Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-08-24
LORDS RESOLUTION.
President Grant has Orders Issued TO Tut
in Force ut Once.

President Grant has Orders Issued TO Tut II
in Force ut Once.
Secretary Cameron has written the
following to Gen. Sherman:
Wan Department, Washington City,
August Is, lS76.-TO General w. 4.
Sherman, Commanding United States
Army-Sir : The House of Represen.
tativts of the United States, on the
10th inst, passed the following pre-.
amble ana resolution. viz:
"WlEREAs, The right of suffrage pre-
scribeo by the constitution of the several
States Is subject to the fifteenth amendment
Of the constitution Of the United States, whici,
is as follows:
"'Aricle Is, section I. The right Of citi-
denied Or abridged by the United States, O.
by any State, on account Of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude, etc. The
Congress shall have power to enforce this ar
ticle by appropriate 1egislation;' and
"WnEsEAs, The right OF suffrage so pre-
scribed and regulated should be faithfully
maintained and observed by the United
States and the several States and the citizens
thereof; and
"WuEREAs, 1t is asserted that the exercise
of the right OF suffrage is in some of the
States, Notwithstanding the effol IS of all good
citizens to the contrary, resisted and con-
trolled by fraud, intimidation and violence,
so that in such cases the object Of the amend
ment is defeated and
of race or class or color are entitled to the
protection offered by such article, therefore
be it
"Resolved by the House otRepresentatives,
That all attempts by force, fraud, terror, in
timidation or otherwise to prevent the fee
exercise Of the right of suffrage III any State,
should meet certain, condign and effectual
punishment. and that in amy case which has
hithertofore occurred or may occur, in which
violence o. murder has been or shall be com.
mitted by one race or class against the other,
the prompt prosecution of the criminal OF
criminals in any court having jurisdiction is
imperatively demanded, whether the crime
be one punishable by fine or imprisonment,
or one demanding the penalty <:death."
The President directs that in accord
ance with the spirit of the above. you
are to hold all available force under
your command, not now engaged n
subduing the savages of the western
frontier, in readiness to be used upon
call or requisition of the proper legal
authorities for protecting all citizens,
without distinction Of race, color or
political opinion, in the exercise of the
right to vote, as guaranteed by the
fifteenth amendment to assist in the
enforcement of certain, condign and
effectual punishment upon all persons
who shall attempt by force, fraud,
intimidation or otherwise to prevent
the free exercise of the right of suf.
frages, as provided by laws of the
United States, and have such force SO
distributed and stationed as to be able
to render proper assistance In the en-.
forcement of the law. Such addition.
al orders as may be necessary to carry
out the purpose of these instructions
will be given to you from time to time,
after consultation with the law officers
of the government.
Very respectfully your obedient ser.
want,
Signed. j. D. CAMERON,
Secretary of War.