The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-12-18
The Presidents Message.
We extract from the Presidents an
nual message to Congress, published
last week, the following:

h"o'l Ih0SndSV GO COHSfCSS, pUDllSneU
last week, the following:
SOUTHERN AFFAIRS.
Your attention will be drawn to the
unsettled condition Of affairs in some of
the Southern States. On the 18th of
September last the Governor of Louis
lana called upon me, us provided by the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, to aid in suppressing domestic
violence in that State. That call was
made III view of proclamation issued on
that day by D. B. Penn, claiming that he
was elected Lieutenant GOvernOrin 1872.
and calling upon the militia of that
State to arm, assemble and drive from
power the usurpers, as he designated the
officers of the State Government. On
the next day issued my proclamation
commanding the insurgents to diSperse
within five days from the date thereof
and subsequently learned that on that
day they had taken forcible possession
of the StatehOuSe. Steps were taken by
me to support the existing and rccOg-
nized State government, but before the
expiration Of the five days the insur-
rectlOnaly movement was practically
abandoned, and the officers of the State
| government, with some minor eXcep-
tions, resumed their powers and duties.
| SoHaIuCliHS CllhI JIG I'ItSCHG CtdLc dQ-
ministratiOn of Louisiana has been the
only government in that State for near
| ly two years that it has been tacitly
acknowledged and acQuiesced in as such
by Congress, and more than once ex-
presSly recognized by me, regarded it
| as my clear duty, when legally called
| upon Tor that purpose, to prevent its
overthrow by an armed mob, under pre-
| tense of fraud and irregularity in the
| election Of 1872, have heretofore called
| the attention OF Congress to this subject,
| stating that on account Of the frauds and
fOrgeries committed at that election, and
because itappcars that the returns there
OF were never legally canvassed, it was
chosen but from the best sources of
information at my command | have
always believed the present State Off
GERS received majority of the votes ac
tually cast at that election. | repeat
what | said in my special message of
February 90, 1873 that in the event of no
action by Congress, must continue to
recognize the government heretofore re-
cOgniZed by me. | regret to say that. |
with preparations for the late election, |
decided indications appeared in some To- |
calities in the Southern States of a de- !
termination by acts Of
VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
to deprive citizens Of the freedom of the |
ballot because of their political opinions; |
bands of men masked and armed made |
their appearance, White Leagues and |
other societies were formed, large guam
titles of arms and ammunition were i'm
ported and distributed to these organiza-
tiOns, military drills with menacing
demonstrations were held, and with all
these murders enough were committed
to spread terror among those whose
political action was to be suppressed, if
possible, by these intOlerant and crimi-
mai proceedings. In some places cOlOred
labOrers were compelled to vote accord
ing to the wishes Of their employers, I'M
der threats of discharge il they voted
otherwise, and there are too many in
stances in which, when these threats
were disregarded, they were remorseless-
ly executed by those who made them.
that the fifteenth amend
ment to the Constitution was made to
prevent this and like state of things, and
the act Of May 81, 1870, with amendments,
was passed to enforce it's provisions, the
object of both being to guarantee to
all citizens the right to vote and to pro-
tect them in the free enjoyment of that
right. EnjOined by the Constitution 8" to
take care that the laws be faithfully
executed" and convinced by und0ubted :
that violations Of said act had
been committed and that widespread
md fragrant disregard of it was contem-
plated, the proper officers were instructed /
% prosecute the offenders, and troops :
we're stationed at convenient points to {
lid these officers if necessary in the per- :
'Ormance of their official duties. Com :
)laints are made of this interference by q
Federal authority, but if said amend :
nent and act do not provide for such |
under the circumstances, l
Is above stated, then they are without {
meaning, force or effect, and the whole :
cheme of cOlOred acknowledgements is l
worse than mOCkery and little better Il
han q crime. Possibly Congress may
ind it due to truth and justice to ascer- ?
ain by means of committee whether II
he alleged wrongs to colored citizens +
or political purposes are real Or the re- =
.orts thereof were manufactured for r
he occasion. The whole number of l
roops in the States of Louisiana, Ala =
anna, Georgia, florida, South Carolina, I!
arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland and s.
Virginia at the time of the election were II
082. This embraces the garris0ns of all .
he forts from the Delaware to the Gulf /!
f Mexico. 81
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLE. IL
Another trouble has arisen in Arkan tx
as. Article 13 of the constitution of fl
hat State (Which was adopted in 1868, tt
nd upon the approval of which by Con- it
ress the State was restored to represen- g
alton as one of the States of the Union) SC
rOvides in effect that before any amend CO
rents proposed to this constitution shall W
ecome a part thereof, they shall be el
assed by two successive assemblies and III
len submitted to and ratified by ma
,rity of the electors of the State voting
lereon. On the 18th May, 1874, the Gov
rnor convened an extra session of the 1s
-eneral Assembly of the State, which y
q the 18th of the same month passed an te
ct providing for q convention to frame ol
new constitution, pursuant to this act, 3
nd at an election held on the Both June, Il
IA, the convention was approved and ftlI
nlapafns yynrn ohosnn fborofo who or fr