Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-04
The TROUBLES ;.s :;ie SIush.

WASHINGTON, Sept. d The following letter
was received here to-day!
LONG Branch y. j., Sept >, 1874.
General w. " BciHnup Sccretny If War
Iuc recent atrocities III thu SOUTH, particular
~ IN L,liS..ua. AL.bai!a anl South Carollua,
show :; disregard iVr law, civil rights aud per
sonai psuIcctlni that oug;t net tn be toie-
rated IL any clviZ i gI:ornmcnt. ii looks as
l. u.le-s speedily checked, matters must i;ccome
worse anu lie ard rr"priy there Will receive
no prot. CT 81 lrou tie local nu,h"rlitce until
such authority b comes y w""I->s. Under >uch
circumstances, it Is tie duly III the Govern
to give ali the aid Tor the rotv ;lDt. OF ills and
cvii rg!it, legally authorized. 10 THIS end |
wish you would consult with the Attorney Cen
cral. who l. wcl! n:urme.t IA to the ouirages
already committed and he localities where the
greatest danger lies: au'i order troops as to
be available i, .us Q! necessity.
All pracrcdIagS Tor the protection Of the
South will b" uu i.r tic Law Department of the
Gyycrumcnt. allI will BE- directed by the At
torucy ti@ncr4 ii acc rtaoce With the provI.
Siulis Of the Eai,rcemcnt act. M instructions
need therefore, be given The troops ordered
into the Southern states except is they uIay
b. transmitted from time TO time on advice from
the Attnrn"y General, nr rs c.rCu:n,tances may
determine her,attc Yours truly,
(Slgueu) {. 5. GRANT
A. IL result Of the conference held between
Secretaries Bristow and b, knap and Attorney
General Williams, the following circular, was
issued to tn. Ui,cd States attorneys and mar
shals Ii has the approval of the President,
the substantial parts oirhc same having been
communicated il him iurug an interview with
the Attorney Genera! ii Long Branch:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ), 1874.
Sir Ourages u; var u descriptions, ana in
souc cases ar1i'luu> luurdcls have baen com
miitcd in your district 10y bodies OF armed mcu
Sometimes III disguise, a1d with the view, il IS
believed, OF ovcrawclug aad lntnidatlng peace
able and iawand!"g cl:lzc',s, and deprvlng
them of the rights guaranteed 10 them by the
Constitution and laws 0! the United States.
Your attention is drec'ed 10 an act of Con-
grc>> passed Apr 8, 1866 entitled An act TO
protect all persons in the Uuitcd States IN their
civil rights atl t. furnish means Tor their vim
dlca;nr aud 70 another passed April %, 1870
entitled An acl - enforce the provisions of the
Fourteenth Amendment 10 the Constitution of
the United States. and Tor other purposes
as }, to one passed May ~. 1870, cullt!ci IAN
lct to cntnrc. ;hc right Of cijZ rs OF the United
btdhIS w VIZ w t!i ScfCl 49, VI ~
aud for other purposes, which. with their
amendments, make these deeds OF violence and
blood of nccS within the Jurisdiction OF the
General Government.
consider it m% du'y. in view of these cir
cun>tauccS, TO instruct You to proceed with ali
possible energy aud despatch IL detect, exp I>e,
arrest and punish the perpetrators of these
crimes; and Ia that end you are to spare no et-
i.rt -
Troops Of the Unilri States will be station
ed at different ana c 'nvcuiant points 10 your
district Tor The purpose 81 giving all needfu!
AID IL the discharge u yUnr official duties.
l"u understand, 81! course, that 40 interlcr
encc whatever Is hereby intended with any po-
h!cal or party action Eot II violation Of law.
blt protection to all classes of cI'iZ ms, white
and coIrrcd, in the free exercise Of the elective
franchise. and The orj ymcnt Of the other
rights ana privileges to "hlch they are entll;cd
unner the Constitution aud laws, rs ci;z rs OF
the United States.
These Instructions are issued b. the authori-
ty Of the President, AMI with the concurrence
Of the SECRETARY OF War.
Very respectfully.
GEORGE &. WILLIAMS,
.Atorn:y General.