Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-16
TEE MISSISSIPPI COMPLICATION.
The letter OF the Attorney General
10 Governor AmPs

Senator Bruce, OF Mississippi and one of his
associates called upon the Attorney Genera
to-day ard stated that they ha l telegraphed
II Governor Ames that they were satisfied
with what the Attorney General had done in
regard 10 the applications from the Governor
for the interference of the general govern
ment in their state. They lain rogue ,tod
the publication of the Att 1rney Generals
letter To Cover nor AmeS, and were a ,suroi
that the publication was dependent upon the
views Of the Pre- iident thereon. The Attor-
ney General bad already teleg. aphei to the
President for his direction, and at noon a
telegram was received Consenting TO its pub
lication.
THE LETTER
The follow ing is the letter referred 10:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WAsHINGToN Sept. II, 1875
10 GCCeT7l0r AfneS, Jdcksoa Miss
This hour / have had dispatches from the
the President. l can best convey to you his
IDEAS by extracts from his dispatch 1.-The
whole public are tired out with these ANIMAL
autumnal Outb, eaks in the sOuth. and the
great majority are ready now to condemn
any interference on the part of the govern
n lndnr' neart,Iy wish that peace and good
proclamation; but If Is not the proclama-
tIon must be issued. and if it Is, / shall
nIn the commander OF the forces to have
20 cfidSptdy. If there is a necessity for mil
ltary interference, there is Justice In such
interference as to deter evil q Jers." n
~ would suggest the sending OF dispatch
(or better by private messenger to Governor
Ames, urging him to strengthen his own re-
sources in restoring order. before he receives
government aid. He might accent the assist
ance offered by the citizens of jackson and
elsewhere" Governor Ames and
bis advisers can be made perfectly secure.
AS many OF the troops now I'm Mississippi as
ne Deems necessary may be sent to Jackson.
III ne Is betrayed by those who offer assist
ance, he will be in position to defeat their
ends and punish Them"
You see by this the mind of the President
with which and every member of the Cab
met, VINO mas been consulted, are in full &C
cord: You see the difficulties; you see the
responsibilities which you assume.
We cannot understand why Won do not
strengthen yourself in the way the Presi
dent suggests, nor do we see why you do not
call the legislature TO yether and obtain from
them Whatever powers and money and arms
you need. The constitution is explicit that
the executive OF the state can cali upon the
PRESIDENT for aid in suppressing domestic
ttotence" only "Uiten the Le0islnt,tre cannot be
cOnueHed," and the law expressly saws: SIN
case Of an tfls'G recttOn IN any state against The
gOteTnTne1H thereof, shall be LdlCfA for the
President, on application Of the legislature Of
such state, The e1ecuiUe tC1.e7, the LeoiSltyre
cannot be cO1Ut,led. TO call" &c.
III Is the plain meaning of the constitution
ana The laws, when taken together, that the
executive of the state may call upOn the
PRESIDENT for military aid toquell domestic
violence" only In case OF An insurrectlOn in
any state against the government thereof
when the legislature cannot be called to-
gether. You make no suggestion even that
o. NE state, or that the legislature would not
support you in any measures you might pro-
pose TO preserve the public order. suggest
tnat you take all lawful means and all need
60 measures TO preserve the peace by the
forces in your own state, and let the counE Y
see mat the citizens of Mississippi, who are
largely favorable to good order, and who are
largely republican, have the courage and the
manhood TO Ji1h for their rights and to de-
stroy the bloody ruffians who murder the
innocent and unoffending freedmen. Every
tnlng is in readiness; be careful to bring
yourself strictly within the constitution and
the laws and If there is such resistance 10 yOlr
state dW',OTitieS you cannot by all The means n,
yCdr command suppress, the President will
swiftly aid you in crushing these lawless
traitors 10 human rights. Telegraph me on
receipt OF this, and state explicitly what Won
need. am, very respectfully, yours,
EDWARDS PIERREPONT,
AffOrnpv l.anaral