The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-02-18
Report Of the Arkansas Investigating
Committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.
MAJORITY REPORT

| 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
proyement upon that of 1865 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
| 1ority 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 cam
not be restrained. This class Omen. to-
gether with the general custom of carrying
deadly weapons-another legacy of barbarism
ARE the real causes Of violence and
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 offenses will be winked at. We are
satisfied that the true prosperity of the South
en 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,
z The people of every State have the right to
make their own Constitution to suit them
selves, provided it be republican in form and
IN 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 Constitution was under form of law.
ana the officers who conducted it acted under |
appointment 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-
utied TO be regarded differently from mere
legal authority. The committee do not rec |
ommend 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. Pc.
land, Scudder, Sayler and Sloss.
MINORITY REPORT.
The other member of the committee
Ward, of ll!inois-presents his views in |
opposition to the report. In his report
he says:
II banditn 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 |
Omcers to hold elections, and its own officers |
70 declare the result, and the fruit of such de.
nance Of law is binding upon the people of I
such State and upon Congress, then the pres
ent pretended Government of Arkansas il Is. |
climate, and must be recognized IA snch. |
but not otherwise. Those who viii read The
evidence must be satisfied that there was a |
reign Of terror throughout Arkansas during /
the period in which the so-called Garland /
Hovefnment was being formed and set in mo-
uon, entirely Inconsistent with q full and fair
subject. '9Sf'' - NOV
The report concludes as follows: t
: Ifathese proceedings In AflsABsaa 90 n,,r "a.
gnked, and are allowed to stand as 4 prece.
dent to American history, then Constitutions
nay be overthrow and the right Of minori-
Ties trampled upon by parties Tor sny. mr..
pose IN ttmea of excitement, and there n M /.
remedy. Ills revolution legalized and eeces-
SION made easy. This formula will apply as
Wen 70 the National rs to the State Govern
nenk Inc FEARFUL consequences to fowl from +
s sc9 principle Incorporated into our law /
can Be NO stability III the state 81 inlthe ma
lon on any euch basis; no protection 81 se-
curly f0r minorities or protection q liberty.
Ia this case every form Of constitutfonal sf6 ii
statute laws was violated. The Amssican peo-s
PIE csnnot ind0Fse the result U. ~
/. Ar. Ward then proposes the following
resolution: H
!. RssosSsd, That james Brooks, hayinr been 81.
- people Of Arkaasas elscts1 8 ~ ~ ~ &