The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-05-11
The ku-kLux LAW.
Proclamation of the President.
By the President OF the United States of America:
A PROCLAMATION.

w ASi1lNGloN, Dec r
By the President OF the United States of America:
PROCLAMATION.
The act of Congress entitled Gan act 10 en-
force the provisions of the 18th amendment to
the Constitution of the United States and for
other purposes approved April 10Th, in the
wear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and seventv-one, being a law Of extraordinary
hubble importance, | consider it my duty to is
s,le This nv proclamation. calling the attention
of the people of the United States thereto. en-
Joining good citizens, and especially upon pub
liz officers. to be Jealous i'll the enforcement
thereof. and warning all persons to abstain
from committing any of the acts thereby pro
hibited. The law of Congress apples to AL
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
chiefly By persistent violations OF the rights OF
citizens of the United States by combinations
Of laWless and disaiiected persons in certain
localities lately the theatre of insurrection and
military conflict, do particularly eXhort the
people of those parts of the country to suppress
all such combinations by their voluntary efforts
through all the agency OF local laws, and TO
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 imposed upon the Executive
by the act OF Congress TO Which public opinion
is now called, and reluctant to call into exercise
terred upon me, except III eases OF imperative
necessity, | do, nevertheless, deem il my duty
TO make known that i will not hesitate to en-
haust tire power thus vested in the Executive
whenever ana wherever it shall become nece7-
sary to 10 so to- the purpose Of securing to all
citizens of the United states the peaceful ENJOY
! mcnt of the rights guaranteed TO them by the
| Constitution and laws. 1t is my earnest wish
| that peace and Il cheerful obedience to the law
may prevail throughout the land, and that I'll
| traces of oar late unhappy civil strife may pc
speedily removed. These ends can be easily
| reached by acquiescence in the results of the
| conflict now written in our Constitution, and by
J the .ue and proper enforcement of equal, just
| AMI impartial laws IN every part of our country.
| The failure of local communities ID furnish
such means for the attainment of the results 80
earnestly desired, imposes upon the National
| Government the duty of putting forth all 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 be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this the Sd day
of May, in the year of our Lord eighteen
| hundred and seventy-one, and of the indie
| pendence of the United States the ninety-titth.
| (Signed) u. 5. GRANT.
I by the President.
| HAMILTON FISH, Secretary Of STATE.