UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, EASTERN DIVISION. Ꮮ Ꭼ Ꭲ Ꭲ Ꭼ Ꭱ FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING Communication from General Hancock, respecting assistance from the government to the Union Pacific railroad, eastern division. JUNE 8, 1868.-Referred to the Committee on the Union Pacific Railroad and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, June 5, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to send herewith a communication of June 4 from General Hancock, respecting assistance from the government for the furtherance of the enterprise of the Union Pacific railroad, easteru division. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC, SIR: Having observed the favorable report of the Committee on Military Affairs in reference to the extension of the Union Pacific railroad, eastern division, I have the honor to state that from my knowledge of the facts concerning that road, which is probably as intimate and extensive, and, as regards actual experience, in some respects, more minute as to details, than that of those who have spoken favorably of that enterprise, I feel at liberty to offer the weight of my testimony in a few words, believing that the interests of the government may be benefited thereby. I commanded the department of the Missouri, extending as far west as the western line of Colorado, last year during an Indian war, and from my personal experience obtained while I was on the plains with respect to the transportation of troops and supplies by the railroad in question, as well as its great importance in connection with the settlement of that country, I feel that I can speak in strong language as to the necessity of this road being extended as rapidly as practicable to Fort Wallace, where I have lately been. It should then be completed to Fort Lyon on the Arkansas as soon as possible by the most favorable route; thence to Fort Union and the Rio Grande. I consider any assistance given by the government to this enterprise as most wisely and advantageously applied. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General J. M. SCHOFIELD, U. S. A., Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. A resolution of the House of the 2d instant, transmitting Major General A. C. Gillem's report of the recent election in Arkansas, under the reconstruction laws. MAY 4, 1868.-Referred to the Committee on Reconstruction and letter ordered to be printed MAY 7, 1868.-Ordered that the accompanying papers be printed. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of resolution of the House of Representatives of the 2d instant, directing me to communicate a statement of the number of votes cast for and against the State constitution, at the recent election in Arkansas; and in answer thereto I respectfully submit herewith Brevet Major General A. C. Gillem's report of said election and accompanying documents, which contain the information called for. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. U. S GRANI', General. HEADQUARTERS 4TH MILITARY DISTRICT, (MISS. AND ARK.,) : GENERAL Ihave the honor to submit the following report of the election held in the State of Arkansas on the adoption of the constitution framed by the convention assembled in accordance with the acts usually known as the military reconstruction laws. When I assumed command of the fourth military district, January 9. 1868, in compliance with General Orders No. 104, from headquarters of the army, 1867, the constitutional convention of Arkansas was in session; and shortly after my arrival a messenger (Hon. Asa Hodges, a member of the convention) arrived bearing a resolution of the convention requesting me to authorize the State treasurer to advance seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) to defray the expenses of the convention. The act of March 23, 1867, making it imperative that the convention should "provide for the levy and collection of such taxes on the property in the State as may be necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this act," I authorized the State treasurer to advance fifty thousand dollars, ($50,000,) to be replaced when the tax levied in compliance with the above section should be collected. In taking this action I had two motives in view; first, to facilitate the transaction of the business for which the convention was called together; secondly, to extend the time allowed for the collection of the tax, and thereby render it less burdensome to the people, already greatly impoverished. In connection with this subject attention is respectfully invited to the corre spondence herewith accompanying, and marked Appendix A, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7, and 8, as explanatory of my action in the premises. In order to avoid delay in holding the election on the constitution framed by the convention, early in February I directed instructions to be prepared for General Smith, commanding sub-district of Arkansas, as to the manner of conducting the election. These instructions (see Appendix B, No. 4) were for warded by mail to General Smith on the 12th of February. On the same day a telegram was received from General Smith (Appendix B, No. 5) informing me that the constitution and election ordinance had been adopted by the conven tion on the 11th of February, and that March the 15th had been fixed upon as the day for the beginning of the election in which it was to be submitted to the people. Fearing that the limited time allowed would be insufficient to enable me to make the necessary arrangements for securing a thorough and impartial expres sion of the will of the people, General Smith was telegraphed (see Appendix B, No. 6) to know if the time could not be extended a few days. In reply, General Smith informed me (see Appendix B, No. 7) that the time for holding the election was fixed by the constitution itself, and therefore could not le changed. Instructions were at once issued by telegraph (see Appendix B. No. 9, to which especial attention is called) directing General Smith to use every exertion in organizing the boards of registration for revision of the registration provided for in section 7 of the act of July 19, 1867, and holding the election provided for in section 5, March 23, 1867. For information as to the manner in which these orders were carried out atte tion is invited to the letter of General Smith of February 14, (Appendix B No. 14,) and his instructions, (Appendix B, No. 15.) On the 14th of February, General Orders No. 7, from headquarters fourth mil tary district, providing for the submission of the constitution to the registered voters of Arkansas was issued, for copy of which see Appendix B, 16. I will be seen by this order, paragraph 9, that "no registrar, judge, or clerk wil be permitted to become a candidate for office at the election for which he served as commissioner." Attention is invited to this paragraph from the fact that fraud is charged on account of some of the commissioners of election having been candidates for State and county offices, (see Appendix B, No. 29,) the ele tions for which were held at separate and distinct polls, the proceedings at which were not under the control of the registrars, (see Appendix B, No. 20,) and in fact it would have been difficult to have found men of the necessary qualif cations to act as officers of the election and who could have taken the required oath. Application was made to have the time allowed for the revision of the regis tration extended beyond the five days prescribed by law, but, considering the law imperative, the registration was limited to five days, (see Appendix B. No. 32.) Complaint having been made that the troops and agents of the bureau would be used to influence voters, I ordered that while the troops should be held in readiness to enforce order or suppress violence, that they should not be placed in the immediate vicinity of the polls. On the 13th of March the election began as provided for by the constitution and election ordinance. On the afternoon of the 14th instant the following telegram was received from the General-in-chief: WASHINGTON, D. C., March 13, 1868. The last amendatory act passed is now law. It provides that majority of votes actually cast determines adoption or rejection of constitution; also, that the electors may at the same time vote for members of Congress and all the elective officers provided for by said constitution. Major General A. C. GILLEM. U. S. GRANT. The convention having provided for the election of State and county officers separate from those held on the ratification of the constitution, and by voters other than those qualified under the reconstruction act, the second paragraph of the above despatch could not affect the election conducted under the orders of the district commander in Arkansas. The election was held as ordered; but owing to the irregularities of the mail facilities or other means of communication, the returns were not all received until to-day, April 22d, although every endeavor has been made to obtain them. at an earlier day; and to that end special messengers and the telegraph have been liberally used. The following table shows the vote as received from the registrars: |