The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-25
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
GOVERNORS OFFICE, ;.
RICHMOND, June II, 1874.

| States:
COMMONWEALTH OF EIRGINIA,)
GOVERNORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, June II, 1ST4.)
! To His ErceHency q. S. Grant, President OF
the United States:
Sir,-With respectful Difference ] invoke
YOUR attention to the instructions very re.
Gently delivered by the Attorney-Gencral of
! the United States to the marshal Of the East
ern District of Virginia in relation to alleged
disorders in Petersburg. I cannot suppose
that those Instructions were issued either
with your approval DRY your cognizance. They
appear to have been dispatched directly from
tie Department Of Justice to an inferior Off
| Ger of Federal District Court in Virginia,
| bat without communication with any Of the
authorities of this State; and in directing
that officer to resist the alleged disorders,
| they assure him that upon his rcluisiton
military force Of the United States would
| lie forwarded to his assistance. They as
sumo that disorders existed in Peters.
burg, although no breach of the peace or
disturbance whatever bad in fact occur
red or been attempted or threatened,
or vas likely 10 arise in that city. They
completely ignore the existence of this
Commonwealth and its constituted authori-
ties or, at the least, they assume that tie
Government of Virginia is unable or uu-
wiling TO maintain the peace within the just
| jurisdiction Of the State. They imply that a
| Federal department may exercise immediate
and discretionary control within this State
| over vital interests which are diStiDctively
local and domestic. They empower sub
ordinate ministerial agent Of the General
| Government al its discretion TO subject a
| peaceful community, together with all its au-
| thoritieS, TO the domination Of an armed
| Federal force.
| Such instructions. if carried into cXecu.
tior, Wrcst from the people the right of self
government and convert the State itself into
a province or military division of a central
and virtually imperial power. They erect
the dominion Of the Federal sword in time
Of 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 local
election were charged with rejecting legal
votcs-an offence at all times cognZ lbe and
punishable by the State tribunals by virtue
OF State laws, due evidence of the offence
being shown either on the complaint of any
person aggrieved or without such complaint.
These causes were not permitted to be heard
BY State court, nor yet by the appointed
Federal authority located for such inyestiga-
tons at Petersburg, the residence Of all the
parties and their witnesses, but the accused
were forced under arrest to Richmond snd
here tried by United States commissioner
who, although, as is confidently believed, no
probable cause was shown. held the parties
for indictment and trial in Federal court,
and in SO doing he announced the INDUSTRIOUS
doctrine that in such case it devolyed upon
the accused to prove their own innocence.
IF it be clsimed that the exercise Of such
arbitrary and despotic powers in time OF
peace is permitted by the letter of the Fed
eral statute, commonly known as the en-
forcement act, statute which sprang from
the eXigencies and passions resulting from
war, and the provisions of which are abhor-
rent to all the traditions Of free government
and to the principles of all its founders, let
it suffice to answer that the violent remedies
sought to be provided by that act were ney.
er intended to be employed within a State
except to repress actual and serious infrac.
ton of law and order, and then only in case
the authorities of the State should fail eff.
GENTLY to meet the emergency.
Desiring to cultivate peaceful, beneficial
and cordial relations with the common gov
ernment and with each of its departments
cheerfully yielding to that Government the
full measure of its delegated authorities,
oppose with all the constitutional means al
my command these acts of invasion of the
rights of the States and the liberties of the
people VI 81 "a.|
l affirm the inalienable right of this Com.
monwealth to Self-government, its authority
to rule its internal and municipal affairs-in
accordance with supreme organic law, and
without undue restraint or hindrance from
any power whatever. I point to the yet re.
cent past for proof that this Government has
the capacity and the will to protect personal
right and to enforce justice, order. and law;
and solemnly protest against the late action
of the Attorney General of the United States
as fragrant wrong and indignity to State
authorty, as subversiye of the PRINCIPLES of
free government, and destructive Of the
organism of American constitutional liberty.
In the name and behalf of the injured gov.
erDment and people of Virginia, charge
that officer with usurpaton of power
which imperiIs the safety of both and of all.
l confront him before the justice and autho-
rlty of your great Office, and I appeal to you
for action which will at once redress the
wrongs of the past and guard the principles
OF the government against like infraction
in the future. .e
l have the honor to be, Mr. President,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CSignedl JAMES l.. KEMrER.
WOmen's Temperance Convention.
PITTSBURGH, June 24.-The Women's
State Temperance Convention met here this
morning. There was q large number in at.
Tendance, - .i,