The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-05

II
States prior to the 10th OF June, 1877, left
mnrshais also unlimited as TO the number
OF their deputies. S. ~
In discharging the duties above named
you will doubtless receive the eountenanee
and support Of all the good citizens OF the
United States In your respective districts.
| It .is not necessary to say that it Is upon
such countenancer and support that the
United States mainly rely in their endeayor
| to enforce the rights to vote which they
have given or have secured. The present
instructions are intended only to counteract
| that partial malice, wrongheaded or in
consideration which sometimes triumphs ut
critical moments over the conservative, and
| in general oyer the prevailing wishes Of So
ciety, and to which the present and passing
condition of the country gives more than
ordinary strength, and therefore requires the
| Government particularly to observe and pro-
vide against. In this connection advise that
you and each OF your deputies, general and
special, have a right to summon to your as
sistance, in preventing and quellingi disor-
der, every person in the district above fif-
teen years OF age, whatever may be their oc-
l.cupations, whether civilians or not, and In
! Guiding the military OF all denomination
militia, soldiers, marines-all of whom are
they are organized as military bodies,
whether OF the State or OF the United States,
under the immediate command OF their own
! officers, does not in any wise affect their le-
gal character. They are. still the posse
| conlitatus. tr -, Ill
prefer to quote the. above statement Of
the law upon this point from an. opinion by
my predecessor, Attorney-Ge Cushing,
because it thus appears to have been well
settled for many years. (Opinion 466, May
81, 1S54.) need hardly add that there can
be no State law or State official in this coun-
try who has jurisdiction to oppose you in
discharging your official duties under the
laws OF the United States. If such inter-
ference shall take place-a thing not antici-
pated-you are to disregard it entirely.
The laws Of the United States are SUI
preme, and so consequently IS the
action OF officials OF the United States
in enforcing them. There is also, you have
already been told, no officer OF O State
whom you may not by summons embody
already embodied by sheriff will with such
sheriff be obliged upon your summons to
become q part of United States posse and
obey you or your deputy, acting Urtu off,
clio. The responsibility which devolves
upon an officer clothed with such powers
and required to guard the highest right
OF citizens corresponds exactly with those
powers and rights, and exacts Of such Off
Ger consideration, intelligence, and cour-
age. ..,..; se...... AZ. -.,.
1t is proper to advise you that in prepar-
ing this circular have considered recent
important judgments given by the Supreme
Court Of the United States upon the acts OF
Congress which regulates this general topic.
| have founded the above instructions upon
those acts as affected by such judgments,
and need, in this place, add no more than
that these judgments do not concern in.
structions for Federal officers. You will find
appended in full, or by reference to, such
statutory provisions as it seems important
that YOU and your deputies shall in this con.
nection read and consider. In matters Of
doubt you are Of course entitled to the adj
vice OF the United States attorney for your
district. The instructions have been sub
mitted to the President and have his ap-
provai.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
r,.t. 80 -. ALPHONzo TAFT,
Attorney-General.
A CONSULTATION OVER THE oRDER-REPoR7
-, FROM SOUTH CARoIINA.sss}.
WASHINGTON, September 4.-Secretaries
Cameron, Robson, and Chandler, and At
torney-General Taft and General Sherman
were in consultation to-day, it is supposed
over the order to the marshals just issued
After the conference they gave hearing tc
Senator Patterson and Governor Chamber
lain, of South Carolina, who represent thai
there are eight or ten counties in the State
where the Republicans are intimidated
and apprehensions are expressed that many
Of them will be prevented from voting.
THE NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC oUANDARY-EX
GOVERNOR sEYAoUR's REASONS FOR DEcLIN.
ING THE GUBERNAToRIAL CANDIDACY.
UTICA, n. Y, September 4.-Thc follow
ing is Governor Seymour's letter:
NY Dear Sir,-The Democratic Conyen'
ton which met last week, acting under mis-.
apprehension. put me in nomination FOL
the Office Of Governor OF this State: This
the members would not have done II they
had known the facts regarding my health
candidate. Duty demands that should de-
cline the proffered honor. While am
grateful for the friendly sentiments which
prompted their action, my dcclination Is
compelled by obstacles which cannot over
come. ~. q. y. .E-.f.r.t.f-.. ". -
For some months my health has been in.
firm, and recent illness has untitled mcfoI
mental or physical exertions. My own
opinion, confirmed by the Judgment OF my
| physicians, convinces me that / am unable
! at this time to perform the duties devolvins
upon the Governor Of New York. I could
cheerfuly sacrifice my OVID purposes and
feelings to meet the wishes OF my friends,
I would not hesitate to peril my health to
uphold those principles in which believe
or to promote the public welfare. but
feel that / should sacrifice the in
terests OF the party which placed me
IN nomination il accepted its ac-
ton. Even the superior strength OF the
party with which / act could not, elect
u ticket with the known fact that its nomi.
nee for Governor was unequal to the per-
Torrance of the labors Of that Office.
could not conscientiously enter upon them.
cannot do my friends the wrong of placing
them in false positions by trying to do SO. !
therefore feel constrained to. decline The
nomination. While it is a great sorrow
to me that / cannot on this occasion
meet the wishes of those to whom l am
| deeply indebted for so many: fayors, yet ]
am satisfied that my action will only subject
them to some present inconvenience, which
in the end will prove to be to their advan-
tage. It is not an unusual thing to have O
vacancy upon the ticket, nor q difficult
matter to fill it. In the main the action OF the
Convention will give confidence to our
friends throughoutthec country. 1t removed
the only cloud upon our political prospects.
There was q fear that discordant organiza-
tions in Democratic strongholds would peril
the success OF the State and national ticket.