Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-09-10
Bayonet Rule.

OnleIs
WASHINGTON, September 3.
The following letter was re-
ceived here to-day:
"LoNG BRANCH, n. j., Sep
TENDER 2, 1874. General w. w.
Belknap, Secretary of War:
"Recentatrocitiesin the South,
particularly in Louisiana, Ala
bama and South Carolina, show
a disregard for law, civil rights
and personal protection that
ought not to be tolerated in any
civilized government. 1t looks
as if, unless speedily checked,
matters must become worse I'M
til life and property there will
receive no protection from the
local authorities until such au-
thority become powerless. I'm
der such circumstances it is the
duty of the Government to give
all aid for the protection Of life
and civil rights legally author
lied. To this end | wish you
would consult with the Attor-
ney-General, who is well in
formed as to the outrages al
ready committed and the local
tiles where the greatest danger
lies, and so order troops as to be
available in case Of necessity
All proceedings for the protec-
ton of the South will be under
the Law Department of the Gov
eminent, and will be directed
by the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, in ac-
cordance with the provisions Of
the Enforcement Act. No in
structions need therefore be Civ
en- the troops ordered into the
Southern States, except as they
may be transmitted from time
to time on advice from the At
torney-General, or as circum-
stances may determine hereaf-
ter.
TSignedl ~. S. GRANT"
As result Of the conference
held at the War Department al
moon to-day, the following was
issued this afternoon:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WAsHINGToN, Sept. 3, IA.
SIR: Outrages Of various
descriptions, and in some cases
atrocious murders, have beer
committed in your District by
bodies Of armed men, some
times in disguise, and with ;
view, il is believed, Of overaw,
ing and intimidating peaceful
Ilaw-abidjng citizens, and de-
priving them OF the rights guar.
antecd to them by the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United
States. Your attention is di
rccted TO an act Of Congress
passed April 8, 1866, entitled
An act TO protect all persons il
I1hp United States In their civil
rights, and to furnish means fOl
their yindication;' and to ar
other, passed April 20, 1871, Ell
titled An act to enforce the pro-
visions Of the Fourteenth ~
mendment to the Constitution Of
the United States and for other
purposes also to one passed
May g, 1870, entitled, AN act t.
enforce the rights Of citizens Of
the United States to vote in the
several States Of this Union, and
for other purposes which, with
their amendments, make these
deeds Of violence and blood
within the jurisdiction Of the
General Government. l con-
siderit my duty, in view Of these
circumstances, to proceed with
all possible energy aud dispatch
to detect, expose, arrest and
punish the perpetrators of these
crimes; and to that end you are
to spare no effort or necessary
expense. Troops Of the Uni
ted States will be stationed at
different and convenient points
in your district for the purpose
of giving you all needful aid in
the discharge Of your official
duties. You understand, of
course, that no Interference
whatever Is hereby intended
with any political or party ac-
ton not in violation Of law, but
protection to all classes of citi-
zens, white and cOlorod, in the
free exercise Of the elective
franchise and the enjoyment of
other rights and privileges to
which they are entitled under
the Constitution and laws as cit
liens of the United States.
"The Instructions are issued
by authority of the President,
and with the concurrence of the
Secretary Of War. Very res
pectfully,
GEO. Ii. WILLIAMS, Attor-