Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-07-11
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, June II, 1874.

10 HIS Ercelleacy, y. S. Grant, Pres
ideat of the United States:
SIR-With respectful Difference lin
woke your attention to the instructions
very recently delivered by the Attor-
ney General of the United States to
the marshal of the Eastern district of
Virginia in relation to alleged dis
orders in Petersburg. | cannot sup
pose that those instructions were is
sued either with your approval oryour
cognizance. They appear to have been
dispatched directly from the depart
ment of justice to an inferior officer
of a Federal District Court in Vir-
ginia, but without communication with
any of the authorities in this State !;
and ID directing that officer to resist
the alleged disorders, they assure him
that upon his requisition a military
force of the United States would be
forwarded to his assistance. They as
sumo that disorders existed in Peters
burg, although no breach of the peace
or disturbance whatever had in fact
occurred or been attempted or threat
ened, or was likel y to arise in that city.
They completely ignore the existence
CT this Commonwealth and its consti-
tuted authorities or, at the least, they
assume that the government of Vir-
ginia is unable or unwilling to main
tain the peace within the Just jurisdic-
ton of the State. They imply that a
Federal department my exercise i'm
mediate and discretionary control,
with this State. over vital interests
which are distinctively local and
domestic. They empower a subordi-
nate ministerial agent of the General
Government at its discretion to subject
a peaceful community, together with
all its authorities, to the domination
OF an armed Federal force.
Such instructions, if carried into
execution, wrest from the people the
right of self government and convert
the State itself into a province or
military division of a central and vir-
tually imperial power. They erect the
dominion of the Federal sword. in
time If peace, over the civil authority
of the State.
1t was but few days before the date
of these instructions that other wrongs
were inflicted by Federal authority
upon citizens of Petersburg. Certain
judges of "A local election were charged
with rejecting legal votes, an offense at
all times cognizable and punishable
by the State tribunals, by virtue of
State laws, due evidence of the offense
being shown on the complaint of any
person aggrieved or without such com.
plant. These causes were not per-
mitted to be heard by a State court,
nor yet by the appointed Federal au-
thority located for such investigations
at Petersburg, the residence of all the
parties and their witnesses, but the ac-
cused were forced under arrest to
Richmond and there tried by United
States commissioner, who, although as
is confidently believed no cause was
shown, held the parties for indictment
and trial in a Federal court, and in
doing so he announced the monstrous
doctrine that it devolved upon the ac-
crend to prove their own innocence.
IF it be claimed that the exercise of
such arbitrary and despotic powers in
time of peace is permitted by the let
ter of the Federal statute, commonly
known "a the enforcement act. a statute
which sprung from the eXigencies and
passions resulting from war, and the
provisions of which are abhorrent to
all the traditions of free government
and to the principles ofallitS founders.
let il suffice to answer that the violent
remedies sought to be provided by that
act were never intended to be employ
ed within a State, except to repress
actual and serious iDfraction of law
and order, and then only in case the
authorities of the State should fail
efficiently to meet the emergency.
Desiring TO cultivate peaceful, bene-
fetal and cordial relitiOns with the
common government and with each of
its departments; cheerfully yielding
to that government the full measure
of its delegated authorities, / oppose
with all the con 'titutional means at my
command these acts of invasion of the
r;"h's of the States and the liberties
of the people.
| anIrn me inalienable right of this
Commonwealth 70 self-gOvernment, its
authority to rule its internal and mu-
nicipal affairs-in accordance with
supreme organic law, and without I'M
due restraint or hinderance from any
power whatever | point to the yet
recent past for proof that this govern
ment has the capacity and the will TO
protect personal right and to enforce
iustice. order and law; and | solemnly
protest against the late action of the
Attorney General of the United
States as a fragrant wrong and indigni-
ty to State authority,.as subversive of
the principles of free government, and
destructive of the organism of Ameri-
can constitutional liberty. In the
name aud behalf of the injured gov
eminent and people of Virginia, |
charge that officer with a usurpation
of power which imperils the safety of
both and of all. | confront him before
the Justice and authority of your great
office. and | appeal to you for action
which will at once redress the wrongs
of the past and guard the principles of
the government against like infrac-
ton in the future.
Ihave the honor TO be, Mr.. Presi-
dent, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
JAMES L. KEMPER.