The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-08-24
CamerOn's Outrage order.

CamerOn's Outrage Order.
Secretary Cameron has written
the following letter to Gen. Sher-
man:
Var Department, Washington, dug
Is, 1S76.-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 resolution, viz.
"Whereas, the right of suffrage
prescribed by the Constitution Of
the several States is subject to the
Fifteenth amendment of the Con
stitution Of the United States, which
is as follows:
"Art. 15, Sec. 1.-The right of the
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
previons condition of servitude.'
Sec. ,. Congress shall have pow
er to enforce this article by appro-
pirate legislation; and,
"Whereas, the right of suffrage Sc
prescribed and regulated should be
faithfully maintained and observed
by the United States and the sever
al States and the citizens thereof;
and,
Whereas, it is asserted that the
exercise of the right of suffrage is
in some of the States, notwith
standing the efforts Of all good cit
izens to the contrary, resisted and
controlled by fraud, intimidation
and violence, so shat in such case,
the object of the amendment is de
feated;
"And, whereas, all citizens, with
out distinction of race or color, are
entitled to the protection conferred
by such article; therefore, be it
"Resolved by the House of Rep
resentatives, that all attempts bl
force, fraud, terror, intimidation o.
otherwise, to prevent the free exer
else of the right Of suffrage in any
State should meet with certain
condign and effectpal punishmnt
and that in any case which hat
heretofore occurred, or that MAJ
hereafter occur, in which violenct
or murder has been or shall be com
mitted by one race or class upor
the other, the prompt prosecution
and punishment of the criminal o
criminals in any court having ju
risdiction is imperatively demand
ed, whether the crime be one pun
ishable by fine or Imprisonment, o
one demanding the penalty 0
death.
The President directs that in &C
cordance with the spirit of tn
above, you are to hold all the avail
able force under your command
not now engaged in subduing til
savages of the Western frontier, /
readiness TO be used upon the ca
or requsition of the proper leg'
authorities for protecting all cit
zens, without distinction of rae
color or political opinion, in the e.
ercise of the right to vote as qua
anteed by the fifteenth amendmen
and to assist in the enforcement
certain condign and efectual pu
: ishment upon all persons who sha
S attempt by force, fraud, terror, i
j. imidation or otherwise to preveI
i the free exercise of the right
f suffrage as provided by the law
q the United States, and have SUI
q force so distributed and station'
e as to be able to render prompt a
o sistance in the enforcement Of {
) law. Such additional orders
e may be necessary to carry out t
n purpose of these instructions "
a be given to sou from time to til
y after consultation with the office
n of the Governmement Very
r. spectfully, your obedient servant,
J. D. CAMERON,
Ceeretarv of ",