The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-08-10
Presidents Message on the Hamburg
Difficulty.

DlmCultys
To the Senate fine United States.
In response to the resolution of the Senate
Of July 20, calling upon the President to
to the Senate, IL in his opinion
not incompatible with the public interest,
any information in regard to the slaughter
of American citizens at Hamburg, 8. O.,
have the honor to submit the following in
closures: Here follow number OF papers
relative to the Hamburg Massacre. The
President says: These Enclosures embrace
all the information in my possession touch
ing the late disgraceful and brutal slaugh-
ter Of unoffending men at the town Of
Hamburg, 8. G. My letter to Governor
Chamberlain contains all the comments l
wish to make ON the subject. AS an allu.
sion is made in the letter to the condition OF
other States, and particularly to LouisiaI
and Mississippi. / have added to the In
closures letters and testimony in regard the
lawless condition of portion OF the people
of the latter State. In regard to Louisiana
affairs, the murders and massacres OF
innocent men for opinions sake,
of too recent 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 justify them or apollo.
gize for them. But recently committee of
the Senate of the United States visited the
State of Mississippi, to take testimony on
the subject of the frauds and violence in
the elections. Their report has not yet been
with a feeling of confidence that it will fully
sustain all that l have stated in relation to
fraud and violence in the State Of Missis-
tSigned] US. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 81, 1876.
The following is the Presidents letter
to Governor Chamberlain, referred I'd
above:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July &C.
DEAR SIR: am in receiptof your letter
Of the 22d of July, and all the Enclosures
enumerated therein, giving an account Of
the late barbarous massacre of innocent mel
at the town of Hamburg, South Carolina
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 according t.
the dictates of their own coEsciences
and the further duty of the Executive
of the Nation to give all needful aid, wher
properly called on to do SO, to enable you tt
insure this inalienable right, fully concur
in. The scene at Hamburg, as cruel, blood
thirsty, wanton, unprovoked, and as uncallet
for as it was, is only repetition OF tn
|
ern States within the last few years, notabl!
in Mississippi and Louisiana. Mississippi i
to-day governed by officials chosen through
fraud and violence, such as would scarcel.
be accredited to savages, much less to
civilized and Christian people. How lont
these things are to continue, or what is to b'
the final remedy, the Great Ruler OF tn,
universe only knows. But have an abid
ing faith that remedy will come. and come
| Ixy han hat vuil
come peacefully. There has never been
desire on the part of the North to humiliat'
the South. Nothing is claimed for one Stat
that is not freely accorded to all others, un
less it may be right to kill negroes and Re
publicans, without fear of punishment, ant
without loss of caste or reputation. Thi
has seemed to be privilege claimed by
few States. repeat again that l full.
agree with you as to the measure
of your duties in the present emer
gency, and as to my duties. Go on and lie
every Governor, where the same danger
threaten the peace of his State 60 on, in tn
conscientious discharge of his duties, to tn
humblest as well as to the proudest citizen
and / will give every aid, for which cal
find law or constitutional power. The Gov
eminent that cannot give protection to life
property, and all guaranteed civil rights il
this country, and an untrammele'
ballot to the citizen, is in so far q failure
and every energy of the oppressed shoul'
be exerted, always within the law and b.
constitutional means, to regain lost priv
ileges and protection. A too long denial o
guaranteed rights is sure to lead to revC
luton, bloody revolution, where the suffer
ing must fall on the innocent as well as tn
guilty.
Expressing the hope that the better judg
ment and cooperation of the citizens OF tn
State over which you have presided SO ably
may enable you to secure fair trial an
punishment OF all offenders, without distint
ton of race, color, or previous condition
and without aid from the Federal Govern
ment, but with the promise of such aid o.
the conditions named in the foregoing,
subscribe myself
Very Respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
| u. 8. GRANT.
To HON. o. II. CHAMBERLAIN, Governo
| of 81 O.