The Portland daily press., 1874-09-04

y
tions ia Regard to Southern Omsrages.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3--As a results of the
conference held at the War Department at
noon to-day the following was issued this at
ternoon:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, d. c., Sept. 3.
Sr:-Outrages of various descriptions, and
in some cases, atrociouS murders have been
committed in your district, by bodies of armed
men sometimes in disguise, and with view, it
is believed of overawing and illuminating
peaeeable and law abiding citizens, and de-
priving them of the rights guaranteed to them
by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, Your attention is directed to an act of
Congress passed April 8, 1866. entitled au act
to protect all persons in the United States in
their civil rights and to furnish means for
their vindication, and to another passed April
80, entitled an act to enforce the provisions of
the 14th amendment to the constitution of the
United States and for other purposes; also to
one passed May 30, 1870, entitled au act to en-
force the right of citizens to vote i'll several
States of this Union, and for other purpose
which with their amendments, make these
deeds of violence and blood an offence within
the jurisdiction of the general government
consider it my duty, in view of these Cir
| cumstances, to instruct you to proceed with all
possible emergency and despatch to detect, ex-
| pose, arrest and punish the perpetrators of
| these crimes, and to that end you are to spare
no effort or necessary expense Troops of the
| United States will be stationed at different
| points in your district for the purpose of giving
you all needful aid in the discharge of yonr Off
| cial duties
You understand Of course, that no interior
| ence with any political or party action not in
violation of law, but tue protection of all
| classes Of citizens, white and colored in the
| free exercise of the elective franchise and the
| enjoyment of the other rights and privileges to
| which they are entitled under the constitution
| and laws as citizens of the United States.
| These instructions are issued by the authorf-
| ty of the President and with the concurrence OF
| the Secretary of War,
Very respectfully,
| GEORGE FL. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.
The above is addressed to the U. S. Marshals
| and Attorneys, and is prepared with the APP
| prevail and endorsement of the President, to
whom the substantial points We're submitted
| submitted during the recent visit of the Attor-
| ney General to Long Branch. ''l'f@-
Presidents Instructions TO the Secretary OF
e s=s War. .-..--
The following letter was received here to-
day:
LoNG BRANCH, n. j., Sept. 2.
To Gen. W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War
The recent atrocities in the South, particularly
in Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina
show Disregard for law, civil rights and per
sonal protection that ought not to be tolerated
in any civilized government. 1t looks as If I'M
| less speedily checked, matters must become
worse until life and property there will receive
no protection from local authority until such
snch authority becomes powcrless. Under
such circumstances it is the duty of the gov:
eminent to give all the aid for the protection OF
life and civil rights legally authorized. To this
end 1 wish you would consult with the Attor
ney General, who is well Informed as to tn,
outrages already committed and the localities
where the greatest danger lies, and so orde
troops as to be available in the case of necess 81
ty. All proceedings Tor the protection of the
South will be under the Law Department Q
the government and will be directed by the At
torney General in accordance with the provis
ions of the enforcement act. sd. eis
No instructions need therefore, be given tn
troops ordered into the Southern States excep
as they may be transmitted from time to tim
on the advice from the Attorney General 0
circumstances may determine hereafter.
Yours truly, -es U. S. GRANT.
Promotions.
i The death of Maj Gen. Foster, who occupie
the lineal rank Of Colonel in the Enginee
osrps will cause the following promotions il
} that branch of the service Thomas L. Case
Of New York from Major % Lieut.. Colonel
Samuel NJ. Mansfield of Maine from Capital
| to Major; Henry NJ. Adams of Massachusett
| from Lieutenant to Captain.
A fire in East Boston Wednesday nigh
} burned out Davis & Greenwood, dry goods