Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-12

the manner IN Wnlc1 A1r. POianQ VIII
stand up to his own report. He has de-
clared to-day, since the message was
read, that he will not modify or sur
render his position. The subject is not
expected to be brought up in the house
for q week. II the house shall, by an
emphatic vote, declare that there is no
authority for the Federal government to
interfere with the State government OF
Arkansas, and public opinion shall be
manifested with equal decision, IL is
possible that the President may hesitate
to pursue the revolutionary and bloody
programme he has marked out for him
self as bis road to absolute power.
Cincinnati Enquirerl
TIE President sends another message
to the senate. He felt compelled to as
sune the pressure, to shoulder the re-
spOnsibility, and he announces to con-
gress that Brooks was legally elected
governor; that the new constitution was
carried by fraud and is unconstitutional.
Having indicated what he wishes con-
gress to do, he asks congress to do it.
He rests uneasily under the RESPONSE
bility. He wishes to shift it. The peo-
pie Of Arkansas are doing very well with
that State, and are getting on peace
ably. Congress should let Arkansas
alone.
Chicago Tribunel
President Grant sent message to the
senate yesterday with number OF doc
Iments relating to affairs in Arkansas.
The President says all the testimony
shows that Brooks was elected Cover
nor in 1872; that he was unlawfully de-
prived of possession of his office; and
that the new constitution, under which
Garland now holds, was carried by
fraud, violence and revolutionary pro.
ceedings. We do not know on what
testimony the President bases his Opin-
ion. That is presumably contained in
the documents sent to the senate. But
we do know that all the testimony be-
fore the people goes to establish the
validity of the Garland government.
1t may be that the position of the Presi-
dent is technically correct; yet we be-
Iieve that interference with the consti-
tuted government of Arkansas, which
has brought prosperity and peace to that
unhappy State, would be contrary to
broad and enlightened public policy.
NsSF Orleans Times Special from Washing
ton
The Presidents message, taking
OpPb5lLlOu W IL1S 1C-
port of the committee on Arkansas af-
fairs, is considered by Republicans TO be
a direct discourtesy to the committee,
and has caused much feeling among
both political parties. Blaiae's friends
President.
Chicago Times.l
The most infamous proposition ever
made by e President of the United
States to congress was contained in Mr..
Grants special message to the senate on
Arkansas affairs, which was read yes
terday. Mr.. Grant wants congress to
relieve him Of any responsibility regard
ing affairs in that State, and to recog-
nize the Brooks faction as being right
fully in control of the State government.
II this was question upon which two
honest men could differ, such a recon-
mendatiOn might find palliation. But
unfortunately for Mr.. Grants reputa-
ton, it is a question that has but one
side. The means by which the people
of Arkansas reformed their constitution
and placed men OF integrity, who were
in harmony with the public, in official
position, while they may not have been
wholly constitutional, were certainly
warranted by precedent and sustained
by law. These means were net revolu-
tionary, although even revolution is
sustained by the best legal authorities in
cases of extreme emergency. The peo-
pie, through their representatives,
exercised an undoubted right in
reforming their constitution, and in
electing officers TO administer the laws
under that constitution after it had been
duly and legally ratified. There has
been no violence in the State since the
present state of affairs was inaugurated,
a fact that shows most conclusively that
the existing government is the choice of
the people and is being administered to
their entire satisfaction. Mr.. Grants
presumption that any responsibility in
Arkansas affairs rests upon him, is SIM
ply absurd. He is no more responsible
for the condition of affairs in Arkansas
than he is for the condition Of affairs in
Illinois or Wisconsin. Only when q
state of insurrectiOn exists is the Presi-
dent empowered to interfere in the af-
fairs of a State, and then only on re-
quest of the governor or legislature of
the commonwealth. In such case only
does any responsibility rest upon the
President, and his assumption of re-
sponsibility, under the circumstances, is
a piece Of rare impertinence that should
be rebuked by congress. For these rea-
sons, the Times asserts that Mr.. Grants
proposition is nothing short Of infam-
Gus.
New York Tribupe.I
The President differs with the con-
gressional committee on Arkansas af-
fairs. He also differs with the ablest
congressman in the country on the le-
gality OF the adoption Of the new con-
stitution of Arkansas, and talks vaguely
of intimidation and revolution in refer
ring to the most peaceable election that
ever TOOK place in that State. In fact,
this new message of the President will
fully meet the views and expectations
of Senator Clayton and Chief-J Justice
Mcclure, while it will receive the ap-
proval of hardly anyone else who has
given the subject moments thought.
Little Rock Gazette.l
In 1872 President Grant sent regi-
ment of infantry and battery of artil-
lery here to intimidate the Arkansas
Conservatives from any attempt to in
augurate BroOks, whom they believed
was lawfully elected governor; and 10
add the moral weight OF the sympathy
and backing of the Federal government
TO the side of Clayton and Hadley, 1t
comes with bad grace now for the
President in his message to charge that
the Garland government, sanctioned by
a popular majority Of seventy-five thou
sand and fifty thousand, on two occa-
siOns, was the product of intimidation,
unlawfulness and revolutionary" action.
Shall Clayton and company have three
chances to make q governor of Arkan-
sas, and the people not one? Shall con-
gress become the mere counter in and
out of governors of States at the Presi-
dents nod and beck?
New York World.I
The message of Mr.. Grant about Ar
kansas is one of the most amazing and
ridiculous things he has done yet. In
the case of Louisiana he had pretext, a
flimsy pretext to be sure, in the inaction
of congress. In the case Of Arkansas he
had no pretext at all. Let anbOdy read
the message itself, and his natural con-
clusion must be, either that the man who
wrote it was drunk, or that the man was
crazy. The immediate effect Of it will
be, if the discussion in congress allows it
to have any effect at all, to renew the
turmoil in Arkansas, which has once
been thoroughly, and we ali hoped finally
allsyed. The final effect of it, so far as
its author is concerned, must be to drive
another nail into his coffin.
New York Herald
The closing sentence Of this extraOrdi-
nary document conveys a clear intima-
ton, or threat, that il congress should
follow the advice of the com mmittee sent