The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-12-15

New South Wales, an exchange Of postal
cards established with Switzerland and
negotiations pending for several years
with France have terminated in a conven-
tion with that country which went into
effect last August. An international
postal congress has convened in Berne,
Switzerland, in September last in which
the United States was represented by an
officer of the post Office department Of
much experience and of qualification for
the position. A convention for the estab.
lishment Of an international postal union
was agreed upon and signed by delegates
Of the countries represented, subject to
the approval Of the proper authorities of
those countries. respectfully direct
your attention to the report of the post
general and to his suggestions in
regard to an equitable adjustment Of the
question Of compensation to railroads for
carrying mails.
Your attention will be drawn to the
unsettled condition Of affairs in some of
the southern states.
On the 14th Of September last the gov.
ernor Of Louisiana called upon me, as
provided by the constitution and laws of
the United States, to aid in suppression of
domesti; violence in that state. This call
vas made in view of a proclamation is.
sued on that day by d, B. Penn, claiming
that he was elected lieutenant governor
in 1872 and calling upon the militia Of
I hn ota f. IN nd lriv
power the usurpers, as he designated the
officers Of the state government. On the
next day l issued my proclamation and
commanded the insurgents to disperse
within five days from the date thereof,
and subsequently learned that on that
date they bad taken iorcible possession Of
the state house. Troops were taken by
me to support the existing and recognized
state government, but before the expira.
ton Of the five days the insurrectionary
movement was practically abandoned and
the officers Of the state government, with
some minor exceptions, resumed their
powers and duties Considering that the
present state administration of Louisiana
has been the only government in that
state for nearly two years, that it has
been tacitly acknowledge and acquiesced
in as such by Congress, and more than
once expressly recognized by me, l re.
garded it as my clear duty, when legally
called upon for that purpose. to prevent
its overthrow by an armed mob under
pretencc Of fraud and irregularity in the
election Of 1872. have heretofore cal.
led the attention of Congress to the sub.
ject, stating that on account of the frauds
and forgcries committed at said election,
and because it appeared that the returns
thereof were never legally canvassed, il
! was impossible to tell thereby who were
choseL. But from the best sources Of in
{ formation at my command have always
; believed that the present state officers re-
ceived majority OF the legal votes
actually cast at that election, | repeat
what said in my special message o.
. February 18th, 1873, that, in the even
of no action by Congress, must continue
to recognize the government heretofore
recognized By me, regret to say with
the preparations for the late elections de
, cided,
Indications appeared u some localities
in the southern states of Il determination
by acts Of violence aud intimidation t
/, deprive citizens Of the freedom o. ballot
r because Of their political opinions. Band
, Of men, masked and armed made thei
appearance while leagues and other so
r cieties were formed large quantities o
v aims and ammunition were imported anC
. distributed to these organizations. Mill
. tary drills, with menacing demonstration
D wers held, and with all these murder
,enough were committed to spread terro
q among those whose political action was t.
e be suppressed if possible by these ntoer
: ent and criminal proceedings In som
places colored laborers were compelled t
/ work according TO the wishes Of their EN-
ployers, under threats Of discharge
they acted otherwise, and there are to
d many Instances in which, when thes
4 threats were disregarded, then were re
. morseles-ly executed by those who mad
= them.
# | understand that the 10Th amendmeu
n to the constitution was made to preyeI
? this like state Of things. and the act Q
h May 3lst, 1870, with amendments, wa
Il passed 10 enforce it, provisions, the objeC
e of this being TO guarantee to all citizen
g the right to vote, aud to protect them
r the free enjoyment Of that right, enjoine
II by the constitution. to take care that th
=, laws be faithfully executed, and convint
e ed by nndoubted evidence that violation
,r Of said act had been committed, and this
Is a widespread and fragrant disregard Of
J. was contemplated, proper officers wei
,. instructed to prosecute offenders, an
in troops were stationed at convenient poin
n TO and these officers, if necessary, in th
i. performance Of their official duties. Con
a. plaiuts are made of this interference b
.e federal authority, but if said amerdmer
g ard act do not provide for such iDterfe
N ence under circumstances as above state
o. then they are without meaning, force {
l. effect, and the whole scheme of colore
is enfranchisement is worse than mockel
Of and little better than crime. Poss
le bly, Congress may find it due to truth ar
), justice to ascertain by means of a cor
>, mittee whether the alleged wrongs to CO
lie ored citizens for political purposes q
ly real, or the reports thereof were manufa
Id tured for the occasion. The whole nur
r. Der of troops in the states of Louisian
ut Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Car
to lima, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tenne
D. see, Arkansas. Mississippi, Maryland al
Virginia at the times Of election were
TO 0s2. This embraces the garrisous of
| the forts from Delaware to the Gulf
ty Mexico.
Is, Another trouble has arisen in Arka
Ii sas. Article l3, of the constitution
ng that state, which was adopted in 1856
be and upon the approval Of which by Co
en- gress, the state was restored to represer
~ ation as one of the states of the IInir