River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-21
MILITARY INTERFERENCE.
A Special Message fTom the Preslden

MI LIZA Ii lN1EfSE Elk EN- Z u.
Special Message fTGm the President.
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES: In answer to the resolution OF the
Senate OF the 9th inst, requesting infOrma-
ton as To whether troops OF the United States
were stationed in the city OF Petersburg: in
the State OF Virginia, on the 7th OF November,
1876. and ifso under what authority and for
what purpose, | submit the enclosed letter
from the Secretary of War, to whom the reso-
luton was referred, together with the report
of the General of the army, and the accompa-
nying papers. These Enclosures will give all
the information called for by the resolution,
and confidently believe will justify the ac-
ton taken. 1t is well understood that the
presence OF United States troops at the polling
places never prevents the full exercise Of the
franchise by any citizen OF whatever political
faith. II then they have had any effect what
ever upon the ballot cast it has been TO in
sure protection to the citizen casting it in Civ
ing il to the candidate OF his unbiased choice
without fear, and thus securing the very es-
sence of liberty. II may be that the presence
or "a United States soldiers, under command
of a captain and lieutenant, quartered in the
Dustan house, at Petersburg, Va, ON the 18th
of November, at a considerable distance from
any polling place, without any interference
on their part whatever, and without going
near the POLLS during the election may have
have been obtained if they had not been
there "tO maintain peace in case of riot" on
the face of the returns, but if such is the case,
it is only proof that in tins one congressional
district in the State Of Virginia the legal and
constitutional voters have been able to return
as elected the candidates OF their choice.
U. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. IA, 1876
The letter of the secretary of war is
dated Dec. ii 1876, ard encloses the
report of the general of the army, and
a communication with its enclosures
received from the attorney general.
The letter of the latter encloses copies
of papers on file in his office, contain
ing information which he states shows
the necessity for sending troops to
Petersburg, Va, on the It'll of NoYem-
Der last, the day of election. The fol-
lowing is
GEN. sHERMAN's REPORT.
Headquarters army OF the United States,
Washington, Dec. Q. 1876 Hon. J. d. Came
ron, Secretary of War-SIR: In compliance
with your letter of the 18th inst, TO the resolu-
ton OF the Senate calling for report whether
the troops OF the United States were stationed
in the city of Petersburg in the State Of Vir-
ginia on the 9TH day OF November, 1876, and
If SO, under what authority and tor what pur-
pose. | have the honor to report that COM
pany b, Capt. Breckenridge, OF the I'd United
States artillery was posted at Petersburg, Va,
from Nov. 4. TO Nov. 10, when it was recalled
to its proper station, Fort Foote, Maryland.
To more complete understanding of the case
| viii add that on the 2d day OF November
gentleman came to me from Attorney General
representing that there was reason to APP
prehend a breach of the peace at Petersburg,
Va, and asking a detachment OF troops to
be sent there You being then absent, saw
In Tof I'M ND bn aHV that a
company of soldiers De sent to Petersburg II
practicable, and the next day being in New
York city saw Gen. Hancock in person, and
after some inquiries as to troops available,
ordered him to send the above designated
to Petersburg TO remain during the
election OF Nov. :. ana hen return to its post
enclose copy Of his riders, also copies OF
general orders Nos = and SO, which inclUde
all orders and instructions made 10 thetroops
arriving in the districts where disturbances
were apprehended. | have the honor To be
yoir Obedient servant,
w. Il. SHERMAN. General.
TIE ENCLOSURES
embraced allidaYits, etc. relative to the
necessity of troops at Petersburg, COW
ering some thirty pages of manuscript.
The first is the sworn statement OF
George n. Marble, to the effect that on
the 25th day of May last lie was en-
gagged in building, short distance
from the polls, distributing Republican
tickets, when an armed body of the
with officers marching in
line, assaulted few cOlored men in
front of his building with clubs and
stones. which they use without mercy,
besides shooting one man in the face
after knocking him down with stone.
Marble, who had escaped from the
building at the beginning Of the attack.
was Immediately arrested and carried
before the judges of election who COM
mitted him to jail for melting riot
without any hearing, whatever. When
brought before the mayor no one APP
peared before him to make a complaint,
and Marble was discharged. He adds
that he firmly believes that the Repub
lican voters of the city will not go out
in the fall election unless the Govern
ment viii furnish them ample protec-
ton 10y sending troops for that purpose.
Other aflidayits in relation to the out
RACES in May and expressing a belief
that the presence of troops was neces-
sary to protect the Republicans at the
polls, and which were made public at
about the time the troops were sent TO
Petersburg, followed. Letters from J..
l.. Lewis, United States attorney, and
C. 2. Ramsdell, United States Marshal,
are also appended. They relate to the
same subject, and also TO a later dis
turbance on the 30th of October, when
MesSrs. Segar, Bell, and Dezendorf
were assaulted and a Republican meet
ing broken up. Copies of Virginia
ewspapers and some printed copies
of orders from the War Department
were also embraced in the enclosures.