So how the Arkansas State legislature and Governor failed to meet United States Congressional standard is beyond me. I am sure that the State Constitution of the time in Arkansas which had been rewritten in 1864 was in conformity with the Federal Government desires. And I am sure that within the legislature that radification of the 14th Amendment may have been questionable but probably would have been passed.
This "protection of property" excuse had to be in responce to the rise of such organizations as the Mississippi "red shirts" and the K.K.K. in these states. Because the State Government of those southern states could not have been "in rebellion" as they had no independent army apart from the occuping Union Army. So the statement had to have referred to the people as a whole.