St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-02-19
Arkansas. and Judge Poland's Report.

O~N~~N~~
Our readers already know that the
congressional Committee sent to iuvtS-
ti"atc into ARKANSAS affairs of which
Judge Poland was chairman reported
adversely to any interference by Con
gresS The President took ii different
view of the matter. and sent Il special
message To Congress in which he urged
| the reinstatement of Gov. Brooks.
We gave this message last week. Be
low we give the nuh of the majority re
port of the committee. undouhtcdly
written 10y Judge Poland. There WAS
also IL minority report 10y Mr.. Ward of
Illinois
The new constitution We regard aS
republican III form. and in many re-
>prct> IN improvement upon that of
iS,j-. The committee ar, satisfied that
the convention 20 frame the constitution
and the constitution itself We're voted
for and are satisfactory to the majority
of the voters and people OF the state.
The officers were elected 10y il majority
of the Votes east. and We think 10y Il
ma loritl ut the votes in the state. The
condition ct the state has been ;i>
peaceful since the new government WI>
: inauguIatcd is il ever has been. Acts
of Violence have been very few indeed.
/ II i alleged that this l. all bcr.lu>c
/ they Hrc now under congressional in
vest cation. and on their good behavior.
/ The committee believe the mass of the
/ people on both sides are. inclined to
peace and good government. and To
allow all the enjoy mcnt> of their legal
rights. But there is Il class of men,
the outgrovth of the former state oi
>ociety. who delight III disturbing and
/ drpriving the col"rcd people and The
northern people of their rights. These.
strained. This class OF men. together
with the general custom of carrlim
deadly Weapons (auothcr legacy of bar
hariSm.) are the real causes ut violence
and blood shed. The changes caused
10y wal. giving freedom and political
equality t" the colorrd people. are not
we'll rcli~hed 10y the Southern people
J bat most of them would do nothing Ia
disturb them. But the class to which
We have alluded feel that they may
invade the rights of colorcd men. cS-
peciallN in any political quarrel. and
that their otfcnScS will bc winkcd at.
! We are satisfied that the true prosperity
of these Southern states depends more
on inst and stern dealing by them with
this lawlts> class of men than any 9TH
cr raII>,'. A. to the future peace and
quiet of the state. the enforcement of
the laws and protection of lif" and
property. Arkansas, probably. presents
no different condition from that of the
other cotton states. whose political con-
ir"l has passed INTO the hands of the
class who ruled before the war.
We are asked to recommend that the
national government shall declare in
some form that the new constitution
has not suspended that of ISIS. but
: thar the old one j. still the true and
fundamental law of the state. and that
Mr.. Brooks. who doubtless WAS elected.
ought To have been declared GOV
rruui of the state. ANA that the govern
mcmi will support and uphold him a>
the lawful governor of the stale. You
committee will take IL" time To give
thriI views of the trur relations and
duties. and of the general and state
, gnNclImcnt. Questions of great deli
cacy arise in dealing with them The
| people of every state have the right to
make their own constitution to >uit
/ themselves. provided il hr republican
in form and in harmony with the con
Stitution of the | uitrd States and the
a'ionHl government has not the aIi-
/ thoritN to deprive them of that right.
I Here We have the ease OF Il state hay
ing Il constitution republican in form
adopted and ratified hN Il lal~e majori-
~ "t its people. manned 10y officers of
THEN choice, and going forward with
reasonable quiet and peace. Your com
mittcc cannot find any solid ground on
which to stand Ia say the general gov
eminent can al ought to interfere: and
no amount of irrcgularity in the proc
csScS 10y which this state of things was
brought about furnishes just reason for
doing 81. The committee believe that
upon principles now well established
I'LL these defects and irregularities in
the proceedings must he regarded ~
cured 10y the verdict of the people
The election held for its ratification
WAS under the form of law. and the Of
liccrs who conducted it acted under
appointment and official oaths and al
though we regard all a> detective. how
ever prescribed 10y the convention i'll
stead of the legislature. still we believc
they are entitled to he regarded differ
emily from mere voluntary meetings
held under no prctencr of legal author
| itN. The committee do not recommend
ANY action 10y congress OF 10y ANY de
/ partmcrt OF the general government in
Arkansas.