The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-12-17

OF an inferBa tiOnal postal Union was agTeeu upo
by the delegates Of countries represented, subjeS
4 ties OF those countries. / respectfully diret
your attention to the report Of the Postmaster
| General, and to his suggestions in regard 10 4
equitable adjustment of the question of compensa
tiOn to railroads for carrying mailss
| rt-- LOUISIANA AFFAIRS.
Your attention will be drawn to the unsettle
condition Of affairs in some of the Southern states
On the nth of September last the Governor o
Louisiana called upon me, as provided by IN
Constitution and laws of the United states
10 aid in the suppression OF domestic vlo
lence in that Stale. Tile call was made in view Q
the proclamation issued on that day BY ID. IL
Penn, sitting that he was elected Lieutenant
Governor in 1872, and calling upon the militia o
the State to arm, assemble and drive from poWe
the usurpers, as he designated the officers of TN
state Government. On the next day issued ml
proclamation, commanding the insurgents TO dis
perse within five days from the date thereof, ane
subsequently learned that on that day thel
steps were taken by ME to suppress the existing
rebellion and recognize the lawful State Govern
ment, but before the expiration of the five
days the insurrectionary movement wa'
practically abandoned and the officers ol
the state Government with some minor eXcep-
tons, resumed their powers and duties. Con
sidering that the present sta administration Of
Louisiana had been the only government in thai
state for nearly two years that it has been tacit
ly acknowledged and acquiesced in as such by
Congress, and more than once expressly recOg-
nIzed by me, regarded il as my duty ,Nier
legally called upon for that purpose, to prevent
its overthrow by an armed mob under pretense OF
fraud and irregularity in the election of 1872.
have heretofore called the attention of Congress tC
this subject, stating that account of the frauds
and forgeries committed at said election, and be-
cause it appears that the returns thereof were
never legally canvassed, it was impossible to tell
thereby who was chosen, but from the best
sources of information at my command, / have
always believed the present State officers received
a majority of the legal votes actually cast at that
election. / repeat what said in my special mes
sage of February IS, 1873 that in the event of no
the government heretofore recognized by me.
SOUTHERN DISORDERS.
| regret to say that with preparations for the
late election decided indication appeared in
some localities in the Southern States of deter
minatiOn by acts of violence and intimidation to
deprive citizens of the freedom of the ballot be-
cause of their political opinions. Bands of men,
masked and armed, made their appearance.
White Leagues and other societies were formed.
Large quantities of arms and ammunition were
imported and distributed to these organizations.
Military drills, with menacing demonstrations
were held, and with all these murders enough
were committed, which spread terror among
those whose political opinion was to be sup
pressed If possible by these intolerant and Grim
lnal proceedings. In some places cOlOred labor
ers were compelled to vote according to the wishes
of their employers under threats of discharge if
they acted otherwise, and there are too many in
stances in which, when these threats were disre
those who made them.
understand that the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution made to prevent this state of
things, and the act of MAY 81, 1870, with amend
ments, was passed to enforce its provision; the
object of this being to guarantee to all citizens the
right to vote, and to protect them in the free en-
ioyment of that right. Enjoined by the Constitu-
ton to take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted, and convinced by undoubted evidence that
of said act had been committed, and
that widespread and fragrant disregard of it
was contemplated, the proper officers were in
structed to prosecute the offenders, and troops
were stationed at convenient points to aid these
officers, if necessary in the performance of their
duties, Complaints are made of this interference
by Federal authority, bus if said amendment and
act do not provide for such interference under the
as above stated, then they are
without meaning, force or effect, and the whole
scheme of coored enfranchisement is worse than
and little better than crime. Possibly
Congress may find it due to truth and justice to
ascertain, by means of a committee, whether the
alleged wrongs to colored citizens for political
purposes are real or the reports thereof were
for the occasion.
The whole number of troops in the States of
Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South
.arollna, North Carolina; Kentucky, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland and Virginia,
1t the times Of the elections. was ,0s2. This
embraces the gafFisons Of all the forts from the
Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico.
THE TROUBLES IN ARKANSAS.
