The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-03-07
Violations Of the Civil Rights Law

/ The President sent to the Senate {
message insanswer to a resolution re
IIquesting him to inform that body i
any violations of the Civil Rights Bill
have come to his knowledge, and if SC
|Iwhatsteps, if any, have been taken by
him to enforce the law, and punish
1.-THE offenders. The. President says.
"Not being cognizants Of any cases
which come within the province of the
resolution, in order that the inquiry
might have the fullest range. i re.
ferred it to the. head of thesseveral ex-
ecutiveS departments, whose reports
are herewith communicated for the
information of the Senate. With the
exception of the cases mentioned in
the reports of the Secretary of War
and The Attorney General, mo viola
tons, real Or supposed, of the act to
which the resolution refers have at any
time come to the knowledge Of the
Executive. The steps taken in those
cases to enforce the law appear in
those reports. = / l. : y 40 L.
Secretary Stanton reports but three
violations of the law, as follows:
"First, the case. of DIR. W atson, for
the murder of a negro in the depart
ment of Virginia, who, after his dis
charge by civil tribunal, was put on
trial, before a amilitary. commission,
which was Dissolved on the ground of
| the want of jurisdiction under the de-
cision Of the Supreme Courts second,
the case of William Fincher, person
of color, sentenced to the chain gang
| in Georgia as a ,vagabond, which, was
referred to the Attorney General, and
| is now under his direction and charge !;
third, the case of Perkins, in the State
81. Texas, where protection to a colored
man from alleged illegal acts under
color of civil authority WAS afforded
by the Assistant Commissioner of the
|Freedmenps Burean, and his action ap-
proved b. the War Department
The heads of other departments
report no violations of the law. but
the Attorneys General says that case
has been referred to him by the Sec
rotary of War; which may involve q
violation of the provision Of the act
which forbids a DISCRIMINATION against
people of color, under the penal laws
of the, States. It is, the case Of William
Fincher, q person, of color, i'm the
State of Georgia. II appears that the
Attorney General addressed a letter
to the United States Attorneyyfor Geo /
gfa, instructing him to, inquire into
and Immediately report the substantial
circumstances of this case, the law and
practice Of Georgia in full touching
the matter, and q. full abstract of the
record Of the prosecution throughout,
stating particularly whether, and if SO
when and how the case has been adj
Indicated by the highest appellate
court OF. the State having jurisdiction
OF the matter. ssY on will understand, y
he adds, ssthat unless your report shall
show that it is entirely impraeticable,
the object OF the President is to have
the mater brought forward for adin
dication by the S1preme Court of the |
United States No report has get
been received from the attorney, owing
TO the absence of material Witnesses.
The Attorney General says he Is not
advised Of any other case which re-
quires Executive action under thoseI
sections which have been enumerated, |
or under any other section Of the Civ |
y Rights BIZ. asa.sg sssts i;ss