The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-09-23
The Mississippi Outrages.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WASHINGTON, Sept. IA, 1875

To Gorernor Ames, Jackson, Mss.
This hour have had dispatches from
the President. | can best convey to
You his ideas by extracts from his dis
patches: "rbe whole public are tired
out with these annual autumnal cut,
breaks in tho South, and great majority
are ready now to condemn any inter
ference on the part of the Government.
| heartily wish that peace ard good or
der may be restored without issuing the
proclamation; but if 1t is not, the procla-
nation must be issued, and if il IS,
shall instruct the commander Of the
forces TO have no ehiid's play. II there
Is necessity tor military interference,
there is justice in such interference as 10
deter evil DOORS" 81 would
suggest tho sending Of dispatch (or
better By private messenger), to Gov
ernOr Ames, urging him to strengthen
his own resources in restoring order, be-
fore be receives Government aid. He
might accept the assistance offered by
the citizens of Jackson and elsewhere"
y "Governor Ames and his ad
visers can be made perfectly secure. AS
many Of the troops now in Mississippi
80 he deems necessary may be sent &c
Jackson. Ii heis betrayed by those who
offer assistance, he will be in position
to defeat their ends and punish them.
! You see by this Tho mind Of the Pres
ident, with which and every member
OF the Cabinet, who has been consulted
arc in full accord. You see the Difficult
! ties you SOC the responsibilities which
; you assume.
! We cannot understand why you dc
not strengthen yourself in the way the
President suggests, nor do we see why
I on DO not call the Legislature together
I and obtain from them whatever powers
and Nancy and arms you need. The
Constitution is explicit that the Execu
tive of the State can call upon the Pres
Ident tor aid in suppressing "d0meSttt
riolence," ony ",chen the legislature can
not be concerned" aud the law expressly
says: I'm case Of an Instruction in am
State against the government thersof, a
shall BE- laufm for the President, on dp
; piicatjon Of the legislature Of such State
! or the Erecutire, uhen the legislature Gun
not be conrened, TO call" &c
! 1t is the plain meaning OF tho Con
/ stltuton and the laws, when taken TO
gether, that the Executive OF the State
may call upon the President for military
aid 10 quel! domestic violence" only in
case OF an instruction in any state
against tie government thereof, when
the Legislature cannot be called together
You make no suggestion even that there
IL any inSurrectien against the government
fthe State, or hat the legislature would
not support you in any measure you
might propose. to preserve tho public
order. | suggest that you take all law
tul means and all needed measures TO
preserve the peace by tbs forces in your
own State, and let the country zee that
the citizens Of Mississippi, who are
largely favorable to god order, aod
who are largely Republicans, have the
courage and the manhood to tight for
their rights, and to destroy the bloody
ruffians who murder the innocent and
unoffonding freedmen. Everything is
in readiness; be careful to bring your
self strictly within the Constitution and
the 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 you III
crushing those lswless traitors TO human
rights. Telegraph me on receipt of
this, aud state explicitly what yon ncod
( hm very respectfully yours,
EDWARD pIEEREPoSr,
Attorney General.