The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-02
A PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
To tho Senate, About the Hamburger
Slaughter.
WAsnINoToN, August 1.

ter of the 22d of July, 1876, from Gov. D
II. Chamberlain, of South Carolina, to me
} No 2. My reply thereto; No. g. The re
port of Hon. VIM. Stone, attorney. genera
of South Carolina No. 4. Report of Gen
II. W. Purvis, adjutant and inspector
general of South Carolina; No s. A copy
of evidence taken before coroners jury
investigating the facts relating to the Ham.
burg Massacre; No. 6. A printed copy OF
statement by M. &. Butler of South
Carolina; No. Z. A printed letter from the
same to the editors of the Journal Of Com
neree; No. g. A copy of a letter from
Gov. Chamberlain TO Hon. T. j. Robertson;
No. 0. An address to the American people by
the colored citizens of South Carolina No.
10, an address by the committee appointed
at a convention of leading representatives
of Columbus, S. c.; No. II, a copy of a
letter of July Is, 1876, from the district
attorney of Mississippi to the attorney
general of the United States No. II, a
letter from the came to same; No. 10, a
copy of the report CT the grand jury lately
in session in Oxford, Misc.
These enclosures embrace all the infor-
nation in my possession touching the late
disgraceful and brutal slaughter of unof-
Tending men at the town of Hamburg, S.
9. My letter to Gov. Chamberlain con-
tains ell the comments | wish TO make on
the subject. AS allusion is made in the
letter to the condition of other states, and
particularly to Louisiana and Missis-
sippi, | have added to the enclc-
sures letters and testimony in re-
gard to the lawless condition of q portion
of the people of the latter state. In regard
to louisiana affairs, the murders and mas
sacres of innocent men for an opinion, or
on account of color, have been of too re-
cent date and Of too frequent occurrence
to require recapitulation or testimony here.
All are familiar with their horrible details,
the only wonder being that so many jusu-
fly them or apologize tor them. But recent
lY committee Of the senate of the United
States visited the state of Mississippi to
take testimony on the subject of frauds
and violence in elections. Their report
has not yet been made public, but await
its forthcoming with a feeling of confidence
that it fully sustains all that have said in
relation to fraud and violence in the state
of Mississippi.
(Signed). U. S. GRANT.
| Eyacutiua Mapc;n,, T,Ix, 1919
LETTER TO GOV. CHAMBERLAIN.
The following is the presidents letter 10
Governor Chamberlain, referred to above
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July 90.
DEAR SIR am in receipt of your letter
of the 22d of July and all enclosures emu
merated therein, giving an account Of the
late baIbarous 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 the citizens to
secure to all their civil rights, including
the right to vote acc ording to the dictates
of their own consciences, and the further
duty of the executive of the nation TO give
all needful aid, when properly called on
to do go, to enable you to insure
this inalienable right, | fully concur
in The scene at Hamburg, rs cruel,
bloodlhirsly, wanton, unprovoked, and as
uncalled for as it was, is only repetition
Of the course that has been pursued in
other southern states with the last few
years, notably in Mississippi and Loulsi-
ana. Mississippi is governed to-day by
officials chosen thorough fraud and violence
such as would scarcely he accredited to
savages, much less to civilized and chris
tan people. How long these things are
to continue or what is to be the final rem.
edy, the great Ruler of the universe only
knows but have an abiding faith that
the remedy will come, and speedily, and l
earnestly hope that it will come peace
fully.
There has never been a desire on the
Nothing is claimed for one state that is
not freely accorded to otherS, unless it
may be the right to kill negroes and repub-
licans without fear CT punishment and
without loss OF caste or reputation. This
has seemed to be privilege claimed by
few states. repeat that fully agree with
you as to the measure of your duties in the
present emergency, and as to my duties go
on and let every governor, where the same
dangers threaten the peace of his state, go
on in the conscientious discharge of his
duties to the humblest as well as to the
proudest citizen, and l will give every aid
for which l can fad law or constitutional
power. The government that cannot
give protection to lite, property
and all guaranteed civil rights
in this country the greatest is an untram-
elled ballot-to the citizen is in so far a
failure, and every energy of the oppressed
should be exerted, always within the law
and by constitutional means, to regain the
lost privileges aud protection. Too long
denial of guaranteed rights is sure to lead
to revolution, bloody revolution, where
suffering must fall upon the innocent as
well as the guilty.
Expressing the hope that the better
judgment and CO. operation Of the citizens
of the state over which you have presided
so ably may enable you to secure the fair
trial and punishment of all offenders with
out distinction of race or color
or previous condition, and without
aid from the federal government
but with the promise Of such aid on the
CO lditions named in the foregoing,
l subscribe myself very respectfully yolr
ooedent servant, u. y. GRANT.
To Hon. ID. LII. Chamberlain, governor