Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-23
THE MISSISSIPPI QUESTION.

From the reply of Attorney-General Pierre
pont to Governor Ames, it would appear
that the outrage mill in Washington has
ceased operations and suspended. This is one
of the best signs of the times, and will be
hailed with delight by the whole country.
The attitude of the administration toward the
clamor for troops in Mississippi is best por-
trayed in the following dispatch from the At
torney General to Governor Ames, under date
Of the 18th instant:
To Governor Ames, Jackson, Hiss. This
hour l have had dispatches from the Presi-
dent | can best convey to you his ideas by
extracts from his dispatch:
"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 govern
ment. Heartily wish that peace and good
order may be restored without issuing the
proclamation, but, if it is not, the proclama'
ton must be issued, and, if it is, 1 shall in.
struct the commander of the forces to have no
child's play. If there is necessity for mill
tary interference, there is justice in such In
reference as to deter evl.doers. l would
suggest the sending of dispatch or letter by
private messenger to Governor Ames, urging
him to strengthen his own position by exhaust
ing his own resources in restoring order before
he receives government aid. He might accept
the assistance 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. II
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 the President
with which and every member of the Cabinet
who has been consulted are in full accord
You see the difficulties. You see the respon
siblities which you assume. We cannot un'
derstand why you did Rot strengthen yourself
in the way the President suggests, nor do We
see why you do not call the Legislature to
gether and obtain from them whatever powers
and money and arms you need. The consti
tuition is explicit Z; the Executive of the State
can call upon the President for aid IN sup
pressing domestic violence only uhen the Legis
tature cannot be convened, and the Ian erpressl,
says, in case of any insurrection IN any Stat
against the government thereof 1t shall be tawfat
for the President, on application O the Leg.s
lature of such State or Of the Executive aohen TIT
Legislature cannot be convened, to call, dc. II
is the plain meaning of the constitution anc
the laws, when taken together, that the Exc
cutive of the State may call upon the Presl
dent for military aid to quell domestic VIC
lence only in case Of an insurrectlon IN any
State, against the government thereof, wher
the Legislature cannot be called together
You make no suggestion even that there il
any insurrection against the government o
the State, or that the Legislature would moi
support you in any measure you might pro
pose to preserve the public order. | sugges
that YOU take all lawful means and all need
full measures to preserve the peace by tht
forces in your own State, and let the country
see that the citizens of Mississippi, who art
largely favorable to good order, and who arr
LARGELY Republican, have the courage and th'
manhood to fight for their own rights and tt
destroy the bloody ruffians who murder th'
innocent and unoffending, freedmen. Every
thing is in readiness. Be careful to bring
yourself strictly within the constitution ane
the laws, and if there is such resistance tt
your State authorities as you cannot by all th'
means at your command suppress, the Presl
dent will swiftly aid you in crushing these
lawless traitors to human rights Telegraph
me on receipt of this, and state explicitly wha
you need. Very respectfully yours,
EDWARDS PIERREPoNT,
i Attorney General.