Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-09-10
General Dispatches. |
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.

General Dispatches. ]
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, September 3.-The
follow ing letter was received here to-
day:
long Branch ". j., September 2,
lS74-General w. w. Belknap, Sec
retary of War The recent atrocities
in the South, particularly in Louisiana,
Alabama and South Carolina, show &
disregard for law, civil rights, and per
sonal protection that ought not to b.
tolerated i'll any civilized govern
ment. 1t looks as if unless speedily
checked, matters must hccome worse
until life and property there will receive
no protection from the local authorities,
such authority becoming powerless
Under such circumstances it is the du
ty Of the government to give all the aid
for the protection oflite aud civil rights
legally authorized To this end [ 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 80 order troops IS to be available
in cases IF necessity.
All proceedings for the protection Of
the South will be under the law depart
ment OF the government, and will be
directed 10y the Attorney General, in
accordance with the provisions of the
enforcement act No instructions need
therefore be given 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 here's
after. Yours truly. Z. s. GRANT.
INSTRUCTIONS TO UNITED STATS Off
GALS IN THE SOUTH.
As a result If the conference held at
the War Department this morning be-
tween Secretaries Bristow and Be lknap
and Attorney General Williams, the
following circular was issued this after
noon at two o'clock to United States
attorneys and marshals 1t has the ap
proval of the President, the substantial
parts of the same having been commun-
icated to him during an interview
with the Attorney General at Long
Branch.
Department Of State, Washington
September 3, 1o74-Sir: Outrages
Of various descriptions, and in some
cases atrocious murders. have been
committed in your district by bodies of
armed men, sometimes in disguise, and
with the view, it is believed, of over
awning and intimidsting peaceful and
law abiding citizens, and dspriving
them Of the rights guaranteed to them
by the constitution and laws of the
United States.
Your attention is directed to an act
of Congress passed April 8, 1866, en-
titled can act to protect all persons in
the United States in their civil rights
and to furnish means for their vmdiea
ton, and to another passed April %,
1870, entitled, Gan 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 80, 1870, entitled, can act
to enforce the right of citizens of the
United States to vote in the several
States Of this Union,. and for other pur
poses" which, with their amendments,
make these deeds of violence and blood
offenses within the jurisdiction of the
general government.
consider it my duty, in view of
these circumstances, to instruct you to
proceed with all possible energy and
dispatch to detect, expose, arrest and
punish the perpetrators Of these crimes !;
and to that end you are to spare no eff
fort or necessary expense.
Troops Of the United States will be
stationed at different and convenient
points in your district for the purpose
of giving all. needful aid in the dis
charge of your official duties
y GU understand of course, that no in
reference whatever is hereby intended
with any political or party action not in
violation of law bat protection to all
classes of citizens, white and colored,
in the free franchise, and the enjoy.
ment 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 the
authority Of the President, and with
the concurrence Of the Secretary Of
War. Very respectfully,