Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-24
P0lIIlcAE SITUATION IN THE
5 SOUTH.
The President Determined that
Elections Shall be Fafrly
Conducted.
Colored Voters to be Protected.
Secretary Cameron has written the
following to General Sherman:

I Secretary Cameron has written the
following to General Sherman:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WHsHINGToN, ID. c., August 10, 1876.
To General WI. SaeTmo,s, command
ing United States .Army:
SIR: The House Of Representatives
of the United States on the 10th inst,
passed the following preamble and reso-
luton, viz:
WHEREAS, The right of suffrage pre-
scribed by the Constitution of the sew
eral States is subject to the Fifteenth
Anendmeuto of the Constitution of the
United States, which is rs follows:
"ARTICLE 10, Section I. 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 ac-
count of race color or previous condi-
ton Of seryitude.
| Sec. 2. The Congress shall have pow
er to enforce this article by appropriate
"And whereas, the right of suffrage
so prescribed and regulated should be-
faithfully maintained and observed by
the United States and the several States
and citizens thereof; and whereas, il il
asserted that the exercise of the right
of su ffrage is in some OF the States, not
withstandiug the efforts of all good
citizens to the contrary, Resisted and
controlled by fraud, intimidation and
violence, so that In such cases the OBJ
ject of the amendment is defeated; and
whereas, all citizens, without distinc-
ton of race, class or color, are entitled
to the protection conferred by such
article; therefore, be it
"Resotred, By The House Of Represaa-
tatires, That all attempts by force,
fraud, terror, intimidation or otherwise
to prevent the free exercise of the right
of suffrage in any State should meet
with certain, condign and effectual
punishment, ard that in any case
which has herei ofOre occurred or that
may thereafter occur in which violence
or murder bias been or shall be commit
ted by one race or class upon the other,
the prompt prosecution and punish
ment of the criminal or criminals in
any court having Jurisdiction is imper-
atively demanded, whether the crime
be one punishable by fac or impfisOn-
ment, or one demanding the penalty Of
DEATH"
The President directs in accordance
with the spirit OF the above, you are
to hold all the available, force under
your command, not now engaged in
sabduing 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 po-
Iitical opinion in the exercise of the
right to vote, as guaranteed by the Fif-
teenth amendment, and assist in the
enforcement of certain, condign and ef-
fectual punishment upon all persons
who shall attempt by force, fraud, ter
ror, intimidation or otherwise to pre-
vent the free exercise Of the right of
suffrage as, provided by law of the
United States, and have such force SO
distributed and stationed as to be able
to render prompt assistance In the en-
forcement of law, Such additional
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 respectful
ly, your obedient servant,
ia 'iaa..1r J. ID. CAMERON,
Secretary of War.