Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-17

amendment and act do no. provide for sues
interference under the circumstances as above
4 stated then they are without meaning, force OF
effect, aud the whole scheme OF colored enifan-
chisefneDt IL worse than mocsery anG little bet
= ter than a crime. Possibly Congress may mad II
due TO truth and Justice to ascertain. By means OF
| d committee whether the alleged wrongs TO col
ored citizen. for political purposes are real, or
the reports thereof were manufactured Tor the oc-
\ caeion
| The whole number OF troops In the States OF
| Louisiana. Alaba.na. Georgia. Florida. south
Carolina. North Carolina. Kentucky, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Mississippi Maryland ana NJ virginia
braces the garrsons Of all the forts ron me
Delaware 10 the Gulf Of Mexico.
! Another trouble has arisen IN Arkansas. AT
4 ficle thirteen of the Constitution OF the State.
which was adopted in 1868. and upon the Az
| provo. of which ~ Congress the state was re-
| stored to representation one Of The States OF
4 the Union. provides. IN effect. that before
any amendments proposed 70 This Constitu-
| ton snail become q part thereof they shall De
| submitted 20 and ratified by majority OF the
electors of the State voting thereon" On May
u, 1879 the Governor convened an extra a, ses
| which, on the 18th Of the same month. passed
an act providing for a convention TO frame
| new constitution pursuant to this act and al
| an election held on the Both OF June. 1874
4 the convention was approved and delegates
were chosen thereto, who assembled on the l4th OF
| last July and formed new constitution. the
schedule of which provided for the election OF an
entire new set OF State officers In manner con-
lrary to the existing election laws OF the state
On the 18th of October 1874, this Constitution,
| as therein provided, was submitted TO
| the people for their approval or rejection,
and according to the election returns Was ap
| vote thereon, and at the same election persons
were chosen 10 fill all the State county and
| township Offices. The Governor elected IN 1872
for the term of four years turned over his ONCE
TO the Governor chosen under the new Constltu-
ton, whereupon the Lieutcnant-G Governor. also
elected in 1872 for term of four years claiming
to act Governor ALLEGING that SAID proceed
ings by which the Constitution was made
| and a new set of officers elected were unconstl-
provided in Section 4, Article 4 OF the Constitn-
ton, to protect the State against domestic NO
lence. As Congress is now Investigating the
political affairs Of Arkansas have declined To
| interfere The whole subject OF Executive
interference with the affairs of State is re-
pugnant to public opinion, to the feeling of
those who from their official capacity must be
used in such interpostion, and to him or those
who must direct. Unless most clearly on the
side of law such interference becomes crime;
with the law TO support 1t, II IL condemned
without hearing. / DESIRE therefore, that all
necessity for Executive direction in local affairs
may become unnecessary and obsolete.
Invite the attention. not of Congress, but of
the people of the United States, TO the causes
and effects of these unhappy questions. is there
not disposition on the one side to magnify
wrongs and outrages, and on the other side to be
little and justify thems If public opinion could
be directed to correct survey OF what exists ana
to rebnking wrong and aiding the proper authori-
ties furnishing it, better state of feeling
would be incnlcated and the sooner we would
have that peace which would leave the States
free indeed TO regulate their own domestic
affairs.
| believe that on the part of the citizens of
the Southern States, the better part OF them,
there is a disposition to be law-abiding and to do
no violence either 10 individuals or the laws
existing; but do they do right, right in IL. igi
! noring the existence OF violence and
bloodshed-in resistance to constituted
authority l sympathize with their pros
trate condition, and would do all In my power to
1 Itnxra nnly nx~tau fhafi in
stances they have had most trying governments
to live under, and very oppressive one in the way of
taxation for nominal improvements, not giving
benefits equal TO the hardships imposed; but can
they proclaim themselves entirely blamable ior
this condition. They cannot. Violence has
been rampant in some localities, and
those who could have prevented it. The
theory is raised that there is to be no further
ment to protect citizens within a State where
the State authorities fail to give protection
This is great o,n mistake While nh ,. re-
Of Congress and the provisions OF
the Constitution, including the amendments
added thereto, will be enforced with rigor,, with
but regret that they should have added one
jot or titIle to the Executive duties and powers.
Let there be fairness in the discussion Of south
questions, the advocates of both or all pofit-
zeal parties giving honest and truthful reports of
occurrences, condemning the wrong and uphold
ing the right, and soon all will be we'll Under
existing circumstances the negro votes the
friends are of that party. Many a good
citizen votes the, opposite not because
state sta which separate the parties, but be-
canse, generally, he is opposed TO negro
rule. This 10 most delusiye cry: Treat the
negro as citizen and voter, as ne IS and must
remsin, and soon parties will be divided, not on
the color line, but on principle: Then we shall
have no complaint OF sectional interierences.
| JUDICIAL AFFAIRS.
The report of the Attorney General contains
valuable recommendations relating to the ad.
ministration Of justice In the courts OF the United
States, to which invite your attention.
respectfully suggest toCongress the propriety
of increasing the number Of the judicial dis
tricts in the United States to eleven the present
| number being nine, and the creation of two add
tional Judgeships. The territory to be trayersed
by the Circuit Judges is so great and the business
| OF the courts steadily increasing that it Is
growing more and more Impossible for them to
keep up with the business requiring their atten-
ton. Whether this woud involve the necessity
of adding two more Justices OF the Supreme
Court To the present number l submit TO the
| Judgment OF Congress.
THE INTERIOR.
The attention of Congress is invited to the re-
port of the Secretary Of the Interior and 70 the
legislation asked for by him. The domestic in
terests Of the people are more intimately con
either either Of the other e departments Of the Gov
| eminent. Its duties have been added to
from time to time until they have become
| so onerons that, without the most perfect
| system and order, II will be impossible for any
Secretary Of the Interior to keep trace of all
Official transactions having his sanction and done
in mis- name, and for which he is held personally
responsible.
| The policy adopted for the management of In
dian affairs known the "peace policy fnas
been adhered TO with the most beneficial results.
IL Is confidently hoped that few years more will
| save our frontier from Indian depredations. 1
| commend the recommendation Of the Sec
rotary for the extension Of the Homestead
| laws TO the Indians, and for some sort
Of territorial government for the Indian
Territory. A great majority of the Indians occu-
pying this Territory believed to be incapable
| OF maintaining their rights against the more CIV
ilized and enlightened men. Amy territorial
| form OF government given them, therefore,
| should protect them In their homes and property
for period of at least twenty years, anu before
| its final adoption should be ratified by majority
| of those affected.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
herewith attached gives much interesting statis-
neal Information, which abstain from giving an
abstract OF, but refer you to the report itself
| PENSIONS OF THE WAR OF 1872
The act Of Congress providing the oath
| which pensioners must subscribe before drawing
| their pensions cuts of from this bounty few
| survivors OF the OF 1872 residing in the |
Southern States. | recommend the restoration
| OF this bounty to all such. The number
| OF persons whose names would be restored 10 |
| the list OF pensioners is not large. They all |
| old persons who could have taken no Part in |
4 he hnl anHt