The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-17
F MISSISSIPPI TROUBLES.
General Pierrepont's
to Gov. Ameg.
He Thinks the Citizens Of Mississippi
ShOnld Defend Themselves.

WASHINGTON, Sept. Ex-senator Bruce, of
Mississippi, and one of his associates called
upon the Attorney General today, and stated
that they had telegraphed to GOV. Ames that
General had done with regard to the Governors
application for the interference of the general
government in the affairs of the state.
The President has consented to the publca-
ton of the following letter, dated at the De-
partment of Justice, Washington, Sept. 14th,
1875:
To Governor Amaes, Jackson, Mississippi:
This hour have had dispatches from the
President 1 can best convey to you his idea
ty 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.
L 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 Ishall instruct the commander
OF the forces &C nave no child's play 1t there
is necessity for military interference, there is
justice in such interference as to deter evil
doers. l would suggest the sending of des-
patch or letter by private messenger to COY
ernor Ames, urging him to strengthen his
position by exhausting his own resources in
restoring order before he receives government
aid He might accept the assistance offered by
citizens of jackson and elsewhere. Governor
Ames and his advisers can be made perfectly
secure. AS many of the troops now in Misss-
sippl as he deems necessary may be sent to
jackson If 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 ard 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 cannot understand
why yon do not strengthen yourself in the way
the President suggests. Nor do we see why
you do not call together the legislature, and
obtain from them whatever power and money
and arms you need.
The constitution is explicit that the execu-
tive Of the state can call upon the President
for aid in suppressing domestic violence only
"when the legislature cannot be convened
and the law expressly says I'm case OF an in
surrecton 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 executive when the legislature cannot
be convened, to call, &c. 1t is the plain mean
ing of the constitution and laws, when taken
together, that the executive of the state may
call upon the President for military aid to quell
domes tic violence only in case of an insurrec-
ton in any state against the government of the
state, or that the legislature would not support
you in any measure you might propose to pre-
serve the public order
l suggest that you take all 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
largely Republican, have the courage and the
manhood to fight for their rights and to destroy
the bloody rufians 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 authorities as you cannot by all the
means at your command suppress. the Presi-
dent will swiftly aid you in crushing these
lawless traitors to human rights.
Telegraph me on receipt Of this, and state
explicitly what you need.
Very respectfully yours,
EDWARDS PIERREPoNT,
Attorney General.