The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-09-22
TIE PRESIDENT 10 THE GOVERNOR
Grant and PierrePonf Offer Some
Advice 40 A1ne~ uHd EeIIs
Him What Hhe Law il.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. WASHINGTON. }
September 14.h. 1875. (
To Governor Anes, Jackson, Mss:

September l4.h, 1875.
TO Governor Anles, Jackson, Mss:
This hour have had dispatches from
| the President. / can best convey to YOU
his idea by extracts from his dispatch
.'The whole public are tired with the
annual autumnaI outbreaks in the South
and the great majority are now ready to
condemn any interference on the part OF
the government. | heartily wish that
peace and good order may be restored
without issuing proclamation, but if not
proclamation must be issued and if ii
| is, will instruct the commander of the
forces to have no child's play. IF there
is necessity for military interference,
there is justice in such interferences. To
deter evil doors, suggest, the sending
of dispatch or letter BY private way to
Ames, urging him to strengthen his own
resources in restoring order before he
receive government aid. He might ac-
cept the assistance offered by the citizens
of jackson and elsewhere. Gov. Ames
and his advisors can be made perfectly
secure, as many of the troops now in Mis-
sissippi, as he deems necessary may be
sent to jackson if he is deferred By those
the mind of the President with which l
and every member of the cabinet, which
has been consulted in full, is in accord
I ou see the difficulties, you see the re-
sponsibIlities you assume. We cannot
understand why you do not strengthen
yourself in the way the President sug-
gests, nor do we see why you do not call
the legislature and obtain from them
whatever money and arms you need.
The constitution is explicit that the Exec
utive of the State can call on the Presi-
dent for aid in suppressing domestic
violence only when the legislature cannot
be convened, and the law especially
provides in case of instruction in any
State against the government thereof, it
shall be lawful for the President on APP
plication of the legislature Of such State,
or of Executive, when the legislature
cannot be convened to call. 1t is the
plain meaning Of the constitution and
laws, when taken together, that the Elk
ecutive of the State may call on the
President for aid to quell domestic vio-
lence only in case Of an instruction in
any State against the government thereof
when the legislature cannot be called
together. You make no suggestion even
that there is any Instruction against the
governor of the State or that the legisla-
ture would not support any measure YOU
might propose to preserve the public
order. | suggest you to take all lawful
means and all needed measures to preserve
the peace by force in your State and the
country will see that the citizens of
Mis- sissippi, who are are larg ely favorable
to good order and largely Republican,
have the courage and manhood to fight
for their rights and to destroy ''the bloody
ruflians who murder innocent and UNI
offending freedmen" Everything is in
readiness Be careful to bring yourself
strictly within the constitution and laws,
and if there is such resistance to your
state authorities as you cannot by all the
means at your command, suppress, the
President will swiftly aid in the suppress
sion of these "lawless traitors to human
rights" Telegraph me; state explicitly
what you need.
Very respectfully yours,
EDw. PIERREPoNT,
Attorney-G General.