Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-09-23
The Recent Disturbances in Mis-
sissippi.
Letter from the Attorney General
to Gov. Ames.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Is, 1s7;

w WASHINGTON, sept. 10, 1870.
Senator Brice, oi Mississippi, and on.
of his associates called upUn the AT.
torney General to-day, and stated that
they had telegraphed TO Governor
Ames that they we're satisfied with
what the Attorney General hsd dOnt
in regard to applications from the Gov
ernor for the Interference of Ge ner
Grant. They again requested the pub
/ licatiOn OF the Attorney Generals let
ter to Governor Anes, and President
Grant consenting, il il made public
/ The letter il as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, WASH
INGTUN, .. c., Sept. II IS75.-GOv.
Amcs, Jackson, NIiss.-This hour
have had dispatch from the President.
| can best convey TO you his ideas by
extracts from his dispatch: "1ho whole
public are tired out with these annual
autumual outbreaks il the South, and
the great majority are ready now to
condemn any interference Oh the part
0f the Government. | heartily wish
that peace and good order may be re-
stored without issuing the proclama-
ton, but if they are not, the procla-
nation must he issued; but if it is, L
shall instruct the commander of the
forces 10 have 10 chiId's play. If there
ia !. necessity for military interference,
there is justice in such interference as
10 deter evil-doers. | would suggest
the sending Of dispatch or letter by d
private messenger to Gov. Ames, ur-
ging him to strengthen his own posi-
tion by eIhausting hi. own resources
in restoring order before he receives
Government aid. He might accept Rs
sistahce offered by the citizens Of Jack
son and elsewhere. Governor AmeS
and his advisers can be made perfectly
secure. AS many Of the troops now in
Mississippi as he deems necessary may
be sent to jackson. If he is betrayed
by those who offer assistance he will be
in position to defeat their ends and
punish them"
You see by this the mind OF ths
President, with which I and every
member Of the Cabinet who has been
the difficulties. You see the response
bilities which 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 together and obtain
from them whatever powers and mon
ey and arms you need. The Constitu-
tion is explicit that the executive of a
State can call upon the President for
aid in suppressing domestic violence
only when the Legislature cannot be
convened, and the law expressly says
in case Of an insurrection in any State
against the Government thereof it
shall be lawful for the President, on
application Of the Legislature Of such
State, or Of the executive when the
Legislature cannot be convened, to call,
and it is the plain meaning Of the Con-
stitutiOn and laws, when taken togeth-
er. that tho executive Of a State may
call upon the President for military aid
to quell domestic violence only In case
OF an iusurrection in any State against
the Government thereof when the
Legislature cannot be called together.
You make no suggestions even that
there is any insurreetion against the
Government Of the State, or that the
Legislature would not support you in
any measures you might propose to
preserve tho public order.
| suggest that you take all lawful
means and all needed measures to pre-
serve the peace by the force in your
own State, and let the country see that
the citizens of Mississippi, who are
largely favorable to good order, and
who are largely Republican, have the
courage and manhood to fight for their
Stats rights and to destroy the bloody
ruffians who murder the innocent and
freedmen. Everything is
10 readiness. Be careful to bring your
self strictly within tho Constitution
and the laws. and if there ia such re-
sistance to your State authority a. you
cennot by all means at your command
the President will sNiftly aid
you in crushing lawIess traitors to hu
man rights.
Telegraph me on receipt of this, and
state explicitly what you heed.
Very respectfully yours.
EDWARD PIERREPoNT, Atty Gen.