American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-12
The South Carolina Troubles

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO THE SEN
ATE AND LETTER TO GOV. CHAMBER
LAIN.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-The following
message was received by the Senate from
the President to-day:
To the Senate Of the United STATES: In response
to a resolution of the Senate. July 90, calling
upon the President to communicate to the Senate.
if in his opinion not incompatible with the public
interest. any information in regard to the slaugh-
ter of American citizens at Hamburg, s. c., 1
have the honor to submit the following Enclosures
Here follow a number of papers relative to
the Hamburg massacre. These Enclosures
embrace all the information in my possession
touching the late disgraceful and brutal slaugh
ter of unOffendng men at the town of Hamburg.
S. G. My letter to Governor Chamberlain con-
tains all the comments wish to make on the
subject. AS allusion is made in the letter to the
condition of other States, and particularly Louis
lana and Mississippi, have added to the inclos
ures letters and testimony in regard to the law
less condition Of portion of the people of the lat
ter State. In regard to Louisiana affairs, MUIR
ders and massacres of innocent men for opin-
ions sake or on account of color, Rave been of
too recent date and too frequent occurrence to
require recapituation or testimony here. All
are familiar with their horrible details, the only
wonder being that SO many justify them or apol-
ogize for them. But recently committee of the
Senate of the United States visited the State of
| Mississippi to take testimony upon the subject
| of frauds and violence in elections Their re-
port has not yet been made public, but 1 await
its forthcoming with feeling of confidence that
it will sustain all that have stated in relation
to fraud and violence in the State of Mississippi
(Signed) U. S. GRANT
| Executive Mansion, July 81, 1876.
The following is the Presidents letter to
Gov. Chamberlain, referred to above:
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 26 ,
1s16--Dear Sir: am in receipt of your letter of
| the ed July, and the Enclosures enum Grated
| therein, giving an account of the late barbarous
massacre of innocent men at the town of Ham
burg, South Carolina. The views which you ex-
press 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 to
the dictates of their own consciences, and the
| fur ther duty of the Executive of the Nation to
give all needful aid, when properly called on to
do so, to enable you to insure this inalienable
| right, fully concur in. The scene at Hamburg
| as cruel, bloodthirsty, wanton, unprovoked and
as uncalled for as it was, is only a repetition OF
the course that has been pursued in other South
| ern States within the last few days. notably in
Mississippi and Louisiana. Mississippi is gov.
erned to-day by officials chosen through fraud
and violence, such scarcely would be accred
tied to savages, much less to a civilized anC
Christian people, How long these things are t.
continue, or what is to be the final remedy, tn,
great Ruler of the Universe only knows but
| have an abiding faith that the remedy viii
come, and come speedily, and earnestly hop,
that it will come peacefully. There has ncve
been desire on the part of the North to humili