The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-17
The National Union Party.
The Colorado Election.
The Nebraska Republican Conyen-
ton.
Storm ON Lake Huron.
LETTER FROM ATT0RNEY-GENERAL PIERRE.
POINT TO GOV. AMES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, !
Washington, Sept, ID. 1875. (

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, Sept. ID, 1875
Gov. Ames, Jackson Miss:
| This hour have had dispatches from the
President. / can best convey to you his idea
by extracts from his dispatch 1.-The whole
public are tired out with these annual au-
tumnal outbreaks in the South and the great
majority are now ready to condemn any inter-
ference on the part of the government. I
heartily wish that peace and good order may
be restored without issuing the proclamation,
but if it is not the proclamation must be is
sued, and, if it is, shall instruct the COM
mander of the forces to have no child's play.
elf there is necessity for military interfer-
ence, there is justice in such in Conference as
to deter evil-doers. l 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 receives government aid. He might ac-
cept the assistance 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 position 10 defeat their ends
and punish them"
You see by this the mind of the President
with which l and every member of the
Cabinet who has been consulted are In full
accord. You see the difficulties Yoa 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 together and obtain from them what
ever money and arms you need.
The Constitution is explicit tn at the Execu-
tive 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 especially provides in case of an
insurrection in any State against the govern
ment thereof it shall be lawful for the Presi-
dent, on application of the Legislature Of
such State, or of the Executive, when the
Legislature can not be convened to call, etc.
1t is the plain meaning of the Constitution
and the 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 instruction in any
State against the governments thereof, when
the Legislature cannot be called together.
You make no suggestion even lat there is
any instruction against the government of
the State, or that the Legislature would not
support you in any measures you might pro-
pose to serve the public order.
suggest that you take all the lawful means
and oil needed measures to preserve the peace
by the forces in your own State, and let the
country see that the citizens of Mi ssissippi,
who are largely favorable to good order, and
who are largely Republican, have the courage
and the manhood to fight for their rights and
to destroy the bloody ruflians who murder
the innocent and unoffending 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 authorit es as you cannot by all
the means at your command suppress, the
President will swiftly aid you in crushing
these lawless traitors to human rights. Tele-
graph me on receipt Of this and state ex-
plicitly what you need. Very respectfully
yours, EDWARDS PIERREpoNT,
Attorney General.