Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-09
gle RepubHrau.
The South.

W - ny ~ PASihbVA a.
The following letter was received
here to-day:
LONG BRANCH, September 2, 1874.
General W. w. Belknap, Secretary of War:
Recent atrocities in the South, par
ticularly in Louisiana, Alaboma, and
South Carolina, show 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, until life and property
there will receive no protection from
the legal authorities until such author.
ity becomes powerless. Under such
circumstances it is the duty of the
Government to give all aid for the pro-
lection of life and civil rights legally
authorized. To this end, [ wish you
would consult with the Attorney Gen.
eral, who is well informed 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 necessity. All
proceedings for the protection of the
South will be under the Law Depart
ment of the Government, and will be
directed by 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 ex-
cept as they may be transmitted from
time to time on the advice of the At
torney General, or as circumstances
may determine hereafter.
(SignedD U. S. GRANT.
WAsHINToN, September 3.-As the
result Of the conference held at the
War Department at noon to-day, the
following was issued this afternoon:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WASHINGTON, Septe mber 3, 1874
SIR: Outrages of various descrip.
u,eTss, and in some cases atrocious muir
.ders, have been committed in your dis
trict by bodies ct armed men, some
times in disguise. and with view, it
is believed, Of overawing and intimid-
ating peaceable and law-abing citizens
and deprlving them of rights granted
to them by the Constitution and laws
of the United States. Your attention
is directed to an act of Congress, pass
ed April 8, 1866, entitled IAN Act to
Protect All Persons in the United
States in Their Civil Rights and to
Furnish Means for Their Vindication."
and to another passed April 20, 1871:
entitled IAN Act to Enforce the Pro-
yson of the Fourteenth Amendment to
the Constitution Of the United States
and for Other Purpose" also, to one
passed May 6, 1870, entitled IAN Act
to Enforce the Rights Of Citizens of
the United States. to vote in the Sew
eral States of this Union ; and for
Other Purposes which, with their
amendments, make these deeds Of vio-
lence and bloodshed within the juris-
dictiun Of the General Government.
I consider it my duty, in view of these
circumstances, to proceed, with all
possible energy and dispatch, to detect,
expose, arrest and punish the perpetra-
tors of these crimes, and to that end
you are to spare no effort or necessary
expense. The troops Of the United
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 here
by intended with any political or party
action not in violation of law, but pro-
lection to all classes of citizens, white
and colored in the free exercise Of the
elective franchise and the enjoyment of
other rights aud privileges to which
they are entitled under the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States.
These instructions are by authority Of
the Pres. dent and with the concurrence
of the Secretary Of War. Very re-
specially,
GEORGE Fl. WILLIAMS,
Attorney-General.
The above is addressed to the
United States MarshaIs and Attorneys
and is prepared with the Endorsement
ofthe President. to whom the substan.
tial points were submitted during the
visit of the Acknowledgement to Long
Branch.