The Russellville Democrat., 1875-02-18


 have repeatedly maintained; but the phrase "dnlawfully deprived' implies sonething else. The de- cision ir that case, as President Grant Himself declared in sustain ing Baxter, was made by the properly authorized body, and in accordance with the forms of law. The president held at that time that he had no right to go behind that decision or reverse it, and yet he seems to think, somewhat strangly, that congress can set aside not only the decision of the legislature but the subsequent election of Garland by the people.
 We cannot easily believe that the message is correctly telegrap- ed in that part which says that s'all the testimony shows that in 1874 the constitution of the state was by violence, intimidation and revolutionary proceedings, over- thrown, and a new constitution adopted" A committee, compos- ed of three republicans and two democrats, has just taken .'all the evidence" in that case, and has reported, all the members except one republican concurring, that there was neither violence nor in- timidation in the election of 1874, but that the new constitution and state government received the free votes of a majority of all the peo- pie. We trust that the president, if he has conclusive proof to the contrary, will produce it, for, otherwise, the report of the house committee will pretty surely be accepted by public opinion as in accordance with the fact. In truth, we have never heard from anybody hitherto the assertion that the election of 1874 was con- trolled by violence and intlmida- tion. It was supposed here to be extraordinary peaceable and qui- ct election, particularly because those republicans who did not wish the new constitution adopted generally treated the election as without authority and void, and did not vote at all. Nor did Gov. Brooks, while here, set up any such claim. On the contrary, he frankly admitted that at the elec- tion a majority of the whole peo- pie doubtless voted for the new constitution and for Garland.
 Had the president confined himself to q plain statement of the illegality or informality of the proceedings for the framing of a new constitution, he would have made the strongest case that can be made for Brooks, if the recent report of the congressional com mittee states the fact. The ques- tion then remains, Shall congress set aside as null and void con. stitution adopted and q state gov ernment chosen by majority of the whole people of Arkansas?" Grant that under the Id consti- tuition they had no specifically conceded right to frame any new costitution, was it the intention of congress, in admitting that state under that constitution, to deprive its people forever of the power to frame a new one by state convention? We confess, we did not then and do not now sup pose that was the design. Nor do we think that is what the people of this country LOW desire. Since the president has referred the matter again to congress, asking to be relieved from acting upon questions which should be decid- ed by the legislative branch of the government" We trust that the house and senate will finally set tie the matter by passing resolu- tions in accordance with the report of the committee.
 The Courier-Journal.l
 Grant declares for Brooks, and wants congress to relieve him of responsibility in Arkansas affairs. Now for new Arkansas troubles. Ire president wants congress to take definite action in the mat ter" The gods have made him desperately mad, and mean to de- stroY him.