Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1875 — The Arkansas Investigating Commlttee’s Report. [ARTICLE]

The Arkansas Investigating Commlttee’s Report.

Washuwtoit, Feb. 6. MA/OlilTY REI-ORT. The Select CommUtee’ on Arkansas Adairs conclude their report as follows: The new Constitution we regard as republican in fofm, and in many respects an Improvement upon that of IHttS. 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 a majority of the votes cast, ana we think by a majority 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 good government, and to allow all the enjoyment of their legal rights. But there is a class ot men, the outgrowth of former society, who delight in disturbing and depriving the colored people of their rights. These are yOung men who caanot be restrained. This class of men, together 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 equalitv to the colored t 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 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 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 themselves, provided it be republican in form and in harmony with the C onstitution of the United States, and the National Government has no authority to dep rive 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 entitled 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 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, provide 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 of law is binding 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 Garland Government was being formed and set inmotion, entirely jneone latent with a full and fair expression of the will of the people oh that subject. The report concludes as follows: If these proceedings in Arkansas go unrebuked, and are allowed to stand as a precedent to American history, then Constitutions may be overthrown and the right of minorities trampled upon by parties for any purpose in times of excitement, and there is po remedy. It is revolution legalized and secession made easy. This formula will apply as well to the National as to the State Government. The fearful consequences to flow from such a principle incorporated into our law I need not predict or speculate upon. There can be no stability in the State or in the nation 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 people cannot indorse the result. Mr. Ward then proposes the following resolution: Resolved, 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 January, 1877, and said Constitution never having been legally overturned or abrogated and being still in force, la the lawful Governor of said State of Arkansas.