Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-18
The Arkansas Investigation.
WASHINGTON. Feb e.
" -ANTAA ~ . AV-Ns i Gu. o.
MAJORITY REPORT.

MAJORITY REPORT.
The Select Committee on Arkansas
Affairs conclude their report as follows
The new Constitution we regard as repub-
licRn 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 ma
jority of the votes cast, and we think by ma
iority of the votes in the State The condition
of the State has been as peaceful since the
new Government was lnaugurated as 1t 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
bloodshed. The changes caused by the
war, giving freedom and political
| equality to the colored people, are not well
relished 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 otfenses will be winked at. We are
satisfied that the true prosperity of the South
| ern 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 suit them
selves DrOvi6p6 If no b1ipan in nd
| harmony with the Constitution of the United
| States, and the National Government has no
| authority to deprive them of that right. The
| election held for the ratification of the Con-
| stitution was under form of law, and the
| officers who conducted it acted under appoint
ment and under official oaths; 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 pretense
of legal authority. The committee do not
| recommend any action by Congress or by any
| department of the General Government in re-
| gard to the State Government in Arkansas.
This report is signed by Messrs Po-
land, Scudder Sayler and Sloss.
MINORITY REPORT.
| The other member of the committee
| Ward, of Illinois-presents his views in
| opposition to the report. In his report
| he says:
! If banditti or a mob of armed men may
| take possession of State, depose its officers
| arrest its Judges, close its courts, intimidate
| its people through violence and murder, pro-
| vide its own way for holding and its own
officers to hold elections, and its own officers
! to declare the result, and the fruit of such
defiance to law is binding upon the people OF
! such State and upon Congress, then the
| emf 1rptpn6p6 Government of Ark "a
is Legitimate, and must be recognized as
such, but not otherwise. Those who will
| read the evidence must be satisfied that there
was reign of terror throughout Arkansas
| during the period in which the so-caIled Gar
| land Government was being formed and set
| in motion, entirely inconsistent with full
and fair expression of the will of the people
| on that subject.
The report concludes as follows:
| If these proceedings in Arkansas go unre-
| bul1ed, and are allowed to stand as prece-
! dent to American history, then Constitutions
| may be OverthrOwn and the right of minOri
ties trampled upon by parties for any pur
| pose in times of excitement, and there is nc
| remedy. 1t is revolution legaliZed and Seces
sion made easy. This formula will apply as
well to the National as to the State Govern
| ment The fearful consequences to flow from
such principle incorporated into our law
| need not predict or speculate upon. There
Can NC 10 otdpli1Iy III Tie CGaGe OF III the Ma
| ton on any such basis; no protection or Sc
| curity for minorities or protection to liberty
| In this case every form of constitutional and
statute laws was violated. The American
people cannot indorse the result.
Mr.. Ward then proposes the following
resolution:
| Res0IUed, That James Brooks, having been by
| the people of Arkansas elected to the Office OF
| Governor of said State, under the Constitution Of
1865, for the period of four years ending in Janu
| ary 1877, and said Constitution never having
| been legally overturned or abrogated and being
still in force is the lawful Governor of said State
| of Arkansas.