Year: 1875

WASHtNGTON, Ecu. o.


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
provement upon that of 1868 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 bv ma
jority 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
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, to-
gcther with the general custom of carrying
deadly weapons-anOther legacy of barba-
rism-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
relishcd 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 otfenses will be winked at. We are
satisfied that the true prosperity OF the South
ern States depends more upon just and stern
dealing by them with this lawless class Of
men than any other cause. Arkansas prob
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 Con-
stitution was under form of law, and the
officers who conducted it acted under appoint
ment 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
Of legal authority. The committee do not
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. Po-
land, 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 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
defiance to law is birGing upon the people Of
such State and upon Congress, then the
present pretended Government Of Arkansas
is legitimate, and must be recognized as
such, but not otherwise. Those who will
read the evidence must be satisfied that there
was a 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 60 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
mcnt. The fearful consequences to flow from
such principle incorporated into our law l
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 Sc
curity for minorities or protection to liberty.
In this case every form of constitutional and
statute laws was violated. The American
people cannot indorse the result


Mr.. Ward then proposes the following
resolution:


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