Year: 1875

of the State has been as peaceful since the
new Government was maugurated 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 can
not be restrained. This class of men, togeth-
er with the general custom of carving dead
ly weapons-another legacy of barbarism-
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 al
luded feel that they may invade the rights of
colored men, especially in any political quar-
rel, and that their offenses will be winked
at. We are satisfied that the true prosperity
of the Southern States depends more upon
just and stern dealing by them with this
lawless class. of men than any other cause.
Arkansas probably presents no different con-
dition 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, 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,
and 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-
titled to be regarded differently from mere
voluntary meetings held under no pretense
1nO0I onthnritU
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. Poland,
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 a 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 de-
iance of law is binding upon the people of
such State and upon Congress, then
the present pretended Government of Arkan-
sas is legitimate, and must be recognized as
SUCH, UuG uOG ObllcTWlSc. AlUOS6 Wl6 Will
read the evidence must be satisfied that there
was q reign of terror throughout Arkansas
during the period in which the so-called 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-
buked, 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 no
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 be no stability in the State or in the ma
ton on any such basis; no protection or
security for minorities or protection TO liberty.
In this case every form of constitutional and
statute laws was violated. The American peo-
pie cannot indorse the result.


Mr. Ward then proposes the following



ReSoIUed, That James Brooks, having been by
the people of Arkansas elected to the Office of
Governor of said State, under the Constitution OF
1868, 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,