Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-08-24
THE ORDER IN FULL.

WASHINGTON. ID. G., Aug. I6.--
Secretary Cameron has written the
following to Gen. Sherman:
| WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHING
TON CRY, Aug. 10, 1870. 10 Gen.
w 4. Sherman, commanding United
Sates Army--SIR: The House of
Representatives of the United States,
on the 10th inst, passed tho follow
ing preamble and resolutions, viz:
WHEREAS, the right Of suffrage
prescribed by the Constitution OF the
several States Is subject to the Eff
teenth Amendment of the Consti-
tuition of the United States which is
as follows:
"ART. Is, SEC. /. The right of
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 previous
condition Of servitude.
SEC. 2. The Congress shall have
tho power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation; and.
WHEREAS, The right OF suffrage
80 prescribed and regulated should
be faithfully maintained and OBJ
served by the United States and
the several States and citizens there
of; and,
"WHEREAs, II Is asserted that the
exercise OF the right Of suffrage IL in
some OF the States, Notwithstanding
the efforts OF all good citizens to tho
contrary, resisted and controlled by
fraud. intimidation and violence, so
that In such cases the object OF the
amendment Is defeated and,
"WHEREAs, All citizens, without
distinction OF race, or class, or color,
are entitled to tho protection con-
ferred by such article; therefore,
"Be IL resolved, by the House of
Representatives, that all attempts by
force, fraud, terror, intimidation, or
otherwise, TO prevent the free exer-
else OF tho right OF suffrage in any
State should meet with certain, con
dign and offectunl punishment; and
that In any case which has heretofore
pttinf,irred, " or that. .ulegv baTfafifI. ter
has been or shall be committed by
one race or class upon the other. the
prompt prosecution of tho criminal
or criminals, In any court having
jurisdiction, is iinperatiyely dc
manded, whether the crime be one
punishable by fine or imprisonment,
or ono demanding the penalty of
death.p -.
The President directs that, in ac.
cordance with the spirit Of the above,
you are to hold all the available
force under your command, not now
engaged in subduing the savages Of
tho Western frontier, In readiness to
be used upon tho call or reguisi,ion
of tho proper legal authorities for
protecting all citizens without dis.
tinction OF race, color, or political
opinion, I'm the exercise Of the right
to vote, as guaranteed by tho fif-
teenth Amendment, and to assist In
the enforcement of "certain, condign
and eifcctual punishmet'' upon all
persons who shall attempt by force,
fraud, terror, intimidation, or other
wise TO prevent the free exercise Of
the right OF suffrage as provided by
tho law Of the United States, and
have such force 10 distributed and
stationed As to be able to render
prompt assistance in the enforcement
OF the law. Such additional orders
as may be necessary to carry out the
purpose OF these instructions will be
given 10 you from time TO time after
consultation with the law officers Of
the Government. Very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
lSjguedl j. ID. CAMERON,
Secretary OF War.