Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-12-11


ment is worse than mockery. Posi-
bly, Congress may see fit to ascertain
by means OF a committee whether all
the reports of the violation of the
rights of our colorod citizens for
political purposes were true or were
manufactured for the occasion.
The whole number of troops in the
States of Louisiana, Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Tenncs-
see, Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland
and Virginia at the time of the cleo
ton was 4,OS2. This embraces the
garrisons of all the forts from the
Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico.
Another trouble has arisen in Ar
kansas. Article l3 of the constitu-
ton of the State, which was adopted
IN 1868, and upon the approval of
which by Congress the State was re-
stored to representation as one of the
States of the Union, provides in eff.
feet that before any amendment pro-
posed to this constitution shall be-
come part thereof it must be passed
by two successive assemblies, and
then submitted to and be adopted by
majority Of the electors of the State
voting thereon. On the 18th of Nav.
1874, the Governor convened an ex-
ira session CT the General Assembly
OF the State, which on the 18th Of
September passed an act providing
for commission to frame a new con
stltution. Pursuant to that act. and
an election held on the 4th of June,
1874, the convention was approved,
and delegates chosen thereto, who
assembled on the 14th day of last
July and framed new constitution,
the schedule of which provided for
the election of an entire new set of
State officers, in Il manner contrary to
the then existing election laws of the
State. On the 18th of October, 1874.
this constitution, as therein provided,
was submitted to the people for APP
proval or rejection, and according to
the election returns was approved by
large majority Of those qualified to
vote thereon. At the same election
persons were chosen to fill all State,
county and township offices. The
Governor elected i'll 1872 for term
OF four years, turned over his affairs
to the Governor chosen under the
new constitution; whereupon the
Lieutenant Governor, also elected in
1872 for a term of four years, claim
ing to act as Governor, and alleging
that said proceeding by which the
new constitution was made and
new set of officers elected were un-
constitutional and void, called upon
me as provided in section 4, article
Of the constitution, to protect the
State against domestic violence. AS
Congress is now investigating the
political affairs Of Arkansas, | have
declined to interfere The whole
subject of executive interference with
the affairs ola State are repugnant to
public opinion, to the feeling of those
who from their official capacity must
be used to such interposition, and to
him or those who must direct. I'm
less most clearly on the side of the
law, such interference is a crime
Without the law to support it, it
should be severely condemned |
desire, therefore, that all necessity
for executive direction in local affairs
may become unnecessary and obso-
lete.
invite the attention, not only of
Congress, but Of the people of the
United States, to the causes and eff
fects of these unhappy questions. Is
there not disposition on one side to
magnify wrongs and outragcs, and on
the other side to bclittle them, or JUS
tily them? If public opinion could
be directed to correct survey of
what is wrong and of the means
Of rebuking it, and in aiding
the proper authorities in punish
ing it, a better state of feeling would
he inculcated and we would sooner
have that peace which would leave
the States free indeed to regulate
their own domestic affairs. | believe
on a part of our citizens of the South
ern States, or Il better part of them,
there is Il disposition to be law-abid-
ing, and to do no violence either to
individuals or the laws existing; but
do they do right in ignoring the ex-
istencc of the violence and bloodshed
and resistance to constitutional au-
thority: | sympathize with their
PROSTATE condition and would do all
in my power to relieve them, ac-
knowledging that in some instances
they have most trying governments
to live under, and very oppressive
one in the way Of taxation for nomi-
nal improvements not giving benefits
equal to the hardships imposed. But
can they proclaim themselves entirely
irresponsible tor this condition? They
cannot. Violence has been rampant
in some localities, and has either been
justified or denied by those who could
have prevented it. The theory is
to be no further interference on the
part of the government to protect
citizens within State where the
State authorities fail to give protec-
ton. This lisa great mistake. While
| remain Executive, all the laws of
Congress and the provisions Of the
constitution, including the amend
ments added thereto, will be enforced
with vigor, with but regret that they
should have added one jot or title to
executive duties and powers. Let
there be fairness in the discussion of
Southern questions, the advocates of
both or all political parties giving
honest, truthful reports of occur
rences, condemning the wrong and
UNFOLDING the right, and soon all will
be well. Under the existing condi-
tons the negro votes the Republican
ticket because he knows his friends
are Of that party. Many good citi-
zen votes the opposite ticket not be-
cause he agrees with the great prin-
ciples Of State which separate parties,
but because generally he is opposed
to negro rule. This is most delu-
siye cry. Treat the negro as a citizen