The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-09-01
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
The Recent ResOIuIIOH Of the HOuse-The
Army 20 be Held la ReadIRess to
Protect Voters.

| army 10 De Atetd In he1etlneS8 10
| Protect Voters.
Secretary Cameron has written the
following to Gen. Sherman:
WAR DEPARTMENT, !
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 1876. (
Gen. w. T. Sherman, Commanding United States
| Army:
'Sir-The house of representatives Of
the United States, on the 10th inst.
passed the following preamble and resolu.
ton, viz:
Whereas, The right of suffrage pre-.
scribed by the constitution Of the
several states is subject to the fifteenth
amendment of the constitution of the
United States, which is as follows:
"Article Is, section 1.-The right OF
citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United
States, or by any state on account OF
race, color or previous condition OF
servitude.
"Sec. 2. The congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation; and
Whereas, the right of suffrage SO pre-
scribed and regulated should be faith
fully maintained and observed by the
United States and the several states and
citizens thereof; and whereas, it is
asserted that this exercise of the right of
suffrage is in some of the states, not
withstanding the efforts of all good
citizens to the contrary, resisted and
controlled by fraud, intimidation and
violence, so that in such cases the object
of the amendment il defeated; and
whereas, all citizens, without distinction
of race, or class, or color, are entitled to
the protection conferred by such article !;
therefore, be it
Resolved, by the house of representa-
tives, That all attempts by force, fraud.
terror, intimidation or otherwise, to pre-
vent free exercise of the right of suffrage
in any state should meet with certain
condign and effectual punishment, and
that in any case which has heretofore
occurred or that may hereafter occur in
which violence or murder has been or
shall be committed by one race or class
upon another, the prompt prosecution
and punishment of the criminal, or GRIM
inals, in any court having jurisdiction,
is imperatively demanded, whether the
crime be one punishable by fine and i'm
prisonment, or one demanding the PEN
atty of death"
Thepresident directs thatin accordance
with the spirit OF the ABOVE you are TO
hold all available force under your COM
mand, not now engaged in subduing the
savages of the western frontier, in readi-
ness to be FUSED 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, and to assist in
the enforcement of certain, condign and
punishment upon all persons
who shall attempt by force, fraud, terror,
or otherwise to prevent the
free exercise of the right of suffrage as
provided by the laws ofthe United States,
and have such force SO distributed and
stationed as to be able to render prompt
assistance in the enforcement of the law.
Such additional ORDERS as may be necessary
to carry out the purpose of these instruc
tions will be given from time to time
after consultation with the law officers
of the government. Very respectfully
your Obedient servant,
J. d. CAMERON,
Secretary of War.