The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-14
pleasure that nothing but "black leagues

pleasure that nothing but black leagues"
shall exist in the southern states
And whereas, The constitution of the
United States has been supposed to pro-
vide that the people may peacefully as
semble and petition for redress of griev-
ances. And alsothat the right of the peo-
pie to keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed
And whereas, am advised by the at
torney general that these two clauses ap-
ply only to citizens of African descent;
And whereas. I am advised by Hon P.
Fl. Sheridan, an eminent lawyer, now of
New Orleans, that may by proclamation
declare any persons obnoxious to me to be
''bauditti," and direct them to be shot or
otherwise executed with out further cere-
mony;
And whereas, the said P. II. Sheridan
has publicly said that there is law for it
somewhere" whereas / don't know but
there is, and it seems reasonable; and
whereas [ have recently telegraphed to
the said P. Fl. Sheridan that [ had
every confidence in him and approved
his course :;
Now, therefore, I, Ulysses Simpson
Grant, President of the United States, by
the advice of said P. H. Sheridan, and un-
der the war power. do publish this my
proclamation, and do hereby declare that
all persons in the said state of Louisiana
who do not heartily, earnestly. and with
out mental reservation, support the gov
ernment of the said William Pitt Kellogg,
are, and the same are hereby made, con.
stituted, and appointed BANDITTI, and
do hereby authorize and empower the
said Lieut., Gen. 2. H. Sheridan and any
other man wearing shoulder straps (wheth-
er his own or borrowed) to arrest such
banditti wherever they may be found, and
to shoot, stab, behead, drown, draw. quar-
ter. disembowel, or otherwise slaurhter
| such banditti, and thus stop their grum-
bling about their taxes, and render them
peaceful citizens and content with the gov
cement of the said William Pitt Kellogg.
In order that the said Gen. Sheridan
and his subordinates may not molest any
of my friends, the following rules are pro-
mulgated for their guidance:
First. A white skin, straight hair, and
tolerably regular features are presumptive
proof that person is bandit.
Second. An intelligent countenance
should encTer go unquestioned. The pr, .
liability .Eas its owner is bandit is over
whelm,as.
Third. ANY person who is a clergyman,
teacher, physician. lawyer, merchant, or
| other business man shall be considered a
bandit.
Fourth. Any person who can read.
write, or cipher shall be considered ban
dit, unless he can prove to the satisfaction
Of the officer arresting him that he has
been indicted for crime
Fifth. Any person with good educa-
ton shall be treated as bandit, without
benefit Of clergy.
| Sixth. Any person owning real estate
is hereby declared a bandit, unless he can
prove that it was bought at tax sale, with
money taken from the state treasury.
| Seventh. Possession of personal proper
ty to the amount of $40 or over, shall be
proof that the owner is a5bandit, unless he
can show that it was stolen.
Eighth. Any person who has hereto
fore borne a good character shall be
deemed a bandit until the contrary Ii
prnved.
Ninth. Persons with black skins. wool
ly hair, and Ethiopian features shall no
be considered bandits unless shown to have
voted the conservative ticket.
i Tenth. Persons convicted of crime o.
indicted therefor, shall in no case be con
sidered bandits and for the purposes q
this rule pardon from Gov. Kellogg shai
be deemed additional proof of guilt. An
person may claim the benefit of this rul
who can prove to the entire satisfaction Q
the officer arresting him that he ought t
have been convicted of some crime, an
satisfactory evidence that the party so al
rested voted the Republican ticket at tn
: : last election shall be sufficient proof G
i such liability
And l hereby enioin the said Lieut. Ge,
Sheridan to be vigilant and energetic i
this great duty of sitting the chaff fror
the wheat. so that the population {
Louisiana may, as soon as possible, consi.
3 3 entirely of negroes and thieves. and give
unanimous support to my administration
a ULYSSES S. GRANT,
;, President
Il HAMILTON FISH,