Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-05-18
Proclamation of the President.

WAsHrSeros. Nav 4.-The proclama-
tion of the President OF The United States.
issued to day, on the enforcement of the
provisions of the Ku-klux law by the ex
eicise of all the power conferred upon the
Executive. il necessary, IS in the follow
ing words:
"The act of Congress entitled an act to
enforce the provisions oi the Fourteenth
amendment 10 the Constitution of the
Cuited States and other purposes ap
proved April 30. 1871. being IA law of ex-
traOrdinany public importance, consider
IL my duty To issue this my proclamation
calling the attention of the people OF the
United States thereto, enjoining upon nj.
good cit zens and especially upon public
officers 10 he sealnus in tho enforcement
thereof. and warning all persJns to ab
stain front committing any acts thereby
prohibited. The law OF Congress applies
tO all paris Of the United States, and viii
be enforced everywhere TO the extent Of
the powers vested i'm the Executive Bnt.
nasmuch as The necessity thereof is we'll
known io have been caused chiefly by
persistent violation of The rights Of citi
zeps of The United States by combiua-
lions of lawless and disaffected persons
IN certain localities lately in a state OF in-
surrec;iOn and military cpunict, do par
iicnlary exhorl the people Oi that part OF
the country to suppress all such combina-
lions by their own voluntary efforts,
through the agency Oi local laws. and 10
maintain the rights OF all citizens OF the
United States, and to secure To all such
citizens the equal protection Of The laws
Fully sensible of The responsibility i'm
posed nppu the Executive by the act of
Congress to which public opinion is now
called. and reluctant to call into exercise
any extraordinary powers thereby con-
ferred upun me, except in case of i'm
perative necessity. / do, nevertheless,
deem IL my duty 10 make known that
will not hesitate TO exhibit the power
thus vested in the Executive whenever
it shall DC necessary 10 do SO for the pur
pose Of securing 10 all citizens of The Uni
ted States the peaceful enjoyment of the
rights guaranteed 10 them by the consti-
luiiOns and laws. Al Is my earnest wish
that peace, cheerful obedience 10 law
may prevail throughout the land, and that
AL traces Of our late unhappy civil strife
may be speedily removed. These ends
can be easily reached by acquescence in
the results OF the conflict now written in
our Constitution, and by due and proper
enforcement of equal, just and impartial
laws in every part or our country. The
failure Of local communities To furnish
such means for the attainment of results
so earnestly desired, Imposes upon the
National Government the duty of putting
forth ali its energies for the protection OF
its citizens, OF every race and color, and
for the restoration of peace and order
throughout the entire country.
In testimony whereof have hereunto
SET my hand and caused the seal of the
United States TO he affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this
third day of May. in the year OF our Lcrd
one thousand eight hupdred and seventy
one, and of the independence vi the Uni
ted States the ninety-fourih.
BY the President, L. s. GRANT.
Hamilton Fish Secretary Of State