The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-15
BY TELEGRAPH
A PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
HAMPTOES INAUGURATION.
Little Rock i'm Flames.
A PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
About intimidation in Virginia.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IA
The following is the presidents message
received by the senate to day:
To the Senate of the United States
In answer to a resolution Of the senate
of the 9th instant, requesting information
as to whether troops Of the United States
were stationed at Petersburg in the state of
Virginia, on the 9TH Of November, 1876,
and if so under what authority and for
what purpose, l submit the inclosed ltt'cr
from the secretary of war to whom tue
resolution WAS referred, together with the
report Of the general of the army and &C.
companying Tapers. These Enclosures will
give all the information called for by the
resolution, and | confidently believe will
Justify the action taken. l. is well I'M
derstood that the presence of United States
troops at p ling places never prevented
n full exercise OF the franchise by any
citizen Of whatever political faith. If,
then, they have had any effect whatever
upon the ballot cast. il has been to insure
protection to the citizen casting it in Civ
| lUI II 10 NAt CdAtNlAhkt VI MS uuOluNlu
choice without fear, and thus securing the
very essence of liberty. It may be the
presence Of taenty-four soldiers under the
command Of q captain srd lieutenant quar-
tered IN tn custom house at Petersburg,
Va, on the 9TH of November, at a consid-
cradle dist6n-e from any polls, without
any interfcrelce on their part whatever
aud without going near the polls during
the election, may hare socHred a diBerent
result from wdat wouH hace been obtained
If they had not been there 60 maintain peace
in case Of iiot) On the face of tho returns.
But il such is the case it is only proof that
in this one congressional district in the
state Of Virginia LEGAL ard constitutional
voters have been able 10 return as elected
the candidates OF their choice.
(Signed ) L. :. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dee. If, 1876.
The letter of the secretary e war is
dated December 1lth, and c~ncloses the re-
port of the general of the army and a on
munication with its enclosures received
from the Encouragement. The Letter Of
the latter cncloses copies Of papers IN file
in his ofiice containing information which
he says shows the necessity Tor sending
troops to Petersburg on the cay Of cl.C-
ton Gen. Sherman's report says
| have the honor to report tia company
b, Capt. Brecker ridge Of tic United state3
artillery, was posted 1t Petersburg, Va,
from November 4 to November 10 when ii
was recalled 20 it, proper station, Fort
Foote, MarylGnl. TO Il more complete
understanding of the case ! will add that
ii at on the second OF November a gentle
man came to me from the attorney general
representing that there was reason TO APP
prehend q breach of peace At Petersburg,
and asking thai a detachment of troops h
sent there. You being then absent saw
Judge TAFT in person and he advised that q
company of soldiers be sent to Petersburg
if practicable, and next day being in New
York city / saw General Hancock in per.
son, aud after some inquiries as to the
troops available | ordered him to send the
above designated company to Petersburg to
remain during the election of November
18th, and then to return to lis pcs.
Enclosed with the report were afidavits,
etc., relative to the necessity for troops at
Petersburg, covering some thirty pages of
manuscript. The fret is the statement of
Geo. N. Marble, to the effect that on the
25th of May he was engaged in a building
a short distance from the polls distributing
republican tickets, when al armed body Of
the opposition, with officers and marching
IN line, assaulted a few colored men in
front of his building with clubs and stones,
which they usel without a scmblance Of
mercy, besides shooting one man after
knocking him down with a stone. Marble,
who escaped at the beginning of the attack,
was Immediately arrested and carried before
the judges of election who committed him
to Jail for melting riot, withou! any hea--
ing whatever. When brought before the
mayor no one Appeared to make complaint
and he was discharged. lie adds that be
firmly believes the republican voters of the
Ivy hii " Ky pul ~ tlt tdit NltC-l1l Nl-
less the government will furnish item am
pie pro:er jon by sentilg troops for thai,
purpose.
Other tili Wis in relati, IL to outrages ia
May, and ex " ling belief that the pres
ence of troops y S Necessary to protect re-
publicans At the polls and which were made
public about the time troops were sent TO
Petersburg, and letters from l. i Levi,
United States attorney, aud g. S. Rams
dell, Uuited States marshal, are also ap-
pended. They relate to the same subject
and also to a la'er disturbance Of the Both
of October, when Metsrs. Segar, Ball and
Dezendorf were assaulted and a republican
meeting broken up. Copies of Virginia
newspapers and some printed copies of or
ders from the war department are also en-
bracel in the Enclosures.
South Carolina.