Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-09-22
TELEGRAPHIC SUMMARY
DOMESTIC.
DEPARTMENT OF JUsTICE,
WASHINGTON, D. g., Sept. IA, 1877;

AsIINGToN, ID. g., Sept. Ia, 1870,
TO Coz. AmeS, Jackson, mississippi.
This hour l have had dispatches from the
President. | can best convey to you his
ideas by extracts from his dispatches
"The whole public are tired out with these
annual autumnal outbreaks in the South,
and the great majority are ready now to
condemn any interference on the part of
the Government. heartily wish that peace
and good order may be restored without
issuing the proclamation. But if it is not,
the proclamation must be issued. If it is,
| shall instruct the commander of the
forces to have m child's play. If there is
a necessity for military interference, there
is justice in such interference as to deter
evil doers.
4" would suggest the sending of q dis
patch, or better by private message to Gov.
Ames, urging him to strengthen his own
position by exhausting his own resources
in restoring order before he receives Gov
ernment aid. He might accept the assist
ance offered by the citizens of Jackson and
elsewhere. Gov 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 o position to defeat their ends
and punish them
"You see by this, the mind of the Presi-
dent, with which and every member Of
the Cabinet, who has been consulted are in
full accord, You see the difficulties. You
see the responsibilities, which you assume.
We can not understand why you do not
strengthen yourselo in the way the Presi-
dent suggests, nor do we see why you do
not call the Legislature together and obtain
from them whatever powers, and money
and arms you need.
The Constitution is explicit that the
Executive of the State can call upon the
President for aid in suppressing domestic
violence only when the legislature can not
be convened, and the law expressly says
"In case Of an insu-Tection 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 Ex-
ccutive, when the legislature can not be
convened to call" etc. Ii is the plain
meaning Of the Constitution and tie laws
when taken together, that the Executive of
the State may call upon the President for
military aid to quell domestic violence only
in case Of an insurrection in any State
against the government thereof when the
legislature can not be called together
You make no suggestions even that there
is any insurreciion against the government
of the State, or that the Legislature would
not support you in any measures you
might propose to preserve the public order.
l suggest that you take all lawful means
and all needed measures to preserve the
peace by the forces in your own State and
let the country see that the citizens of Mis-
sissippi, who are largely favorable to good
order and who are largely Republican, have
the courage and the manhood, and will
fight for their rights and to destroy the
bloody rutians who murder the innocent
and unotfending freedmen. Everything is
in readiness. Be careful to bring Yourself
strictly within the Constitution and the laws.
and if there is such resistance to your State
authorities as you can not by all the means
at your command suppress, the President
will swiftly aid you in crushing these law
less traitors to human rights. Telegraph
me on the receipt of this and state explicit
ly what you need.
Very respectfully, yours,
EDWARD PIERREPONT,
Attorney General.
p WASHINGTON, Sept. 2O.-The following is
the full text of Gov. Ames' letter to Attor-
ney-General Pierrepont
JACKSON, Miss, Sept. IL.
Attorney-Generdl PieJvepont, Wash
Sngton, ID. g.:
The necessity which called forth my dis
datch OF tho Sth inst, to the President still