The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-10-02
The Mississippi Troubles.
LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL
PIERREPOlNT TO GOVERNOR
AMES.

Washington, September Is.
The following dispatch has been
sent to Governor Ames.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, }
Washington, September II. !
To Governor Ames, Jackson, Miss:
This hour l have had dispatches
from the President E; can best COO.
vey to you his idea by extracts from
his dispatch: The whole pnhlic are
tired ont with the antumnal outbreaks
in the Soutl, and the great majority
are now ready to condemn any inter.
ference on the part Of the government.
l heartily wish that peace and good
order may be restored without issu.
ing the proclamation must be issued,
and if it is, ! shall instrnct the c"m-
mander If the forces to have ~ chiId's
play. If there is necessity for mil.
itary interference there is justice in
such Interference 80 as tn deter evil
doors. Il would saggest the ssudiug
Of q dispatch ar letter by private
message to Governor Ames, urging
him to strengthen his own position by
exhausting lis own resources in rest
oring order. Before he received gov
ernmcnt aid he might accept the as.
sistance offered by the citizens Of
JacksOA and elsewhere. Gov. Amcs
and his advisers eau lie made per-
fectly secure; a. many IF the troops
now in Mississippi az he deems ne
cessary may lie sent to jackson ; if
he is betrayed by those who offer as
sistance he will he in a position t"
defeat their ends and punish them"
Yon see by this the mind of the Pres.
ident, with which and every mem.
Der Of the Cabinet who has been con.
suited are in full accord you see the
difficulties you see the responsible
ties which YOU assume we cannot
understand why you don't strengthen
yourself in the way the President
suggests, nor do We see why you do
not call the Legislature together aud
obtain from them whatever money
and arns you need. The Constitn-
tuition is explicit that the executive Of
the State can cal! upon the President
for aid in snppressing domestic viol-
ence only when the Legislature can.
not he convened, aud the law espe-
cia|ly provides in cases Of any insar-
rect;on in any State against the gov
eminent thereof, and when the Leg.
islature cannot be called together.
You make no suggestion even that
there is any insurrection against the
government If the State Or that the
Legislature would not support you in
any measure you nigh prolmse tn
serve the public order. l suggest
that you take all lawful means and
all needed measures to preserve the
peace by the forces iu yonr own State
aud let tile country see that the citi.
zeus If Mississippi, who are largely
favorable to good order, aud who are
largely Republican, have the courage
and manhood to fight for their rights
and to destroy the bl"ody ruttians
who murder tho Innocent and un"f.
Tending freedmen. Everything is III
readiness. Be careful to bring your
self strictly within the Constitution
and the laws; and if there is such re-
sistauce to your State authorities as
you cannot by all tue means at you,
command suppress, the President will
swiftly aid you in crushing those law
| less traitors to human rights. Tele'
graph me on receipt Of this aud state
explicitly what you need.
Very respectfully yours,
EDWARD PIERREPOINT,
-. 3. r.arh Attorney General.