The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-08-18
President Grant ON lIle Ham
burg Massacre.

Democratic party to power.
President Grant ON 1Iae Ham
burg Massacre.
To the Senate of the United States:
In response to a resolution OF the
Senate of July 20, calling upon the
President to communicate to the
Senate, if in his opinion not incom-
patible with the public interest, any
information in regard to the slaugh-
er of American citizens at Ham,
burg, S. c., 1 have the honor to
submit the following enclosures:
Here follows number of papers
relative to the Hamburg massacre. !
These Enclosures embrace all the
information in nay possession touch
ing the late disgraceful and brutal
slaughter of unoffending men at the
town of Hamburg, S. G. My letter
to Gov. Chamberlain contains all
the comments wish to make on
the subject. AS alluslon is made to
the condition of other States, and
particularly to Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi. haYe added to the in
closure letters and testimony in re.
gard to the lawless condition of a
portion of the people of the latter
State. In regard to Louisiana af-
fairs, murders and massacres of in
nocent men for opinions sake, or
on account of color, have been of
two recent date and of too fire.
quent occurrence to require recapi-
tulation or testimony here. All are
familiar with their horrible details,
the only wonder being that so many
justified or apologized for them.
But recently a committee of the
Senate of the United States visited
the State of Mississippi to take tes-
timOny on the subject of frauds and
violence in elections. Their report
has not yet been made public, but
await its forthcoming with feel
ing of confidence that it will fully
sustain all that 1 have stated in re-
latiOn to fraud and violence in the
State of Mississippi.
U. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 81, 1876.
The following is the Presidents
letter to Gov. Chamberlain, referr-
ed to above:
Elk. MANSION, WAsHINGToN,l
July 26.
DEAR SIR: 1 am in receipt of
your letter of the 22d of July, and
all the enclosures enumerated there
in, giving an account of the late
barbarous massacre of innocent
men at the town of Hamburg, S. g.
The views which you express as to
the duty you owe to your oath of
Office, and to citizens, to secure to
all their civil rights, including the
right to vote according to the die
the further duty of the Executive
of the nation to give all needful aid,
when properly called en- to do so,
to enable you to insure this inalien-
able right, l fully concur in. The
scene at Hamburg was as cruel,
bloodshirsty, wanton and unpro-
VOked, as it was uncalled for. AS
it was, it is only repetition of the
course that has been pursued in 9TH
or Southern States within the last
few years, notably in Mississippi
and Louisiana. Mississippi is gov
erned, to-day, by officials chosen
through fraud and violence, such as
would scarcely be accredited to saw
ages, much less to a civilized and
Christian people. How long these
things are to continne, or what is to
be the final remedy, the Great Ruler
of the Universe only knows; but l
have an abiding faith that the rem
edy will come, and come speedily,
and i earnestly hope that it will
come peacefully. There has never
been u desire on the part of the
North to hum1liate the South.
Nothing is claimed for one State
that Is not freely accorded to all
others, unless it may be the right to
kill negroes and Republicans with
out fear ofpunishment, and without
loss of caste and reputation. This
has come to be q privilege claimed
/ by few States. repeat again that
] ] fully agree with you as to the
measure of your duties in the pres
emit emergency and, as to your du-
| ties, 60 on, and let every Governor,
| where the same dangers threaten
the peace of his State, go on in the
/ conscientious discharge of his du-
| Ties I'd Tue nuIuDlcSG dS WSik AS the
proudest citizen, and / will give ev-
cry aid for which / can find law or
constitutional power. The Govern
ment that cannot give protection to
life, property and all guaranteed
civil rights in this country, the
greatest of which is an untrammeled
ballot to the citizen, is in SO far a
failure, and every energy of the OPP
Ipressed should be exerted, always
within the law and by constitution
al means, to regain the lost privileges
and protection. A too long denial
of guaranteed rights is sure to lead
to revolution, where suffering must
fall upon the innocent as well as the
guilty. Expressing the hope that
the better judgment and the coop
Grafton of the citizens of the State
over which you have presided SO
ably may enable you to secure 8
fair trial and punishment of all of
tenders, without distinction of race
or color or previous condition. and
without aid from the Federal Gov.
eminent, but with the promise OF
such aid on the conditions named in
the foregoing, I subscribe myself
very respectfully, your obedieni
servant, u. S. GRAHT-
i To Hon. ID. II. CHAMBERLAIN. Govsr.o,
OF South Carolina.