Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-24

The following letter from the United
States Attorney General to Gov. Ames, OF
Mississippi, has been given to the public;
DEPARTMENT OF JusTIcE,
WASHINGTON, Sept. IA, 1917
To Cor. Ames. Jackson, Mss.-This hour
| have had dispatches from the President
can best convey to you bis idea by extracts
from his despatch
9Th, ubol, public are tired out with those annu-
al autumpal outbreaks in the South ana the great
majority are ready now TO coniemn an, MERE,
ence on the part Of he government. / heal.ns
wish that peace and good order may ne restoreu
without issuing the proclamation but II II Is NOT;
the proclamation must be issued but II II shai
instruct the commsnner OF the forces 70 na,e Nv
childs play If there Is necessity Tor military IN
reference there is justice in such interference as 10
deter evil-uoers.
would suggest the sending Of despatch or ItI,
ter bv private messenger 10 Gov Ames. urging n IN
10 siren then his own position by exh1ustn9 ms
own re.ouIces n restoring order before he receives
government, aid. He might accept .he as'isl'h'e
Governor Ames and his advisers can r made per
fectly secure. As many Of the troops low IN ailss-
issippi as he deems necessary may De senI ~
he will be in q position TO defeat theH encs ana
punish them"
You see by this the mind of the President
with which | and every member OF the Cab
inst, who has been consulted, are in full ae-
cord. You see the difficulties, you see the
responsibilities which you assume. We can
not understand why you do not strengthen
Yourself in the way the President suggests,
nor do we see why you do not call the Legis-
lature and obtain from them Whatever power
and money and arms you need.
The constitution is explicit, that the ex-
ecutiye of the State can call upon the Pres
dent for aid in SURPRISING domestic violence
only when the Legislature cannot be con-
yened. and the law especially says, in case
of an insurrection in any State against the
government thereof, il shall be lawful for
the President, on application of the Leglsla-
ture of such State, or Of the executive when
the Legislature cannot be convened to call,
etc. Ii is the plain meaning Of the constitu-
ton and laws, when taken together. that
the executive of the State may call upon
the President for military aid 10 qlell
domestic violence, only in case OF an IN
surrection in any State against the govern
ment thereof when the Legislature cannot
be called together. You make no sugges-
tions. even that there Is any lnsurrecilon
against the government VI lHo 1tatSi "a e'''.
the Legislature would not support you IN
any measure you might propose, TO preserve
the public order. | suggest that yon take
oil lawful means and all legal measures to
preserve the peace by the forces in your
own State, and let the country see that
the citizens of Mississippi, who are largely
favorable to good order, and who are large
IL Republican, have the courage and the
manhood to fight for their rights, and to
destroy the bloody rufians who murderthe
innocent and unoffending freedmen. Every
thing is in readiness. Be careful to bring
yourself strictly within the constitution and
the laws, and il 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 in crushing
these lawless traitors to human right. Ieie-
graph me On receipt Of this and state ez-
plicitly what you need
Very respectfully yours,
EDWARD PIERREPOST,
Attorney General.