The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-05-16


Tn Q Presidents Proclamation tor
-ihe Enforcement Of tho ka.lxlsx.
Law. $4 r.;
The following proclamation was is.
sued on the 4th inst, by the. President
of the United States -ssa,5. &
By the. Presidsnt Of the United State, q
America: =. ".~. -
PROCLAMATION. ~ 81
The act of Congress, entitled San act
to enforce the provisions of the Four
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, and for other pur-
poses," approved April 20, ADD 1871,
being law of extraordinary public. im-
portance, 1 consider it my duty to issue
this nv proclamation calling the atten.
ton Of the people of the United States
thereto enjoinins upon all good citi-
zens, and especially upon all public of
ficers, to be Jealous in the enforcement
thereof, and warning all persons to alb
stain from committing any Of the. acts
thereby prohibited.
This law of Congress applies to all
parts of the United States, and will be
enforced everywhere, to the extent OF
the powers vested in the Executive
But inasmuch as the necessity therefor
is we'll known to have been caused chief
ly by persistent violations of the rights
of citizens Of the United States, BY COM
bination of .lawless and disafected- pc,
sons in certain localities lately The thea
tire of insurrection, and military conflict;
do particularly exhort the people OF
those parts of the country to suppress
all such combinations by their, .ewm vol
untary efforts through the agency Of 10.
cal laws, and to maintain the rights, OF
all citizens of the United StatesS and to
secure to all such citizens the equal pro
lection of the laws. Jf ~ = 81: "a
: Fully sensible of the responsibility
imposed upon the Executive by the act
of Congress to which pnblic attention is
now called, and reluctant to >calf into
exercise any of the extraordinary pow'
ers thereby conferred upon me, except
in cases of imperative necessity, l do
nevertheless, deem it my duty Ito make
known that will not hesitate to exhaust
the powers thus vested in the Executive
whenever and wherever it shall become
necessary to do so for the purpose o
securing to all: citizens of the United
States the peaceful enjoyment of the
rights guaranteed to them by the Con
stitution ar, laws. q UoE = -. "aef-''
1t is my earnest wish that peace ant
cheerful obedience to law may prevail
throughout the land, and that all trace
Of our late unhappy civil strife may b
speedily removed. These ends can b
easily reached by acquiescence in the re
suits of the conflict, now written in OH
Constitution, and by the due and prop
er enforcement of equal, just, and Impair
tial laws in every part ofour country
The failure of local communities t.
furnish such means for the attainmen
of results so earnestly desired, impose
upon the National Government the dut
of putting forth all its energies for tn
protection Of its citizens of every rae
and color, and for the restoration Q
peace and order throughout the. ehtir
country. go. - 10 - -. q. s1
In testimony whereof Ihave hereunt
set my hand and caused the seal of th
United Stat IS to be affixed.
I Done at the city of Washington, thi
-. third day Of May, in the year
r.. s | our Lord 1871, and OF the indt
~ pendence Of the United States th
ninety fifth. u. S. GRANT.
BY the President: - --'' y y
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.