Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-20
The prssIdens.s aee...se.

| The Presidents Message.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. l4.-The follow
ing is the Presidents message to the
Senate in answer to the resolution of
the Senate of the 9Th inst, requesting
information as to whether troops Of
the United States were stationed At
the city Of Petersburg, in the state Of
| Virginia, on the 7th ult., and if so.
under what authority and for what
purpose
! submit the enclosed letter from
the Secretary of War, to whom the
resolution was referred, together
with the report of the General Of the
army and accompanying papers.
These enclosures will give all the in
formation called for by the resolu-
tion, and and confidently believe IL
will justify the action taken. 1t ia
well understood that the presence Of
the United States troops at polling
places never prevents the full exer.
else Of franchise by any citizen of
whatever political faith. If, then,
they haye had any effect whatever
upon the ballot cast, it has been TO
secure the protection of citizens cast
ing It giving it to the candidate Of
his unbiased choice without fear, and
thus securing the very essence Of lib
elty. It may be the presence of the
Twenty fourth United States soldiers
under command Of . Captain and
Lieutenant, quartered in the Custom
House at Petersburg, Virginia, on the
Ith OF November, at considerable
distance from any polling place with
out any interference ON their part
whatever, and without going nearer
the polls during the election. may
have secured a different result fro,a
what wonld have been obtained il
they had not been there to maintain
peace, or wasn't on the face of the rc-
turns, but If such is the case, it is only
proof that In this one Congressional
District in the State of Virginia. the
legal and constitutional voters have
been able to return as elected the
candidate Of their choice.
[Signed] U. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 4, 1876.
The letter of the Secretary OF War
is dated Dec. II, 1876, and ,encloses
the report of the General of the army.
and q communication with it's enclos-
ures received from the Attorney
General. The letter Of the latter en-
closes copies of papers on file in his
0fdce, containing information which
he states shows the necessity fer
sending troops to Petersburg, Va.
on the 9TH of November last, the day
of election.
The following is General Shcrman's
report:
Hon. J. D. Csmeros, Seereis,y Of War.
SIR: In compliance with your ref
crence of the 18th inst, of the resolu-
ton OF the Senate, calling for report
ETC., l have the honor to report that
20. B, Captain Breckenridge, of the
I'D U. s. Artillery, was posted at
Petersburg, Va, from Nov. A to Nov.
H. when it was recalled to its proper
station, Fort Foote, Md. To a more
complete understanding of the case, L
will add that on the I'd day of No
vember q gentleman came to me from
the Attorney General representing
that there was reason to apprehend
. breach of the peace ut Petersburg.
Va, and asking q detachment of
troops to be sent there. You being
then absent, 1 saw Judge Taft in per-
son, and he advised that q company
of soldiers be sent to Petersburg, ii
practicable, and the next day being
in New York city, I saw General
Hancock in person, and after some
inquiries as to the troops available
ordered him to send the above desiy
mated company to Petersburg, to re-
main during the election Of Noyem-
Der 7th and then return to its post.
l have the honor to be your obedi-
ent servant
(Signed] w. 7. SHERMAN,
General.
The enclosures embrace affidayits.
ETC., relative to the necessity for
troops at Petersburg, and cover some
thirty pages of manuscript. The first
is the sworn statementof Geo. N. Mar ),
bic, to the effect that on the 25th dsy
OF May last he was engaged in
building a short distance from the
polls distributing republican tickets,
when an armed band of the opposi-
ton. with officers, marching in line, ,
assaulted q few cOlored men in front
of his building with clubs and stones,
which they used without the sem
blance Of mercy, besides shooting one
man in the face after they had knock
ed him down with q stone. Marble
who had escaped from the building
at the beginning of the attack, was
Immediately arrested and taken be-
fore the judges Of election, who COM
mitted him to Jail for inciting riot,
without any hearing whatever.-
When brought before the mayor, no
one appeared before him to make
complaint, and Marble was discharge
cd. He adds that he firmly believes
that the republican voters Of the city
will not 60 out at the fall election un-
less the government will furnish
them ample protection by sending
troops for that purpose.
Other afiidavits in relation to out
RACES in May, and expressing the be-
lief that the presence of troops was
necessary to protect republicans at
the polls, and which were made pub
lie at about the time troops were sent
to Petersburg.
The following letters from L. l..
Lewis United States attorney, and j.
Ramsdell, United States Marshal, are
also appended. They relate to the
same subject, and also to the later
disturbance of the 30th of October,
when Messers Segar, Ball and Desen-
dorf were assaulted and a republican
meeting broken up.
W