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas. Ar
icie l3 of the Constitution Of the State which
adopted in 1865, and upon the approval of which
~ Congress the State was restored to representa-
ion as one Of the States of the Union, provides
n effect that befoie any amendments proposed to
his Constitution shall become part thereof they
hall he passed by two successive Assemblies and
hen submitted TO and ratified by a majority of the
electors of the State, voting thereon. On the llth
If May, 1874, the Governor convened an extra
essiOn of the General Assembly of the State,
which, ON the 18th of the same month, passed an
ct providing for convention to frame new
1ngaGf ftrrffa rarnff 10 ls- aafa and Of
lection held on the Both June, 1874, the Conven-
ion was approved and delegates were chosen
hereto, who assembled on the I4th of last July,
md formed a new Constitution the schedule of
which provided for the election of. an entire new
et of state officers in a manner contrary to the
hen existing election laws of the state. On
he 18th Of October, 1874, the Constitution, as
herein provided was submitted to the people for
heir approval or rejection and according to the
Election returns, was approved by large majOr
Y Of those qualified TO vote thereon, and at the
anne election persons were chosen to fill all the
tate, county and township offices; The Cover
IOr elected in 1872 fOf the term of four years
urned over his office to the Governor chosen un-
Ter the new Constitution, whereupon the Lieu,
enant- Governor, also elected in lSI2 for a term
# four years, claiming to act as Governor and
leging that said proceedings by which the new
Constitution WAS made and n new set of officers
lected were unconstitutional, Illegal and void,
allied upon me, as provided in SETON 4, article
f the Constitution, to protect the State against
Domestic violence. As Congress is now investi-
ating the political affairs of Arkansas, have
eclined to interfere with the subject. EXecu-
i've interference with the affairs of a State is
to public opinion to the feeling of
hose who from their official capacity must be
sed in such interpOsitiOn, and to him or those
VhO must direct. Unless most clearly on the side
( law, such interference becomes a crime with
he law to support it, thus condemned without a
earring. l desire, therefore, that all necessity
or executive direction in local affairs may be-
ONE unnecessary and obsolete and invite the at |
putiOn not of COnprpSg bUt of the OpOnlp of the
United States, to the causes and effects of these
Unhappy questions. Is there not disposition on
ne side to magnify wrongs and outrages, and on
he other side to belittle or justify them: II pub
c attention could be directed to a correct survey
+ what is right, and TO rebuking wrong and aid
ng proper authorities in Furnishing it, a better
tate Of feeling would he inculcated and the soon
r would we have that peace where it wotild leave
he states free indeed to regulate freely their own
Domestic affairs. | believe on the part of our
itizens of the Southern States-the better
art of theml-there is disposition to be law
biding and do no violence either to indi
fduals or the laws existing; but do they do
light In ignoring the existence Of violence and
,oodshed and in resistance to constituted au-
hOrity? / sympathiZe with their PROSTATE con-
ition, and would do all in my power to relieve
hem-acknOwledgng that in some instances they
ave had most trying governments to live under,
nd very oppressive ones in the way of taxation
or nominal improvements, not giving benefits
quail to the hardship imposed; but can they pro-
lain themselves entirely blameless for this con-
lltlOn! 1hey cannot. Violence has been ram
'ant in some localities and has further been JUS
flied or denied by those who could nave pre-
ented it. The theory is raised that there is TO be
10 further interference on the part of the General
government to protect citizens within q State
where the State authorities fail to give protection
This is a great mistake. While remain EXecu-
i've all the laws of Congress and the provisions of
he Constitution. including the amendments add
d thereto, will be enforced with rigor But re-
,ret that they should have added one jot or title
o executive duties and powers. Let there be
airness in the discussion of Southern questions,
he advocates of both or all political parties Civ
ng honest, truthful reports of occurrences, con-
emning the wrong and upholding the right, and
Don all will be well. Under existing conditions
he negro votes the Republican ticket because he
,nOws his friends are of that party. Many good
itizen votes the opposite, not because he agrees
With the great principles of state which separate
he parties, but because generally he is opposed
o negro rule. This is a most delusive cry.
Treat the negro as a citizen and voter, as he is
nd must remain, and soon parties will be divid
d, not on the color line, but on principles. Then
ve shall have no complaint of sectional interfer
noes. ar 90 --HE
THE EATTORNEY-GENERAL's REPORT.
The report of the Attorney General contains
-aluable recommendations relating TO the admin
stration OF justice in the courts of the United
states, to which l invite your attention. | re-
pectfully suggest TO Congress the prOpriety of
the number of judicial districts in the
United States to eleven, the present number being
line, and the creation of two additional Judge
ships The territory to be traversed by the Cir
'uif Judge is so great. and the business of the
,ourts is SO steadily increasing, that its growing