Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-15

WASHINGTON, December 1.-The follow
ing is the President e message, received by the
senate:
To the Senate OF the United States:
In answer to the resolution Of the senate Of the
sixth instant, requesting information as TO whether
troops stationed at the city OF Petersburg, In
the State of Virginia, the seventh OF November,
1879; n so under what authority and for what pur-
pose, submit the inclosed letter from the secretary
Of war, to whom the resolution was referred, 70
gether with the report Of the general OF the army
and accompanying papers These Enclosures Will
give all the Information called for by the resolution
confidently believe they Will justify my action
II Is well understood that the presence Of United
States troops at voting places never prevents the full
exercise OF the elective franchise BY any citizen OF
whatever political faith IT. then they have had any
effect whatever the ballot cast 1t has been TO In
sure protection TO the citizen casting It to the cand
date Of his unbiased choice without fear, and thus
securing the very essence of liberty Il may be that
the presence of twentyfOur United States soldiers,
under command OF captain and lieutenant quar-
tered In the custOmhouse at Petersburg Virginia, on
seventh Of November. at considerable distance
from any polling place. without any interference on
their part whatever, and without going nearer the
polls during the election, may have secured differ
ent result from what would have been obtained,
If they had not been there to maintain peace In case
Of riot on the face Of the returns. But II such Is
the case 1t IS only proof that In this one congress
sional district in the State Of Virginia the legal and
constitutional voters have been able TO return as
elected the candidate OF their choice:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December IA, 1916.
The letter of the secretary-of- war is dated
December IL, 1876, and incloses the report of
the. general of the army and communication
with the Enclosures received from the attor-
ney-general. The letter of the latter incloses
copies Of the papers on file in his Office, con-
tanning information which he states shows
the necessity for sending troops to Petersburg,
Virginia, on the seventh of November last,
the day of election. The following is Gem
eral Sherman report:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON d. c., December 3, 1879.
Hon. J. D. Cameron, Secretary OF War:
SIR-In compliance with your reference OF the
seventh instant of the resolution OF the senate call
ing for report whether troops Of the United States
were stationed in the city of Petersburg In the state
of Virginia, on the seventh day Of November 1915,
and If so, under what authority, and for what pur
pose, have the honor 10 report that company B,
Captain Breckenridge Of the Second United States
artllleiy was posted at Petersburg, Virginia, from
November 4th TO November 18th, when 1t was re-
called to Its proper station. Fort Henry, Maryland.
that on the second day OF November, a gentleman
came to me from the attorney general, representing
that there was reason to apprehend breach Of the
peace at Petersburg, Virginia, and asking for
detachment Of troops TO be sent
there. You being then absent, l saw Judge Taft In
person. and he advised thai company of soldiers
day, being In New York city saw General Hancock
IN person. and after some inquiries as to the troops
mated company to Petersburg, TO remain during the
election Of November 7th, and then to return to It's
post incoSe copy of his orders, also, copies OF
general orders Nos 90 and 90, which include all
orders and instructions made to troops arriving in
districts where disturbances were apprehended.
W. T. SHERMAN, General.
The Enclosures embraced afidayits, ETC.,
relative to the necessity for troops at Peters
burg. covering some thirty pages of manu-
script. The first is a sworn statement of
George Marble to the effect that On the
twenty-fifth day of last May he was engaged
in building short distance from the polls
distributing Republican tickets, when an
armed body of the opposition, with officers
marching in line, assaulted a few colored
men in front of his building with clubs and
stones, which they used without semblance of
mercy. besides shooting one man In the
face after they had knocked him down with
a stone. Marble, who escaped from the
building at the beginning of the attack, was
Immediately arrested and carried before the
Judges of election, who committed him to jail
for melting not without any hearing what
ever. When brought before the mayor no one
appeared before him to make complaint and
Marble was discharged. He adds that he
firmly believes that the Republican voters of
the city will not go out at the fall election
unless The government Will furnish them am
pie protection, by sending troops for that pur-
pose. Other affidavits in relation to the out
RACES in May. and expressing the belief that
the presence Of troops was necessary to pro-
tect Republicans at the polls, and which were
made public about the time troops were
sent to Petersburg, followed. Letters from
L. G. Lewis, United States attorney, and c.
Z. Ramsdell, United States marshal, are also
inclosed. They relate to the same subject,
and also to later disturbances on the thirtieth
of October, when Messrs. Segor. Ball and
Dezendorf were assaulted and Republican
meeting broken up. Copies of Virginia
newspapers, and some printed copies or orders
from the war department were also embraced
in the Enclosures