The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-02-18
President Grant on Arkansas Affairs.

President Grant on Arkansas AIlalrS.
Some men are gifted with the happy faculty
of arousing public interest whenever they take
hold of any subject, whether or not this inter-
est of the public rebounds to their credit. 1t
seems that President Grant is largely gifted IN
this respect, and his management of Louisiana
affairs, not to investigate the record any further
indicates the success with which he arrests
public attention whenever it suits his genius.
He comes to the front once again in crisp and
pointed message upon affairs in Arkansas, re-
spending to resolution of the Senate, which
had been offered by Senator Clayton, of Ar
kansas The resolution called upon the Presi-
dent for information Prospecting affairs in Ar
kansas, together with such recommendations
as he may deem proper in reference thereto"
and the message was forthcoming so speedily
as to suggest that Senator Clayton and Presi-
dent Grant understood each other perfectly,
especially as the document was prepared with
out the advice or knowledge of the Cabinet,
whose members are presumably his advisers on
public matters. The message is in the follow
ing words:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 8, 1875.
To the Senate of the United States:
Herewith I nave the honor to send, in &C.
cordance with the resolution of the Senate of
the Sd inst, all the information in my posses
sion not heretofore furnished relating to affairs
in the State of Arkansas.
I will venture to express the opinion that all
the testimony shows that, in the election of
1872, Joseph Brooks was lawfully elected gov
ernor Of that State; that he has been unlawful
ly deprived of the possession of his office since
that time that in 1874 the Constitution of
State was, by violence, intimidation and rev.
olutionary proceedings, overthrown and new
constitution adopted, and new State Govern
ment established. These proceedings, if per-
mitted to stand, practically ignore all the rights
of minorities in all the States. Also, what is
there to prevent each one of the States recent
~ readmitted to Federal relations on certain
conditions from changing their constitution
and violating their pledge, if this action is
acquiesced in? I respectfully submit whether
precedent so dangerous to the stability OF
the State Governments, if not of the National
Government also, should be recognized by
Congress.
I earnestly ask that Congress will take de-
finite action in this matter, to relieve the Exc.
cutive from acting upon questions which should
be decided by the legislative branch Of the
Government. U. S. GRANT.
When this extraordinary message was read
in the Senate, Mr.. Clayton Immediately moved
its reference to the committee on privileges
and elections. Senator Thurman suggested to
amend by substituting a reference to the judi
ciary committee, since the question involved was
not concerning an election, but as to the right
of the people of Arkansas to change their con-
stitution, which was legal question. If the
constitution of Arkansas was lawfully changed,
then legal government was in existence there.
But he objected to any further consideration of
the message at that time, and characterized it
as the most extraordinary and astounding OF
all messages.
The surprise and astonishment expressed by
Senator Thurman has been echoed and re-
echoed throughout the country, and, without
distinction of party affiliations, prominent men
have expressed the gravest apprehensions in
regard to the attitude of President Grant to-
wards the Southern States. This message met
with the strongest denunciations from every
quarter, including some of the ablest newspa-
pers of the Republican party, and an explana-
ton has since been made by President Grant,
in which he disclams any attention of inter-
fering with Arkansas affairs, unless expressly
authorized by Congress. If Congress chooses
to leave him without directions, and refuses to
indicate policy, the President will not inter-
fere with the political status of Arkansas, and
will leave Gov. Garland to manage the affairs
of that State.