Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-17


the next day / issued my proclama-
~ commanded the insurgents TO dis
nerse within five days from the date
thereof and subsequently learned that on
that day they had taken forcible possession
of the State House Troops were sent by me
To support the existing and recognized State
government, but before the expiration OF the
five days the insurrectionary movement was
practically abandon d, and the officers of the
State Government, with some minor excep-
lions. resumed their powers and duties. Con-
sidering that the present State administration
of Louisiana had been the only government
in that State for nearly two years. that 1t had
been tacitly acknowledged and acquiesced in
as such by Congress, and more than once eX-
pressly recognized by me, / regarded 1t as my
clear duty, when legally called upon for that
nurnose. to prevent its overthrow by an armed
mob under pretense of fraud and irregularity
in the election of 1872. | have heretofore called
the attention of Congress to this subject
stating that on account OF the frauds and
forgeries committed at said election, and
because It appeared that the returns thereof
were never legally canvassed, 1t was impossi-
HE TO tell thereby who were chosen, but
from the best sources of information at my
command / have always believed the present
State officers received majority of the legal
votes actually cast at that election. ! repeat
what said in my special message of Feb. Is,
1878, that in the event of no action by Con-
gress | must continue to recognize the gov
eminent heretofore recognized by me.
regret to say that with the preparations
for the late election decided indication APP
peared in some localities in the Southern
States of determination, by acts of violence
and intimidation, to deprive citizens Of the
freedom of the ballot because of their polti-
cal opinions; bands of men masked and
armed made their appearance; White Leagues
and other societies were formed; large guam
titles of arms and ammunition were
imported and distributed to these or
CARNATIONS; military drills, with menac-
ing demonstrations, were held, and with all
these, murders enough were committed to
spread terror among those whose political
action was to be suppressed If possible by
these intolerant and criminal proceedings.
In some places colored laborers were COM
PEELED to vote according to the wishes of
their employers, under threats of discharge
if they acted otherwise, and there are
these threats were disregarded, they
were remorselessly executed by those by
whom they were made. l understand that
the Fifteenth Amendment to theConstitution
was made to prevent this and the like state
of things, and the act of May 81. 1870. with
the amendments, was passed to enforce its
provisions, the object of this being to guaran-
tee to all citizens the right to vote and to pro-
tect them in the free enjoyment of that right.
Enjoined by the Constitution to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed and con-
vnced by undoubted evidence that violations
of said act had been committed and that a wide
spread and fragrant disregard of it was con-
templated, the proper officers were instructed
to prosecute the offenders, and troops were
stationed at convenient points to aid these
officers, if necessary, in the performance of
fba,r al @1n,,> 40 r
this interference by Federal authority, but if
the said amendment and act do not provide
for such interference under the circum-
stances as above stated then they are
without meaning, force or effect, and the
whole scheme of colored enfranchisement
is worse than mockery and little bet
ter than a crime. Possibly Congress may
by means of committee, whether the al
legged wrongs to coored 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, Mississippi, Maryland
and Virginia at the time of the elections was
4 ,0S2. This embraces the garrisons of all the
forts from the Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico
Another trouble has arisen in Arkansas
Article thirteen of the Constitution of the
State, which was adopted in 1868, and upon
the approval of which by Congress the State
was restored to representation rs one of the
States of the Union, provides, in effect,
that before any amendments proposed
to this Constitution shall become
part thereof they shall be passed by
two successive Assemblies and then sub.
mitted to and ratified by majority of the
electors of the State voting thereon" On
May II, 1874, the Governor convened an ex-
ira session of the General Assembly of the
State which, on the 18th of the same month,
passed an act providing for a convention
to frame new constitution pursuant to
this act, and at an election held on the
50th of June, 1874, the convention was APP
proved and delegates were chosen thereto,
who assembled on the 14th of last July
and formed new constitution, the schedule
OF which provided for the election of an
entire new set of State officers in a manner
contrary to the existing election laws of the
State. On the 18th of October, 1874, this
Constitution, as therein provided, was sub
mitted to the people for their approval or re-
lection and according to the election returns
was approved by large majority of those
qualified to vote thereon, and at the same
election persons were chosen to fill all
the State, county and township offices.
The Governor elected in 1872 for the
term of four years turned over his office
TO the Governor chosen under the new Consti-
tuition, whereupon the Lieutenant Governor,
also eiected in 1872 for a term OF four years,
claiming to act as Governor, alleging that
said proceedings by which the new Constitu-
ton was made and new set Of officers
elected were unconstitutional and illegal and
void, called upon me, as provided in Section
4, Article 4, 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 Of State is re-
pug lant TO public opinion, to the feeling of
those who from their official capacity must be
used in such interposition, and to him or those
who must direct Unless most clearly on the
side c law, such interference becomes a
crime; with the law to support it. it is con-
demned without hearing | desire, there