Year: 1874

NUMBER 33.


the General Assembly of the State, which


on the 18th Of the same month, passed
an act providing for q Convention tc


frame new Constitution. Pursuant to


this act, and at an election held on the


30th of June, 1874, the Convention was


approved, and delegates were chosen


thereto, who assembled on the 14th OF


last July and formed a new Constitution,


the schedule of which provided for the


election of an entire new set of State


officers, in manner contrary to the then


sxisting election laws of the State. On


the 18th of October, 1874, this Constitu-


tion, as therein provided, was sub


mitted to the people for their


approval or rejection, and according


to the election returns was approved by


large majority of those qualified to vote


thereon, and at the same election persons


were chosen to fill all the State, county


and township Offices.


The Governor elected in 1872 for the


term of four years, turned over his Office


to the governor chosen under the new
Constitution, whereupon the Lieutenant


Governor, also elected in 1872 for term
of four years, claiming to act as govern
or and alleging that such proceedings by
which the new Constitution was made
and new set of officers elected, were un-
constitutional, illegal and void, called
upon me as provided in Section of the
Constitution, to protect the State against
domestic violence. AS Congress is now
investigating the political affairs of Ar
kansas, have declined to interfere with
the subject. Executive interference with
the affairs of State is repugnant to the
public and to the feeling Of those who
from their official capacity must be used
in such interpOsition, and to him or those
who may direct it. Unless most clearly
on the side of the law such interference
becomes a crime. With the law to sup
port it, is is condemned without hear
ing. l desire therefore that all necessity
for executive direction in local affairs
may become unnecessary and obsolete.


invite the attention not only of
Congress, but of the people of the
United States, to the causes and effects of
these unhappy questions. Is there not
disposition on one side to magnify
wrongs and Outrages, and on the other
side to belittle them or justify them
If public opinion could be directed to
public survey of what is, and to rebuke
wrong and aiding the proper authorities
in Furnishing it, better state of feeling
would be inculcated, and the sooner we
would have that peace which would
leave the State free indeed to regulate
their own domestic affairs. believe on
the part of our citizens of the Southern
States-the better part of them-there is
a disposition to be law-abiding, and to
do no violence, either to individuals or
the laws existing; but do they do right
in ignoring the existence of violence and
bloodshed in resistance to constituted
authority? / sympathize with their
my power to relieve them, acknowledge
ing that in some instances they have
had most trying Governments to live un-
der, and very oppressive ones in the
way of taxation for nominal improve
ments, not giving benefits equal to the
hardships imposed. But can they pro-
claim themselves entirely excusable for
this condition? They can not. Violence
has been rampant in some localities, and
has, further, been justified or denied by
those who could have prevented it.


The theory is raised that there is to be
no more interference OH the part of the
General Government to protect citizens
Within State where the State authori-
ties fail to give protection. This is a
great mistake. While / remain Execu-
tive all the laws of Congress and the pro-
visions of the Constitution, including the
amendments added thereto, will be en-
forced with vigor, without regret that
they should have added one jot or little
to the Executive duties and powers Let
there be firmness in the discussion of
Southern questions the advocates of
both or all political parties giving honest,
truthful reports of occurrences, or de-
nouncing the wrong and upholding the
right, and soon all will be WE'LL Under
existing conditions the negro votes the
Republican ticket because he knows his |
friends are of that party; many a good
citizen votes the opposite, not because he
agrees with the great principles of state,
which separate parties, but because gen.
orally he is opposed to negro rule. This
is most delusive cry. Treat the negro
as citizen and voter, as he is, and must
remain, and soon the parties will be de-
vided, not on the color line, but on prin-
ciples. Then we shall have no complaint
of sectional interferences.


The report of the Attorney General
contains valuable recommendations re-
lating to the administration of justice in
the courts of the United States, to which
/ invite your attention. l respectfully |
suggest to Congress the propriety of in
creasing the number of Judicial Districts |
in the United States to eleven, the pres
ent number being nine, and the creation
of two additional judgeships. The terri
tory to be traversed by the Circuit
Judges is so great, and the business Of
the Courts so steadily increasing, that 1t
is growing more and more impossible for
them to keep up with the business re-
quiring their attention. Whether this
would involve the necessity of adding
two more Justices of the Supreme Court
to the present number, submit to the
judgment of Congress.


The attention of Congress is invited to
the report of the Secretary Of the In
terror, and to the legislation asked for by
him. The domestic interests of the peo-
pie are more intimately connected with
this department than with either of the
other departments of the Government.
Its duties have been added to from time
to time, until they have become 30 oner-
Gus that without the most perfect system
and order it will be impossible for any
Secretary of the Interior to keep trace Of
all the official transactions having his
sanction and done in his name, and for
which he is held personally responsible.


The policy adopted for the manage
ment Of the Indian affairs, known as the
peace policy, has been adhered to with
most beneficial results 1t is hoped that