The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-10

Proclamation of Attorney General
Williams 10 Federal MarshaIs I'm
the South.

TROOPS FOR THE SOUTH.
Proclamation of Attorney General
williams TO Federal MarshaIs i'm
the South.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASH
INGToN, Sept. 3, 1S74-Sir: 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 intimidating peaceable
and law-abiding citizens, depriving
them of the right guaranteed to them
by the Constitution and laws of the
United States. Your attention is di-
rected to an act of Congress, passed
April 8, 1866, entitled an act 'to
protect all persons i'll the United States
in their civil rights and furnish the
means for their vindication," and to
another passed April 90, 1871, enti-
tied an act to enforce the provisions
of the 18th amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States and for
other purposes; also to one passed
May 6, 1870, entitled an act to en-
force the right of citizens of the
United States TO vote in the several
States of the Union and for other pur-
poses: which with the amendments
make these deeds of violence and blood
within the jurisdiction of the gene
raj government.
consider it my duty, in view of
these circumstances, to instruct you to
proceed with all possible economy and
dispatch, to detect, expose, arrest and
punish the perpetrators of those crimes
and to that end you are to spare no
effort or necessary expense.
Troops of the United States will be
stationed at different convenient
points in your district for the purpose
of giving you all needed aid in the
discharge of you official duties. You
understand, of course, that 10 inter
ference with any political or party ac-
ton, not in violation of law, is de-
signed but protection of all classes of
citizens, white and black, 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 authority of
the President and with the concur
renee of the Secretary of War. Very
respectfully,
GEO. II. WILLIAMS,
Acknowledgement.
The above is addressed to United
States marshals and attorneys and is
prepared with the approval and ell
dorsement Of the President to whom
the substantial points were submitted
during the visit of the Attorney-Gen-
eral to Long Branch.
Judge Williams will leave Wash
nigton tonight for the North. Secre-
tary Belknap will remain in the city
a week or ten days.
Tide following letter was received
here to-day.
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 3.-W. ".
Bclknap, Secretary of War: The re-
cent troubles in the South, particular
~ in Louisiana, Alabama ard South
Carolina, show disregard for law, civil
rights and personal protection that
ought not to be tolerated in any civil /
lied government. 1t looks rs if, ~ /,
less speedily checked, matters must be
come worse until life and property (
there will receive no protection from
local authorities until such authority .
becomes powerless. Under such cir
it is the duty Of the govern
ment to give all the aid for the pro-
lection Of life and civil rights legally :
TO this end l wish You would con-
suit with the Attorney General, who .
is well informed as to the outragcs al
ready committed, and the localities
where the greatest danger lies, and 50
order the troops as to be available in
case Of necessity. All proceedings for
the protection of the South will be
under the law department of the Gov
and will he directed by the
Attorney General, in accordance with
the provision of the enforcement act.
No instructions need, therefore, be 81
ven to the troops ordered into the
southern States, except as they may
De transmitted from time to time on
advice from the Attorney General, or
is circumstances may determine here
,ftcr L. s. GRAFT.