The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-09-11
GROIN WASHINGTON.

Proclamation of AttOrney-GeneraI VIII
Hams-Letter from President Grant.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON,
Sept. 3, 1S74.-Sir: Outrages of various
descriptions, and, in some cases, afro
cious murders, have been committed IN
your district, by bodies of armed men,
sometimes IN disguise and with a 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 18th
amendment to the constitution of the
United States and for other purposes 4;
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
ernment.
1 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 ruu-
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 ali
needed aid in the discharge of your Of
fetal duties. You understand, of course,
that no interference with any politicsl
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. Fl. 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 encouragement to
Long Branch.
The following letter has been received
from President Grant
LONG BRANCH, Sept. 3.-W ".
BeLE71Gp, Secretary Of W0r. 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 circums tances it is the duty
of the government to give all the aid for
the protection of life and civil rights ie-
gally authorized.
To this end I wish you would consult
with the attorney-g general, who is we'll
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 viii be under The
law department of the government, and
will be directed by the Encouragement,
10 accordance with the provision of tEe
act. No instructions need,
therefore, be given to the troops ordered
into the southern states, except as they
may be transmitted from time to time
on advice from the attorney-general.
or as circumstances may determine
hereafter. q. S. GRANT.