The Hickman courier., 1874-09-11
FROH WASHINGTON

| Proclamation of Acknowledgement = IL
iiams-Letter from President Grant. 3,
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON,
/ Sept. 3, 1S74-Sir: OuSrages of various
/ descriptions, and, IL some cases, afro
| ciOus murders, have been committed in
I your district. by bodies 70 armed men,
| sometimes in disguise ana With view.
1t is believed, of Overawing and intimi-
dating peaceable and law. abiding citj-
Zens, depriving them of the right erat-
antedA to them by the constitution and
laws of the United States. Your atten-
ton is directed to an act of congress.
passed April 8, 1866, entitled an act to
protect ali persons in the United States
IN their civil rights and furnish the
means fpr their vindication, and to an
other pissed April 20, 1871, entitled an
act 20 enforce the provisions of the 18th
amendment to the constitution of the
United States and for other purposes
also 20 one passed May 6, 1870 entitled
an act to enforce the right of citizens Of
the United States to vote in the several
states of the union and for other purpO-
ses, which with the amendments make
these deeds of violence and blood with
In the Jurisdiction of the general gov
ernment.
consider it my duty, in view of these /
circumstances, to instruct you to pro-
ceed with all possible economy and dis |
patch to detect, exRSse, arrest and pun
ish the perpetrators of those crimes.
and to that end you are to spare no ef- |
fort or necessary expense. Troops of |
the United States viii be stationed at
different convenient points III yOHr DIS !
trict, for the purpose of giving you all /
needed aid in the discharge of your uf- 1
fetal duties. You understand, of course.
that no interference with any political /
or party action, not in violation of the /
law, Is designed, but protection to all /
classes of citizens, white and black. IN
the free exercise of the elective fran
chise 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.
r,- - i5'ns1trlsetions are issued by au-
OF the secretary of war.
Very respectfully,
Gro. Fl. WILLIAMS, Att'y-Gen.
The above is addressed to United
States marshals and attorneys, and is
prepared with the approval and endorse
ment of the president, to whom the sub
stantial points were submitted during
the visit of the encouragement to
Long Branch.
The following letter has been received
from President Grant
LoNG BRANCH, Sept. 3.-W. ".
BeIE1ap, Secretary Of Var: The re-
cent troubles in the south, particularly
in Louisiana, Alabama and Sodth Caro-
lima, show disregard Tor law, civil rights
and personal proteo6bn That ought not
to be tolerated in any civilized govern
ment. 1t looks as if, unless speedily
checked. matters must become worse,
until life and property there viii receive
no protection from local authorities IN
til such authority ; ecomes powerless.
Under such circumstances it is the duty
Of the government to give all the aid for
the protection Of life and civil rights Ie-
gally authorized.
To this end / wish you would consult
with the attorneys general, who is well
informed as to the outrages already
committed and the localities where the
greatest danger les, and so order the
troops y to be available in case Of ne
cessity. All proceedings for the pro-
lection of the soUth viii be under the
law department OF the government, Pnd
will be directed by the attol general,
in accordance with the provision of the
enfouR Rment act. No instructions need,
therefore, be given to thetToops ordered
into the southern states, except as they
nav be transmitted from time to time
on advice from the attorney general,
or SIS circumstances may determine
hereafter. .. s. GRANT.