side 10 magnify wrongs and out
RACES, and on the other 70 bclittlc thon Ifpubic
opinion could be directed to correct survey Of what
Is, and to rcbukug WI ng, and aiding the proper Au-
thorites in Furnishing Ateter state Of feeling would
be inculrAted, and the sooner would have that
peace which would leave the Stat,slr, indeed 10 r,g
ulate their affairs believe ou the part Of our
citEensof the southern States, the better part Of
them, there is disposition to be law abiding aud do
no Nalence either u individuals TO the laws exist
ing but do they do right in ignoring the existence II
violence and blsodshed IN Resistance
thority sImpathize with their PROSTATE condition
and would do AL In my power to relieve them,
knowledgiug that in some instances hey have had
most trying governments to live under, and very op-
pressNe ones IN the way Of taxation for nominal i'm
proVemruts not giving bcnets equalto the hardships
imposed; but can they proclaim themselves entirely
iFrespOns BILE for this condition They cannot Vi1
lence has been rampant iu localities and has e!-
ther been Justified denied by those who could have
prevented IT, The theory is even raised there to be
no further Interference, the part Of the general
government, to protect citizens within state where
the state authorities fail to give protection. This lie
great mistake. While remain Jrecutive all the laws
o. Congress and the provisions Of the Constitution IL
Guiding the recent amendments added Their TO- will be
enforced with rsor but with regret that they should
have added one lUt one title 10 the executive duties
powers Let there be fairness in the discussion Of
southern questions the advocates Of both all polt-
zeal parties giving honest truthful reports Of occur.
TeQcpH, cOnuemuluu M No
right, aud soon all will be well. Under the existing
conditions the negro votes the republican ticket be-
cause he knows his friends arr q that party. Many
good citizen votes the opposite, not because he a.
grees with the great principles Of state which separate
parties, bat because generally be is opposed to negro
rule. This is most dsusye cry Treat the negro az
citizen and voter, he is and must remain and soon
parties will be divided not On the color line but on
principle. Then We shall have Lo CONF lLt # se.on-
al interference
TIE UNITED STATES JUDICIARY.
The report Of the AttorneyGencral contains yalua-
bic recommendations relating u the administration Of
justice in the courts Of the United States to which
invite your attention, respectfully suggest to Con-
gress the proprety of increasing the number Jude
iAl districts n the United States 20 eleven the present
number being nine, and the creation Of two additional
Judgeships The territory 10 be trayCrsed by the cir
cult judges is great and the business Of the courts
Is 50 steadily increasing, that IL is growing more and
more impossible for them to keep up with the business
requiring tdeir attention. Whether this would in.
yoye tue necessity of Ailing two justices 4 the
supreme Court to the p7esent lumber submit tic
Judgment Of Congress.
DEPARTNEST OF THE .NIEK!cr.
The attention Of Congress Is invited 70 the report II
the Secretary Of the Interior, aud to the legislation
asked for by him. The domestic interests OF the peu
pie more intimately connected with thi. driart
ment than with either Of the other departments Of the
government Its duties have been added to from time
to time until they have become that With
out the most perfect system and order 1t will be mpos-
sble for any Secretary u the Interior To keep track Of
all ohcia transactions having his sanction and done
in his name aud for which he IL held personally rc-
sponsbe. The policy adopted FOR the management Of
Indian Affairs, known a. the peace policy, has been
adhered to with the most beneficial results Il com
fdently hoped that few years will relieve our
frontiers from the danger of Indian depredatiuns 1
commend the Recommendation Of the Secretary for
the extension Of the homestead laws to the Indians
and for some sort Of territorial government for tho
Indian terrtury. great maior,t Of the Indiana ~