Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-26
1o,,or from Governor Kernpcr.

Letter from Governor heHPtE'
The following is a copy of the letter from Gov
ernor kemper to President Grant, Ill relation 70
the extraordinary instructions recently traus,
nited to Petersburg, by the Acknowledgement
Of the United States: :.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
GOVERNORS OFFICE
RICHMOND, June l7th, 1874
To His Eccelle,.cy, i. s. Grant, .Presldcnl OF
the United States:
Sir--With respectful Difference | invoke your
attention to the Instructions very recently ue,
I,vered by the Attorney General Of the United
States to the marshal of the Eastern District OF
Virginia in relation to alleged disorders III Pe-
tersburg. cannot suppose that those instruc
tons were issued either with your approval or
vour cognizance They appear to have been
dispatched directly from the Department OF
Justice to an inferior officer OF a Federal DIS
trict Court in Virginia but without communl-
cation with any OF the authorities OF this State
and in directing that officer to resist the alleg-
al disorders, they assure him that upon his re-
nuisitiou a military force of the United States;
| would be forwarded to his assistance. They
assume that disorders existed in Petersburg,
although 20 breach of the peace or disturbance
whatever had 10 TACT occurred or been attempt
ed or threatened, or was likely TO arise 10 that
city. They completely ignore the exlstance 81
this Commonwealth and lis constituted authori-
ties: or at the least, they assume that the
Government of Virginia is unable or un"liilne
to maintain the peace within the just JurSdlc,
ton OF the State. They imply that Federal
| department may exercise Immediate ana us
cretionary control, within this State, over vital
interests which are distinctiveIy local and do
nestle. They empower subordinate mlnlsterl-
al agent of the General Government at It's dis.
erection to subject peaceful community, to
yether with all its authorities, TO the donlua-
ton of an armed Federal force.
Such lustruc ions, if carried into execution
wres, from the people the right Of selt.goVern-
meut and convert the State itself into pro
vince or a military division OF central aud
virtually imperial power. They erect the do
miuiuu of the Federal sword, III time OF peace,
over the civil authority Ut the State.
It was bur lew days before the date OF
these instructions that other wrongs were 10
Aicted by Federal authority upon citizens OF
Petersburg. Certain judges of a local election
were charged with rejecting legal votes an OF
fence at all times coguzable and punishable oy
the State tribunals by virtue OF Stale laws, Que
evidence OF the offtuce being sh,Wn either on
the compliant of any person aggrIeVed or with
out such complaint These causes were not
permitted to be heard by S,ate court, nor yet
by the Appointed Federal authority located tor
such Investigations at Petersburg, the residence
| of all the parties aud their witnesses, but the
accused were forced under the arrest to Rich
mould and here tried by a United States COM
missioner, who, although as Is Confidently be-
heyed no probable cause was shown, held the
PARTIES for Indictment and trial IN Federal
| court, and In so doing he announced the mon
strous doctrine that in such case 1t deVoIVed
upoo the accused 10 prove their owl Innocence.
fit be claimed that The exercise OF such ar
birary aud despotio powers 10 time OF peace
is permitted by the letter of the Federal sta
tule commonly krown as the enforcement act,
a statute which sprung from the exigcucles aud
and passions resulting from war, and the pro-
visions of which are abborrent to all the tradl-
lions of free government and to the principles
of IFS founders, let il suffice to answer that the
violent remedies sought 10 be provided by that
act were never Intended to be employed wlthlu
a State, except to rcpress actual ano serious lu-
| fraction Of law and ORDER and then only IN case
the authorities Of the State should fail cthcIeDt-
| " to meet the emergency.
Desiring TO cultivate peaceful, beneficial and
cordial relations with the common government
and with each of its departments; cheerully
| Welding to that government the full measure
Of its delegated authorities loppose with all the
| constitutional means at may command these
acts of invasion of the rights of the States and
the liberties of the people.
aft III the inaenable rig hit of this Common
wealth TO self government, its authority to rule
its internal and municipal affairs-in accordance
with supreme organic law and without undue
restraint or hinderance from any power what.
ever. | point to the yet recent past for proof
| that this government has the capacity and the
will to protect personal light aud to enforce
Justice, order and law; and | solemnly protes,
against the late action Of the Attorney General
of The United States as fragrant wrong and
indipnity to State authority, as subve: siVe Of
the principles of free-government aud deStruc.
tive of the organism of American constitutional
liberty. 10 the name and behalf Of the 10 ured
government and people of Virginia, | charge
That officer with usurpatiou of power which
imperiIs the safety of both and Of all. | con.
front him before the justice and authority of
your great Office, and | appeal to you for ac-
ton which will at once redress the wrongs Of
the past and guard the .prlDc pies of the gov
erpment against Ike iniracton 10 the future.
have the honor TO be Mr. President, very
respectfully your obedient servant,
ISigned] JAMES L. hENpER.