Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-02
THE "BLOODY SHIFT"
The President Waves it Over Louisiana,
Mississippi and South Carolina,
and DenOunees the People
of Those States.
lie Gives Assurance of Executive Support
TO Any Measures the Radical Gov.
ernOrs May Initiate for the
Success Of the farty.

|. WASHINGTON, August 1.-The fol-
lowing message was received by the
Senate from the President to-day:
To the Senate OF the United States:
In response to resolution OF the SEN
ate, July twentieth, calling upon the
President to communicate to the Senate
if, in his opinion, not Incompatible with
the public interest, any infoIm alton in
regard to the slaughter of American cit
izans at Hamburg, South Carolina. l
have to submit the following enclosures I"
Here follows p number OF papers rela-
i've to the Hamburg massacre. The
President says: These enclosures en-
brace all the information In my posses.
sion touching the late disgracetul and
brutal slaughter Of unoffendiDg men at
the town Of Hamburg, South Carolina.
My letter to Governor Chamberlain con-
tains all the comments l wish to make
on the subject. AS allusion is made in
the letter to the condition OF other
States, and particularly to Louisiana
aud Mississippi, ! have added to
these enclosures the letter and testimony
in regard to the lawless condition OF
portion of the people OF the latter State.
In regard to Louisiana affairs, murders
and mas acres of innocent men for op1n-
ions sake, or on account OF color, have
been of too recent date, and OF too fre-
quent occurrence, to require recapitula-
ton or testimony here. All are familiar
with their horrible details, the only
wonder being that 80 many justify them
or apologize for them. But recently 3
committee of the senate OF the United
States visited the State of Mississippi to
- ftkA IT1h fr0nhE
and violence in elections. Their report
has not vet been made public, bat 1
await lis forthcoming with feeling Of
confidence that it will sustain all that !
have stated in relation to fraud and Vlo-
Ience in the State of Mississippi.
u. g. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 81, 1876.
The following is the Presidents letter
to Governor Chamberlain, referred to
above:
WAsHINGToN, July 26, 1876.
DEAR SIR-I am in receipt OF your
letter of the twenty-second Of July, and
all Enclosures enumerated therein, civ.
ing an account OF the late barbarOus
massacre of innocent men attbe town OF
Hamburg, South Carolina. The views
which you express as to the duty you
owe to your oath of office and to the Cit
izsns to secure to all their civil rights
including the right to vote according to
the dictates OF their own conscience;
and further, the duty OF the Executive
of the nation to give ali needfui aid,
when properly called upon to do so, to
enable you to insure this inalienable
right, fully concur in. The scene at
Hamburg-as cruel, bloOd.thlrsty, wan
ton and uuprovOked ss it was-ls only
repetition of the course that has been
pursued in other southern States within
the last few years, notably in Mississip-
pi and Louisiana. Louisiana and Mis-
sissippl are governed to day by officials
chosen through fraud and violence,
such as would scarcely be accredited to
saVages, much less to q civilized and
christian people. How long thess things
are to continue, or what is to be the final
remedy, the Great Ruler Of the universe
only knows. But have an abiding faith
that the remedy will come, and come
speedily, and earnestly hope that it will
come peacefully. There has never been
8 desire on the part of the north to hu-
initiate the south. Nothing is claimed
for one State that is not freely accorded
to all the others. 1t may be right to kill
negroes and Republicans without fear OF
punishment, and without loss of caste or
reputation. This has seemed to be
privilege claimed by a few States. l
repeat again that fully agree
with you as to the measure of your du-
ties. Go on, and let the governor,
where the same dangers threaten the
peace OF his State, go on in conscien-
tious discharge of his duties to the hum
blest as we'll as to the proudest citizen,
and l will give every aid for which
can find law or constitutional power.
The government that cannot give pro-
lection to the life, property and all guar
anteed civil rights in this country-the
greatest of which is an untrammeled
ballot to the citiZsn-is in 80 far fail
ure, and every energy OF the oppressed
should be exerted, always within the
law and by constitutional means, to re-
gain the lost privileges and protection.
Too long q denial of the guaranteed
rights is sure to lead to
revolut on, bloody revolution, where
suffering must fall upon the innocent as
well ss the guilty. Expressing the hope
that the better judgment and cooper a.
ton of the citizens of the State over
which you have presided 80 ably may
enable you to secure fair trial, and
punishment of all the offenders, without
distinction Of race or color or previous
condition, AID without aid from the
Federal government, but with the
promise of such aid on the conditions
named in the foregoing, l subscribe my
self, very respectfully your obedient
servant, U. s. GRANT.
Togaon. D.H Chamberlain, Governor of South
carolina.