The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-15
Message OF the President Relative 60
the presence Of Troops In Sirgi-

Me.Snge OF the President Relative 20 |
,ne presence Of Troops In Sirgi-
nia.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-The !ol-
lowing isthe Presidents message as re-
csived By the Senate;
To the Senate Of the United States:
In answer to the resolution of the
Senate of the 9th inst, requesting inior'
nation as TO whether the troops OF the
limited States were stationed at Peters
burg. State of Virginia, on the Itn OF
November, 1876, and if so under what
authority and for what purpose. suo-
NIT the enclosed letter from the Seere-
tary of War, to whom the resolution was
submitted, together with the report OF
the General OF the army and accompany
ing papers These enclosures VIII give
ali the information called for by the
resolution and l confidently De-
lieve will justify the action taken.
II is we'll understood that the presence
oftroops at the polling places never pre-
vents the full exercise of franchise by
any citizen of whatever political faith.
! If then they have had any effect upon
! the ballot cast it has been TO insure pro-
| lection to the citizen casting 1t and IN
! giving il 10 the candidate of his unbiased
choice, without tear, and thus securing
the yerv essence of liberty. 1t may be
that the presence of United States
soldiers under the command oil
captain and lieutenant qusriered " tue
custom house at Petersburg, Va, on
9TH Of November, at a consider able DIS.
lance from any polling place without
any interference on their part, and with
out going nearer to the polls during the
election, may have secured different
result from what would have been OBJ
tanned if they had not been there to
maintain peace One case of riot is on the
face of returns, but il such is the case, It
IS only n proof that in this one Congress
sional District in Virginia, the legal and
and constitutional votes have been able
10 return as elected the candidates OF
THAR choice. L. ). GRANT.
Erecutipe Manson, Dee. II, 1876.
The Letter of the Secretary OF War
ia dated December ii, 1876, and encloses
the report os the General of the Army
and a communication, with It's enclosures,
received from the Attorney-General''
rbe letter OF the latter inclosed copy
kof some papers on file in his office, con-
tanning information which shows the
necessity for sending troops TO Peters
burg on the Eth of November last, the
day OF election.
The following is
H'De'Rs OF ARMY oF U. ,, |
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1876.
To Hon. J. d. Cameron" Secretary q
War:
SHIN compliance with your refer
ence of the 9th inst, of the resolution OF
the Senate calling for II report whether
troops of the United States were sta
toned in the city Of Petersburg, il the
State of Virginia, on the 7th OF NoVem'
Der. 1876, and if So under what authority
and for what purpose, | have the honor
TO report that Company b., Captain
Breckenridge. of the Senond United
States artillery, was posted Mt Peters
burg, Virginia from November 4th
to November 18th, when it WA;
recalled To us proper statloI
at Fort Foote, Maryland. To n
more complete understanding of the case
| will add that on the ID day of Novem
Der General Lamane came TO me iron
the Attorney-G General, representing tina,
there was reason to apprehend breach
ofthr peace at Petersburg, Virginia, anC
asking for detachment Of troops to BE-
: sent there. You being then absent,
SAW Judge Taft in person and he advised
that company of soldiers be sent L
Peters burg, If practicable, and the mex
day, being IN New York city
| saw General Hancock in person
and after some Inquiries rs 10 the troops
available ordered him to send tn,
company to Petersburg to remain during
the election OF November 7th, and ther
to return to its post. enclose II cop,
OF his orders, also copies of geners
orders number So and 60, which in.
clude all orders and instructions mad,
to the troops on arriving in district
where disturbances were apprehendcd
| have the honor TO BE- your obedlen'
servant. w. L. SHERMAN,
General.
! The enclosures embrace atiidavlts, &C
relative 10 the necessity for troops a
. Petersburg, covering thirty pages o
manuscript.