The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
Proclamation OF AttOrney-CseneraI y IL
Iiams-Letter from President Grant.

Proclamation OF Attorney-GeneraI ~ a.
Iiams-Letter from President Grant.
DEPARrAEENToF OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON,
Sept. 3, 1S74.-Sir: Outrages of various
descriptions, and, IL some cases, afro
ciOus murders, have be,.n committed In
your district, by bodice - armed men,
sometimes IN disguise ana With view,
it is believed, of Overawing and intimi-
dating peaceable and law. abiding citi-
zens, depriving them of the right guar
anteed to them by the constitution and
laws of the United States. Your atten-
tion is directed to an act of congress,
passed April 9, 1866, entitled an act to
protect all persons in the United States
IN their civil rights and furnish the
means for their vindication, and to an
other passed April 20, 1871, 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 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
eminent
I consider it my duty, in view of these
circumstances, to instruct you to pro-
ceed with all possible economy and dis
patch to detect, expose, arrest and puu-
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 will be stationed at
different convenient points in your dis.
trict, for the purpose of giving you all
needed aid in the discharge of your Of
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.
These instructions are issued by au-
thOrity of the president and with the
concurrence of the secretary of war.
Very respectfully,
GEo. II. WILLIAMS, Atty 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 attorney-ge to
Long Branch.
The following letter has been received
from President Grant:
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 3.-W. w.
BeLknap, Secretary of Var: The re-
cent troubles in the south, particularly
in Louisiana, Alabama and South Caro-
lima, show disregard for law, civil rights
and personal protection 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 un-
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 le-
gally authorized.
To this end I wish you would consult
with the attorney general, who is we'll
informed as to the outrages already
committed and the localities where the
greatest danger lies, and so order the
troops as to be available in case of ne
cessity. All proceedings for the pro-
lection of the south will be under the
law department of the government, and
viii be directed by the attorney general,
in accordance with the provision of the
enforcement act. No instructions need,
therefore, be given to thetroops ordered
into the southern states, except as they
may be transmitted from time to time
on advice from the attorney-genersl
or as circumstances may determine
hereafter. q. s. GRANT.