Year: 1875

sage on Arkansas affairs:


To tie Senate Of the United States:


Herewith have the honor to send, IN
accordance with a resolution of the Ser,
ate of tie Sd inst, all the information !
my possession, not heretofore furnished
relating to affairs in the State of Arkan
sas. | will venture to express the 0pin-
ion that all the testimony shows that, in
the election of 1872, Joseph Brooks was
lawfully elected Governor of that State
that he has been lnlawfuly deprived OF
the possession of his Office since that
time; that in 1874 the Constitution OF
the State was, by violence, intimida-
ton, and revolutionary proceedings, over
thrown, ard new Constitution adopted.
and new State Government established,
The proceedings, If permitted to stand,
practically ignore all rights of minorilies
! in all the States Also, what Is there TO
/ prevent each of the States recently re-
admitted to Federal relations from chang
| ing their Constitutions and violating
their pledges If this action in Arkansas
| is acquiesced in. | respectfully submit
whether precedent so dangerous to the
stability of State Government, if not of
National Government also, should be
recognized by Congress. / earnestly ask
that Congress will take definite action in
this matter to relieve the Executive from
acting upon questions which should be
decided by the legislative branch of the
Government.


iSigned.) L. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 8, 1875.


After the adjournment of Congress, on
Monday, caucus of Republican Senators
was held, on the subject of Arkansas at-
fairs but no harmonious action was had.
There is evidently diversity of opinion
about the proper course to pursue
The Indianapolis Journal, Of the sth,
before the Presidents recommendation
was published, said-"The report of the
Congressional committee to investigate
affairs in Arkansas, is highly commenda-
bic for the moderate tone and the tempe
rate expression by which 1t is marked.
That spirit of iawlessness has prevailed
and does prevail to considerable ext ut
in that State, and that political outrages
have been committed, are facts known 10
the whole country, but the committee are
not of the opinion that the condition of
affairs would be bettered by the present
interference of the General Government.
and do not recommend such action. The
committee says:


"The mass of people on both sides are
inclined to peace and good government,
aud To allow ell the enjoyment of their
legal rights, but there is a class OF men,
the Outgrowth of a former state of soci-
etv. who delight in disturbing and de-
priving the colored people and the North
ern people of their rights. These are
Young men who cannot be restrained.
This class of men. together with the gen.
eral custom of carrying deadly weapons.
another legacy of barbarism, are the real
causes of violence and bloodshed. The
changes caused by the war, giving free
dom 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 NAV invade the rights of the colored
men, especially in any political quarrel,
| and that their otfenses will be winkcd at
We are satisfied that the true prosperity
of the Southern States depends more up
on Just and stern dealing by them with
this lawless class of men than any other
cause"


Admitting that there is a large class of
men in every Southern State, enough to
control public sentiment. who are not in
favor of peace and good government"
and who are determined that the negro
shall not enjoy equal political rights,
and admitting, further, that the local au-
thorities either cannot or will not pre-
serve order and enforce the law. the diff
cult question arises as to how such a case
should be treated. That is the problem
which the Republican party has had to
deal with for years past, the alternative
constantly presented being either to allow
these Southern bandits To trample on the
laws and kill and murder with impunity
or to protect life and preserve order by
Federal interference.


The main significance, however. of the
committees report Is in its recognition
of Governor Garland and the existing
State government. They are of the opin
ion that the present State officers received
majority ofthe votes cast in the election
and of the whole number of legal votes
in the State. That there were some ir-
re gularities in the formation Of the new
constitution, and in the first election
held under it, the committee does mo-
doubt; but it 10 believed, nevertheless
that both results express the sentiments
of majority Of the people, and the com
mittee therefore recommends no interfer
ence with the present State government
which it regards as not only de Jacto bu
de jure.


In no place more than Washington ar
the mutations Of fortune exemplified
Al preseut there is in the National Capt.