Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-08-09
President Grant on the Hamburg
Butchery.
WASHINGTON, Aug. I,

The following message was received by
the Senate from the President to-day:
ToHe Senate Of the United States: In response
TO resolution of the Senate, July 20, calling
upon the President to communicate to the
Senate, il in his opinion not incompatible
with public interest, any information in re-
gard to the slaughter of American citizens
at Hamburg, :. c., have the honor to sub
nit the following enclosures: Here follows
number of papers relative to the Hamburg
massacre
The President says: These Enclosures
embrace all the information in my posses
sion touching the late disgraceful and brutal
slaughter of unotfending men ut the town OF
Hamburg, S. c. My letter to Gov. Cham
berlain contains all 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-
ippi, have added to the Enclosures letters
and testimony in regard to the lawless con-
dition of a portion of the people OF the latter
State. In regard to Louisiana affairs, murders
and massacres Of innocent men for opinions
sake, or on account of color, have been of
too recent date and 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 apologize for them. But recently
committee of the Senate of the United States
visited the State of Mississippi to take tes-
timony on the subject of frauds and vio-
lence in elections. Their report has not
been made public but | await its forthcom-
ing with feeling of confidence that it will
fully sustain all that have stated in relation
to fraud and violence in the State of Missis-
sippi. Y. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 81, 1876.
The following is the Presidents letter to
Gov. Chamberlain, referred to above:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON, ID. G., July ~.
DEAR SIR: am in receipt of your letter
of the odd of July, and all the Enclosures
enumerated therein, giving an account OF
the late barbarous massacre of innocent men
at the town of Hamburg, S. {. 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 ac-
cording to the die atcs 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 so to ena-
BILE you to insure this inaienable right,
fully concur in The scene at Hamburg,
cruel, bloodthirsty, wanton, unprovoked and
uncaled-for as it was, is only repetition Of
the course that has been pursued in other
Southern States within the last few years,
notably in Mississippi and Louisiana Mis-
-
through fraud and violence, such as would
scarcely be accredited to savages, much
less to civilized and Christian people.
How long these 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 a remedy will
come, and come speedily, and / earnestly
hope that it will come peacefully There
has never been desire on the part of the
North to humiliate the South. Nothing is
claimed for one State that is not freely ac-
corded to all others, unless it be the right to
Kill negroes and Republicans without fear
of punishment and without loss OF caste or
reputation. This has seemed to be priyi-
lege claimed by few States.
Irepcat again that fully agree with you
as to the measure of your duties in the pres
ent emergency, and as to my duties Go on,
and let every Governor where the same dan
gers threaten the peace OF his State, 60 on in
the consci ntious discharge of his duties to
the humblcst as well as the proudcst citizen,
aud will give every aid for which can find
law or Constitutional power. The Govern
mcnt that cannot give protection to life,
property, and all guaranteed civil.rights-
in this country the greatest is an untram-
mcled ballot-to the citizen is in so far a
failure, and every energy OF the oppressed
should he eXerted always within the law
and bv Constitutional means) to regain lost
privileges and protection. The denial of
guaranteed rights is sure to lead to revolu-
ton, bloody revolution, where the suffering
must fall upon the innocent as well as the
guilty.
Expressing the hope that the better judg-
mcnt and cooperation Of the citizens of the
State over which you have presided so ably
may enable you to secure fair trial and
punishment of all offenders, without dis
tinction of race, or color, or previous con
ditiOn, and without aid from the Federal
Government, but with the promise of such
aid on the conditions named in the fore
going subscribe myself, very respectfully,
your obcdient servant, u. ). GRANT.
To the Hon d. II. Chamberlain, Governor OF
South Carolina.