Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-12-17

called Inc attentlon OF Congress to th
subject, stating that on account OF Il
frauds and forgeries committed at sa
election, and because it appears tn
the returns thereof were never legal
canvassed, it was impossible to te
thereby who we're chosen. But frol
the first sources of information at 10
command have always believed tn
present State officers received mai,
rity of the legal votes actually cast
that election. repeat what said
my special message of February 23e
1873, that in the event of no election
by Congress / must continue to recogn
ize the government heretofore recogr
lied by me.
/ regret to say that with the prepars
tions for the late election decided In
dicati0ns appeared in some localities il
the Southern States of a determination
by acts of violence and intimidation 3
deprive citizens of the freedom of tn
ballot, because OF their political opin
ions. Bands of men, masked and arm
ed, made their appearance: white lea
CUES and other societies were formed
large quantities of arms and ammuni
tion were imported and distributed Il
these organizations; military drills
with menacing demonstrations, wers
held and with all these murders enough
were committed to spread terror among
those whose political action was to bt
suppressed, if possible, by these intoler
ant and criminal proceedings. In some
places colored laborers were compelled
to vote according to the wishes OF their
employers under threats Ofa discharge,
If they acted otherwise, and there are
too many instances in which when
these threats were disregarded they
were remorselessly executed by those
who made them. l understand that
the Fifteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution was made to prevent this and
a like state of things, and the act OF
May 81, 1870, with amendments, was
issued enforce its provisions, the OBJ
ject Of both being to guarantee to all
citizens the right to vote and to protect
them in the free enjoyment of that
right. Enjoined by the Constitution to
take care that the laws be faithfully
executed, and convinced by undoubted
evidence that the violations of said act
had been committed and that a wide
spread and fragrant disregard of it was
contemplated, the proper officers were
instructed to prosecute the offenders
and troops were stationed at convent
ent points to aid these officers il neces-
sary in the performance Of their official
duties, Complaints are made of this
interference by by Federal official au-
thority; but II said amendment and act
do Lot provide for such interference
under, the circumstances as above stated
then they are without meaning, force
or effect, and the whole scheme Of color
ed enffanchisement is worse than
mockery and little better than . crime.
Possibly Congress may find it due toI
truth and justice to ascertain by means
OF committee whether the alleged
wrongs to colored citizens for political
purposes are real or the reports thereof
were manufactured for the occasion.
The whole number OF troops In. the
States Of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, South CArolina, North Carolina
Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi, Maryland and Virginia at the
times of the election were 1852, this
the sarrisons OF all the forts
from the Delaware to the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. Another trouble has risen in Ark
ansas.. Article 13 of the Constitution of
the State which was adopted in 1881
and upon the approval of which byI
Congress the State was restored to its
as one of the States of
the Union. 1t provides In effect that
before any amendments proposed tO|
the Constitution shall become . part
thereof, they shall be passed by twoI
successive assemblies, ratified by al
of the electors of the State
voting thereon. On the 11th OF May
1874 the Governor convened an extra
session of the General Assembly of the
State, which, on the 18th of the same
month passed an act providing for a
to frame new Constitution
pursuant to this act, and at the election
held on the 30th of June 1874 the Con-
stitutiOn was approved and delegatesI
were chosen thereto, who assembled onI
the 14th of July and formed q new Con-
stitution, the schedule of which pro-
vided for the election of an entire new
set of State officers, in manner con-
trary to the then existing election laws
of that State. On the 18th of October,
1874, this Constitution, as therein pro-
vided, was submitted to the people for |
their approval or rejection, and accord
ing to the election returns was arprov-
ed by large majority of those qualified
to vote thereon, and at the same cleo
ton persons were chosen to fill all the
State, county and township offices.
Pha Governor elected in 1872 for the
term of four years turned over his
ofhce to tho Governor chosen under the
new Consultation, whereupon the Lieu
Tenant Governor, also elected in, 1872
for term of4 years, claiming to act as
and alleging that said pro-
,eediDgs, by which the new COnstitu-
ton was made and . new set OF officers
elected, were unconstitutional, illegal
and void, called upon me as provided
in section 4, article OF the Co1stitu-
ton to protect the State against dom-i
estic violence. As Congress Is now in |
the political affairs of Ark
ansas, I have declined to interfere.
The whole subject of Executive inter-
ference with the affairs of State is re-
pugnant to the public opinion, to the
feeling of those who from their official
must be used in such interpo-
sition, and to him or those who must
direct. Unless most clearly on the side |
of law, such interference becomes
crime, and, with the law to support 1t,
is condemned without hearing.
desire therefore that all necessity for
direction in local affairs may
become unnecessary and obsolete.
invite the attention not only Of Con-
Zress, but of the people OF the United
States, TO the causes and effects OF these
unhappy questions. Il there not q dis
position OF one side to magnify these
wrongs and outrayes, and on the other
to belittle or juetIfy them? Ifthe pub
lie could be directed to correct survey
of what is right, and to rebuking wrong
and aiding the proper authorities In
furnishing it, better state Of feeling
would be inculcated, and the sooner We
would have that peace which would
leave the States free indeed, to regulate
their own domestic affairs. / believe
on the part of our citizens Of the South
ern States, that the better part of them
are of disposition to be law abidingl