The Van Buren press., 1875-02-16
+" Let Us Have Peace.

Act AlaVC o"SS'
President Grant, on the s,h inst, sent
the following message to the senate IN
relation to Arkansas affairs in response
to the resolution and memorial Of Sena-
tor Clayton asking for Information;
To the Senate Of the United States: f
:. Herewith have the honor to send. in ac-
eor,lsnce with u re>olution of the senate Of
the 81 inst. all the information IN my posses
sion not heretofore furnished. relating 10 al
fairs In the state OF Arkansas.
I" ! will venture 10 express an opinion that
all the testimony shows that In the election OF
fs71 joseph Brooks was lawfully elected gov
ernor ofthat state; thar he has been unlawful
Ia dcpviyed Of possession OF his office since
that time; that in lS74 the constitution OF
the state was, BY violence. intimidation and
revolutionary proccedings,ovrrthrown anew
constitution adopted, and n new state gov
ernu,eut ests blished. These proceedings. if
permitted to stand. practically ignore all the
rights of minorities In all the states. Also,
what Is there TO prevent each Of the states, re-
Gently remittcd TO federal relations on ccr-
tain condition. from changing their eonsii-
tutions and violating their pledges. II this ac-
tion In Arkansas Is acquiescsd in!
II respectfully submit whether \ precc-
dent 50 dangerous to the stability VI the state
government if not OF the national govern
nient. also, should bc recog izcl by congress.
Il earnestly ask that congress will take
definite action In this matter In order To re-
levc the executive from acting mpoa ques-
t,ons which should be- decided by the legisla-
tive branch Of the government
s.'lSisnedl Y 5, GRANT; :,
Executive Mansion, February So y
Commenting on the message, the Chi
cago Tribune, the leading republican pa
per in the West, has this to say
The president has sent into the senate spe-
cial message on Arkansas matters. In 1t. he
expresses his belief that Brooks whum he
had compelled to yield to Baxter in 1874, was
and Ia the legal governor OF the state; that
the new constitution adopted last year is an
illegal Instrument, and that the Garland adj
,ninistratiop ought to be oyerthrown. In
conclusion, he asks congress to take some def
inlte action on the mattsr,"to relieve the ex-
ntive from acting upon questions which
should be decided by the Legislative branch
OF the government" This hast clause cannot
mean that the president will interfere in the
internal affairs Of Arkansas, IL congress de-
t.lines to do so. II IL unfortunate that the
wording will bear this Interpretation.
There may possibly have been some irrcgu-
larities or defects In the way In which the
new constitution of Arkansas was drawn mp
and submitted to the people for ratification
The defects hitherto alleged, however, are
neither grave nor vital. The instrument was
ratified BY the people. Now 1t Is the judg-
ment Of the highest authorities on constitn-
tionsl law IN this country that such ratifi.
cation cures all such defects. Judge jaime.
son has shown IN his work on constitutional
conventions, that scarcely any such conven-
tion has ever been held In precise accordance
with legal forms. In nearly every case there
have been some Irregularities or defects. but
popular ratification has cured them all. II We
apply this sound dortrnn In Arkansas. every
excuse for interference fails, The state has
the republican form Of government" guar
Gov Garland finds no one to dispute his au-
thority ut home. Only few carpet. baggers
oppose him at Washington. The laws are in
force. The Judiciary Is firmly established.
Peace and quiet reign over the state for the
first time since 1851 The de facto govern
ment 70 also de jure. as We have shown. Its
a fault accompli 1t has possession. 1t is re-
spected by the majority. and obeyed by all.
Interference with it..would be blunder or
worse.
Moreover, We bave Que "helr on our hands
issahd.d h isd d;yt 81 the most orthodox creed Loui.
sians Is enough. Arew to organize another
"heli" In Arkansas for the sake Of crowd Of
tarpet-baggers Let us keep our hands of.
Perpetual me,ldl ny will only make matters
worse. Arkan-a' Il getting along remarka-
bly, well. and the executive authorities at
Washington had better let well enough alone.
This will probably be the mature judgm
of the president. 1t IA not difficult to reeog-
,ixe In the message the bad logic and worse
law Of that miracle of netficiency and preiu-
dice, AttOrney-General williams. f.