The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-09
Reports Oh Arkansas Affairs.

AslIIHGTOS, February THE special
committee on affairs in the State OF Arkansas
presented their reports Saturday. The ma
lority report Is signed by Messrs. Poland, of
Vermont Scu,!der, of New York; SIyler, Of
Ohio and Slo>s, OF Alabama. They gave q
statement of the whole history of aifans in
Arkansas in chronological order since the re-
construction acts OF 1865. They recognize the
validity of the election of 1874 and OF the new
Constitution. They Go not see how the
United States could interfere except in the
case Of domestic violence. The new Con-
stilution they regard rs republican in form,
and in many respects an Improvement over
The Constitution Of 1865. Some question
has been made rs TO the dropping from
The declaration Of principles some OF
the professions of loyalty contained i'll
the old Constitution. Most of the re-
constructed constitutions contain rather sur
plusaye on tn subject. 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 elect
ed by a majority OF the votes cast, ard we
believe by majority of the voters IN the
State. The condition of the State has been
inauyurated as it ever has been; acts OF vlo-
Ience have been very few indeed. 1t is al
legged that this is all because they are now
under congressional investigation, and on
their good behavior.
The committee believe that in Arkansas
the mass of the people on both sides are in
clned to peace and good government, and TO
allow all the enjoyment of all their legal
rights but there is class Of men, the out
Growth of the former state OF society, who
delight in disturbing agd deprvlng the col
ored people and northern people OF their
rights. These are the young men, who cam
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
blood. The changes caused by the war,
irving freedom and political equality TO the
coIored people, are not Yet well relshed 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 can
invade he rights of colored men, especially
on any political ground, and that tneir OIL
fences will be winked at.
We are satisfied that the true prosperity OF
these Southern States depends more upon
just and stern dealing by them with this Jaw
less class of men than any other cause. AS
to the future peace and quiet OF the state,
the enforcement of the laws and protection
of life and property, Arkansas probably pre-
sents no different condition from That OF the
other cotton. States whose political control
has passed into the hands OF the class who
ruled before the war We arc asked to re-
commend that the National Government Shall
declare in some form that the new Constltu.
lion has not superseded that of 1868, but that
the old one is still the true Fundamental law
of the State, and that MIR. Brooks, who doubt.
less was elected. and ought to have beende
elared Governor, is now the lawful Governor
of the Stale, and that the Government VII
support and uphold him as the lawful GOV
ernor OF the State. Your committee wllltak'
40 time to give their views OF the true rela
tons and duties Of the general and sIaF'