The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-09-17
The Attorney Generals Letter 10
Gov, AmeS, OF lliSsiSSippi.

WASHINGTON, September Ex-senator
BriCe, OF Mississippi, and one Of his as.
sociates called upon the Attorney General
to-day and stated they had telegraphed to
Gov. Ames that they we're satisfied with
what the Attorney General had done in
regard to the application from the Gov.
ernor for the interference OF Gen. Grant.
They again requested the publication Of
the Attorney Generals letter TO Gov.
Ames, and President Grant Consenting, II
IL made public. The letter is ms follows;
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, |
WASHINGTON, September II.
Gov. AmeS, Jackson, nisS.'
This hour have had a dispatch from
the President. can best convey 10 you
his ideas by extracts from his dispatch:
"The whole public are tired out with
these annual aulumnal outbreaks in the
South, and the great ma jOrity are ready
now to condemn any interference on the
part Of the government. heartily wish
that peace and good order may be re-
stored without issuing the proclamation;
but II they are not, the proclamation
must be issned. But II II Is, | shall
instruct the commander OF the forces to
have no child's play II there Is a necessity
for military interference. There Is jus.
ticc in such interference as to deter evil
doers. would suggest the sending Of
dispatch or letter by private messenger
to Gov. AmeS, urging him to strengthen
his own position by exhausting his own
resources In restoring order before he re.
Ceives government aid. lie might accept
the assistance offered by the citizens Of
Jackson and elsewhere. Governor Ames
and his advisers can 10 made perfectly
secure, us many of the troops now In
Mississippi as he deems necessary may be
sent to Jackson. II lie Is betrayed by
those who offer assistance he will be in a
position TO defeat their ends and punish
ihem." You see by this The mind Of the
President, with which | and every mem.
Der OF the cabinet who has been consult.
ed are in full accord. You see the diili.
culties. You sec the responsibilities
which you assume. We cannot under.
stand why you do not strengthen yourself
in the way the President suggests. Nor
do we see why you do not call the Legis.
lature together and obtain from them
whatever powers, money and arms you
need. The Constitution is explicit that
the Executive Of State can call upon
tile President for aid in the suppression
Of domestic violence only when the legis.
lntures cannot he convened, and the
law expressly says that in case
Of an insurrectiOn in any State
against the government thereof, II shall
be lawful for the President, on the appli-
cation Of the Legislature Of such State,
or Of the Executive when the Legislature
cannot be convened, to call aid. It Is the
plain meaning Of the Constitution and
laws. when taken together, that the Ex.
eCutiveof aState may call upon the Pres.
ident for military aid TO quell domestic
violence only in case Of al insurrection
In any State against the government
thereof, when the Legislature cannot be
called together. You make no Sugges-
ton even that there Is any inSurreClion
dgailist the government Of the State or
that the Legislature would not support
you In any OF the measures you might
propose to preserve the public order. /
suggest that you take all lawful means
and measures to preserve peace by the
forces in your own State, and let the
country sec that the citizens Of Missis-
sippi, who are largely favorable to good
order, and who are largely Republican,
have the courage and manhood to fight
for their State rights and to destroy the
bloody rufTlans who murder the innocent
and unof1ending freedmen. Everything
Is in readiness. Be careful 10 bring
yourselves strictly within the limits Of
The constitution and the laws and
II there Is such a resistance 10 your state
authorities ns you cannot by all the
means at your command suppress, the
President will swiftly aid you in crush.
Ing the lawless traitors tO human rights.
Telegraph me on receipt Of this and state
explicitly what YOU need.
Respectfully yours
EDWARDS PtERREPoST,
Attorney General