The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-17
rcorcrrrnEn rRonr rrRsr pAoE- ]

Troops were taken Dy me 10 support
the existing and recognized state gov
eminent, but before the expiration of |
the five days the insurrectionaFy move
ment 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 had been the only gov
eminent in that state for nearly two
years, that it has been tacitly acknOwl-
edged, acquieseed in as such by Con-
gress, and more than once expressly
recognized by me, regarded it as my
clear duty, when legally called upon
for that purpose, to prevent its over
throw by an armed mob under pEetence
of fraud and the irregularity in the
election of 1872.
1 have heretofore called the atten-
ton Of Congress to this subject, stating
that On account of the frauds and for
geries committed at said election and
because it appears that the returns
thereof were never legally canvassed,
it was impossible to tell thereby who
were chosen, but from the best sources
of information at my com nand have
always believed that the present state
officers received a majority of the legal
votes actually cast at that election.
repeat what said in my special mes7
sage of February 18th, 1873, that in the
event of no action by Congress I must
continue to recognize the government
heretofore recognized by me.
] regret to say that with the prepara-
tions for the late election decided indi-
cations appear IN some Of the Southern
States Of 3 deterninat tiDhs by acts of
violence and intimidation, 70 deprive
citizens of the freedom of the ballot be-
cause of their political opinions. Bands
of men, masked and armed, made their
appearance; White Leagues and OthHr
societies were formed large quantities
OF arms and afnmuniGion were import
ed and distributed to these 0rganizarl
tibns military drills, with n1euacing
demonstrations. were Held, and with
allithese murders enough were com
mitted to spread terror among those
whose political action was to be sup
pressed if possible by these intolerant
aud criminal proceedings. IN some,
places colored laborers were compelled
TO vote according to the wishes of their
employers under threats of discharge IL
they acted otherwise, and there are
too many Instances In which, when
these threats were disregarded, they
were reInorselessly executed by whom
made. r.T-. -
I understand that the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution was
made to prevent such a state of things
and the act of May 81, 1870, with
amendments, was passed 70 enforce its
provision, the object Of this being TO
guarantee to all citizens the right to
vote and to protect them in the free en-
joyment Of that right, enjOined by the
Constitution. To take care that the
laws be faithfully executed, and con-
WINGED by undoubted evidence that
violations of said act had been cOmmiJ-
ted and that widespread and hagrant
disregard Of it was contemplated, the
proper officers were instructed to pros
ecute the offenders, and troops were
stationed at convenient points to aid
these officers if necessary. in. the per-
formance of their official duties.
Complaints are made of this inter
ference by federal authority, bat if said
amendment and act do not provide for
such interference under the circuTn-
stances as above stated, they are With
out meaning, force or effect, and the
whole scheme Of .colOred enfranchise-
ment is worse than a mOckery, and
little better than a crime. Possibly
Congress may find it due to truth and
justice to ascertain by means of a conn
mittee 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 Caro-
lima, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas,
Mississippi, Maryland and Vik8inia at
the times of the election were 4,082.
This embraces the gaErisons OF al the
forts from the Delaware to the Gulf of
Mexico. m 4s. s.ss 10 s. mai i,n. 4
5 Another trouble has arisen in. A rkan4
sas. Article I3 of the Constitution OFF
of the State of Arkansas, which, ivvas |
L Il i
of which by Congress the State was |
restored to representation as one OF the
States of the Union, provides in effect !
that before any amendmentss PropDsed
by this constitutien, shall become a |
part thereof, they shall be passed by |
two Successive assemblies, and then
submitted to aud ratified by q ufajoriry |
ofthe electors Of the Btatesvotifg there- 7
on. On the 1lth of May, 1874, the Cow
ernor convened an extra sessieh OF the
General Assembly Of the State, which /
on the 18th Of the same month passedi ]
an act providing for d convention Uoe
frame a new constitution pursuant to Z
this act, and at an electiolG hend zon-l
the Goth efJ J uIle, 1874, the eoifven ton
was approved and delegates were chos-
en- thereto, who assem- bled on the I4th
of July and framed a neWeonslitution,
the schedule of which provided for TlIe
election of anentire new set OF statest
officers in manner contrary to the
then existing laws of the State.1i
On the 18th of October 1874 this con r
stitution as therein provided was sub
mitted to the people for the approval 1
or the rejection, and accordIng 10 the lf
election returns it was approved by a.
large majority of those qualified to- vote
thereon, and at the same election per-
sons were chosen to I'LL all. the state.
III,
governor elected in 1872, for the term
of four years turned over his Office to
the governor elected under the new
constitution, whereupon the lieutenant
governor, also elected in 1872 for q
term of Iour years, claiming 10 act as
GeVeruor, aud alleging that said pro-
ceedipgs by which the new, constitu-
tion was made and a new setof Officers
elected Were illegal and void, called
upon me as provided in section 4, arti- s
Gle of the constitution to protect the
state against domestic Violence. As
Congress is now investigating the pO- 1
liticaI affairs of Arkansas, I have, de-
ciined to interfere! 2 a IA 4 - /
The whole subject of executive inter-
ference with the affairs of a-state is re-
pugnant to public opinion to tie feel /
ing of those who, from their official
capacity, must be used in such inter-
position, and to him or those who I
must direct, unless most clearly ON the
side of law, such interference becomes
a crime with the law to support it. /
Thus condemned without a hearing L
desire, therefore, that all necessity for
executive direction is local affairs may I
become unnecessary and absolute.
invite the attention, not of Congress
but of the people of the United States, I
to the causes and effects of these un-
happy questions. Is there not dispo-
sitiOn on one side to magnify the
wrongs and Outrages and on the other
side to belittIe them or justify them ? /
If public opinion could be directed to I