Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-02-18
The Arkansas Investigating Commit.
tees Report.
WASHINGTON, Feb. &.
MAJORITY REPORT.


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
Constitution 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 a 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 inaugurated AS it 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 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 barba-
rism-are the real causes of violence and
boodshed, The changes caused by the
war, giving freedom and political
equality To the colorcd people, are not well
reished 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 otienses will be winked a. We
are satisfied that the true prosperity of the
Southern States depends more upon Just and
stern dealing by them with this lawless 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 sui. them
lid h.ar "a \
in harmony with the c onstituti.n of the
United States, and the National Government
has no authority 10 dep rive them OF that
right. The election held for the ratification
of the Constitution was under form of law
and the officers who conducted ii acted under
appointment and under official eaths; 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
recommend any action by Congress or by
any department of the General Government
in regard 10 the State Government in Arkan-
SaS.
This report is signed 10y Messrs Poland.
Scudder, Sayler and Sloss.
MINORITY REPORT.
The other member of the committee
Ward, of lllinois-preSents his views in
opposition to the report In his report
he says;
II handiiii or a mob Of arryeA men may
take possession OF a StGse, depose it's officers.
arrest Its Judges close its courts, iutimidate
lis people through violence and murder pro.
vide lis own way for holding and its own
officers TO hold elections, and lis own officers
10 declare the result, and the fruit Of such de-.
riancc of law is binding Gpon the people Of
such State and upon Congress, then the pres
ent pretended Government OF Arkansas is
legitimate, and must De recognized as such-
but ~, otherwise. Those who Will read the