The New York herald., 1876-12-15
President Grants Answer to the RcSO-
luton Of the Senate.
EFFECT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE TROOPS
The Soldiers Sent by Order Of
General Sherman.
EVIDENCE THAT THE ACTION WAS NEClSSA..yy.
WASHINGTON. Dec. IA, 1sf6
Presidents message received

WAsHINCToS Dec H. 1910
Tho following is the Presidents message received
by the Senate to-day
To the SENATE OF THs UNITED SrATEs:-
In answer to resolution OF the Senate OF the 9th
inst requesting information as to "whether troops VI
the United States were stationed at the ci,y Of Peters
burg, Ia the State o Virginia the 7th OF November,
1876, aud II under what authority aud for what
purpose" submit the enclosed letter from the soc.
r.lary O. War; to whom the resolution referred,
togsncr with the report oil The General oi tho Army
anu accompanying papers.
These enclosures Will give all Information called for
by tho resolution and, l confidently believe. VIII
Justify the action taken II is well understood
polling places never prevented tho full exercise ol
tns franchise by any citizen OF whatever political
Hath. If, tnon, they have had any effect upon the
ballot cast II has been protection to the ctt
casting giving u 10 tho candidate OF his
basscd choice without lear and thus securing tho very
II may be that tho presence OF twonty-four United
States soldiers, under tho command Of captain and
lieutenant quuricrsd IN the custom House Of Peters.
burg. Va, on the eth Of November, AZ considerable
distance from any polling place, without any inter.
near the polls during the cectioa, may haze
secured different result from ,chat ,could have
been Obtained II they haa not been there ito maintain
the peace in Of riot the face Of the returax
But II such the case u only proof that IN this
Congressional district in tho State oil Virginia The
legal aud voters have been able 10 ro.
turn as elected tue candidates Of their choice
U. ). GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. IA. 1875
LETTER or rmE SECRETARY WAR
The letter OF the Secretary War datod December
H. 1876 and epcoscs the report OF General the
Army and communication with Its enclosures 70.
ccved IRON tho Attorney General The letter OF the
latter encloses coplcs Of papers ae IN
his office containing Information which, he
states, shows the necessity for sending troops
TO Petersburg, Va, the 7th OF November
last Tho day of the election. Tho following ID
GENERAL suKRxANs REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATEs,l
WASHINGTON, Dec. o., 1876
Hon. j. D. CAMERON, Secretary OF War
SiR-ln compliance with your reference OF the 7tA
inst. the resolution OF the Senate calling for
port sswhether troops of the United states were
sationed In the CITY OF Petersburg, the State or
Virginia on the TIN OF November 1876. and II so un-
der authority and for what purpose. have the
honor to report that Company b. Captain breckenridge
OF the Secnnd United States artillery, posted ai
Petersburg, Va, from November until November 13,
recSlIed to It's proper station, Fort Foote,
Nd To u more complo understanding OF the case
will that the ~ day OF November gcntletnuu
came to me from tho Attorney General represent
breach oil the peace at Petersburg Va, aud asking
detachment OF troops to be sent there. You being
then absent Judge TAFT in person. and he advised
that company OF soldiers be Petersburg II
practicable, and the day being in New York city,
INQUIRIES as the troops avanb.e ordered him
send tho designated company 10 Petersburg TO
remain during tho election OF November aud then 10
TO It's post enclose copy oi his orders; also
u copy general orders Nos. So and 05 which include
Nil orders and instructions made TO the troops arriving
In districts where disturbances wore apprchendsd
have tho honor 10 be your obcdicnt servant
w. 7. SHERMAN, General
EVIDENCE OF INTIMIDATION.
The enclosure embraces anidavits, &c, relative -
the ssity for troops Petersburg covering
thirty pages OF manuscript The first The sworn
statement OF George N Marble 10 tho elect THAI the
2oth day OF May last no was engaged u building
short distance from the polls in distributing repub
lcan tickets when an armed body OF the opposition
party, with officers, and marching In line, assaulted
low coored men front OF his building with clubs
and stones, which they used without sembance
OF mercy, beside shooting in tho iaca
after they had knocked him down with . stone
Marble who had escaped from the building at the be
ginning OF the attack, immediately arrested and
before the judges OF election who committed
hn to jail for incting u rot' without any hearing
whatever. Whom brought before tho Mayor
appeared to mako complaint, and Marble was DIS
charged. Hc adds that no firmly believes that the re.
publican OF the city will not 20 out at the fall
elec,ion unless the government will furnish them
ample protection by sending troops for that purpose
other anldavis In relation TO outrages In May and
expressing the belief that the presence OF troops
necessary protect the republicans at the polls and
which made public about the time troops we.s
sent to Petersburg, followed.
Letters from l.. /. Lewis, United States Attorney,
aud c. r. Ramsdell, United States Marshal, also
appended They relateto the subject and also
the late disturbance on tho 30h of October, when
Slessrs segar Ball and Dezendorr assaulted xod
u republican meeting broken up.
Copies of Virginia newspapers and some printed
copies OF orders from the War Department are also
embraced in the enclosures