Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-18
Report OF the Arkansas Investigating
Committee.
WARRINGTON, Feb. D.
MAJORITY REPORT.

MAJOUlI1 hETOnI'
THE Select Committee on Arkansas
Affairs conclude their report as follows:
The new Constitution we regard as repub-
lican In form, and In many respects an i'm
provement upon that OF 1868. The committee
are satisfied that the Convention to frame the
Consultation and the Constitution itself were
voted for, and are satisfactory to the majority
OF the voters and people of the state. The
State officers were certainly elected by ma
jority of the votes cast, and we think by ma
jority Of the votes in the State. The condition
Of the State has been as peaceful since the
new Government was inauguratcd as 1t has
ever been. The mass Of people on both sides
are inclined to peace and good government,
and to allow all the enjoyment Of their legal
rights. But there Is a class Of men, the out
growth Of former society, who delight In dis.
turbing and depriving the colored people Of
their rights. These are young men who can
not be restrained. This class Of men, TO-
gether with the general custom of carrying
deadly weapons-another legacy of barbarism
ARE the real causes Of violence and
bloodshed. The changes caused by the
war, giving freedom and political
equality to the colored people, are not well
relished by the Southern people. But most
Of them would do nothing to disturb them.
But the class to which we have alluded feel
that they may invade the rights OF colored
men, especially In any political quarrel, and
that their offenses will be winked at. We are
satisfied that the true prosperity of the South
crn States depends more upon just and stern
dealing by them with this lawlcss class OF
men than any other cause. Arkansas prob.
ably presents no different condition from that
OF other cotton States where political control
has passed into the hands Of the class who
ruled before the war.
The people of every State have the right to
make their own Constitution to suit them
selves, provided 1t be republican in form and
in harmony with the Constitution OF the
United States, and the National Government
has no authority to deprive them OF that
right. The election held for the ratification
OF the Constitution was under form Of law,
and the officers who conducted 1t acted under
appointment and under official oaths; and
although we regard all as defective, however,
being prescribed by the Convention instead of
the Legislature, still we believe they are en-
titled to be regarded differently from mere
voluntary meetings held under no prctense OF
| legal authority. The committee do not rec
ommend any action by Congress or by any
| department of the General Government In re-
| gard to the State Government in Arkansas.
This report is signed by Messrs Po-
land, Scudder, Sayler and Sloss.
MINORITY REPORT.
The other member OF the committee
Ward, of Illinois-presents his views in
| opposition to the report. In his report
he says:
| III banditti or a mob Of armed men may
| take possession of State, depose Its officers,
| arrest its Judges, close Its courts, intimidate
| its people through violence and murder, pro-
vide its own way for holding and its own
officers to hold elections, and Its own officers
| to declare the result and the fruit Of such de-
fance Of law Is binding upon the people of
such State and upon Congress, then the pres
ent pretended Government Of Arkansas Is le-
| ultimate, and must be recognized as such,
but not otherwise Those who will read the
evidence must be satisfied that there was
reign of terror throughout Arkansas during
the period in which the so-called Garland
Government was being formed and set In mo-
| ton, entirely inconsistent with full and fair
expression Of the will Of the people on that
subject.
| The report concludes as follows:
| II these proceedings In Arkansas 60 unre-
bulxed, and are allowed to stand as a precc-
dent to American history, then Constitutions
may be overthrown and the right of minori-
ties trampled upon by parties for any pur-
pose In times of excitement, and there Is no
remedy. 1t is revolution legalized and seces-
| sion made easy. This formula will apply as
well to the National as to the State Govern
ment. The fearful consequences to flow from
such principle incorporated into our law
] need not predict or speculate upon. There
can be no stability in the state or In the ma
! ton on any such basis no protection or &C.
| curlty for minorties or protection TO liberty
lin this case every form Of constitutional and
statute laws was violated. The American PEG.
pie cannot indorse the result
Mr.. Ward then proposes the following
| resolution:
Resolued. That James Brooks, having been by
| the people of Arkansas elected to the Office OF
Governor Of said State. under the Constitution of
| 1863 tor The period of four years ending in Janu
| AIRY, 1877, and said Constitution never having
| been legally overturned or abr0gatcd and being
still In force Is the lawful Governor of sad State
| of Arkansas.