Year: 1875

MAJORITY REPORT.


The Select Committee on Arkansas At
fairs 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 by ma
iOrity 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
new Government was inaugurated as it has
ever been. The mass of people on both sides
are inclined to peace and COED government
and to allow all the enjoyment of their legal
rights. But there is a class of men, the out
growth of former society, who delight in dis
turbing and dcpriving 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 carrying deadly
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 alluded
feel that they may invade the rights OF colored
men, especially in any political quarrel, and
that their offenses will be winked at. We are





ern 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 condition 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
ITy,fN
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 IL 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 regard to the State Government in Arkan-
sas.


This report is signed by Messrs. Poland,
Scudder, Sayler and Sloss.


MINORITY REPORT.


The other member of The committee
Ward, of lllinois-presents his views in
opposition to the report. In his report
he says:


II banditti or a mob Of armed men may
take possession Of State, depOse its officers,
arrest its Judges, close its courts, intimidatc
its people through violence and murder,
provide its own way for holding and its own
officers to hold elections, aud its own officers
to declare the result, and the fruit Of such de-
fiance 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, 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 Garland
tion, entirely inconsistent with a full and fair
expression Of the will of the people on that
subject.


The report concludes as follows:


II these pro, eedings. in Arkansas 90 unre-
buked, and are allowed to stand as prece-
dent in American history, then Constitutions
may be overthrown and the right of minori-
ties trampled upon by parties for any purpose
in times of excitement, and there is no rem
made easy. This formula will apply
as well to the National as to the State Gov
ernment. The fearful consequences to flow
rom such principle Incorporated into our
law | need not predict or speculate upon.
There can be no stability in the State or in
'tho hatloh oh any sucn paslsi no prolectloh
or security for minoTities, or protection to
liberty. In this case every form of constitu-
tlonal and statute laws was violated. The
American people cannot indorse the result


Mr. Ward then proposes the following
resolution:


ResOiUed, That James Brooks, having been by
the people of Arkansas elected to the office OF
Governor Of said State, under the Constitution of
1863 for the period of four years ending in Janu-
AIRY, 1877, and said Constitution never having
been legally overturned or abrogated and being
nf Arla