New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-23
MESSAGE on THE USE or TROOPS.
GEN. GRANTS ANSWER TO THE HOUSE RESOLUTION
THE CONSTITUTION COMPLIED WITH.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPArCHt

GENERAL PRESS DIsPArcHl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The President
special message the Of troops in the South sent 10
the House to-day was not very long Itself but was ac
companed with volumnOUs documents The latter COM
prise documents received from governors letters from
marshals and private individuals. reports newspapers
and messages. The President says:
II is enough to say that these different kinds ana
Of evidence have left doubt whatever IN my
mind that intimidation has been used ana actnat Io-
ence to an extent requiring the aid Of the United states
where practicable TO furnish such ana IN s3qtn
Carolina and Florida and in Louisiana as well as IN Ms
sissippi. Alabama. aud Georgia. The troops OF the
United states have been but sparinsy Used ana Va ~
the right OF suffrage. Very few troops were avail
able the purpose Of prev ntng or Suppressng ne
Violence and Intimidation in tho states above named In
no case EXCEPT that OF -Outh Carolina WIS the number
OF soldiers in any state increased In anticipation "a %
election. saving that twenty-four men and IN officer
were from Fort Foote To Petersburg, Va, wnrI'
disturbances were threatened prior 20 el. HGIoi
No troops were stationed ut the voting places.
In Florida and Louisiana respectively inc small nuDcf
OF soldiers in the SAID States were saOsd NJ such po
where they might be available posse for the officer
whose duty preserve the peace ana prevent te
seemed TO me reasonable, and Justified o., 3d
law and precedent, while Its omission " 3uiu
have been inconsistent with the CONSTITUTIONAL ui,5
OF the President OK the United states 10 tgAe ~
that the law? be fitniuy mo eT Fa. eti me no
ground doubt that If there mad been more mltary
force available It would have been my duty 10 nave us
posed OF II IN several states Win we" 30 l' prSJ
ton OF violence and intimidation. which nave uhaouOU
ctiN contributed 10 the 1t1cIt OF Jnc eccJoh l'M
sSSipp Alabama. aud Georgia as well rs III ooah Caro
lima louisiana and Florida.
The President cites the laws and sections OF the constr
tuition which require him to station troops in districts
where violence prevails, and then says
have not employed troops slight occasions nor IN
any where mas been necessary 10 the en- Gree
mpnt OF the laws Of the United States In TINS nave
been guided by the Constitution and the laws Wihch
nave been enacted and the precedentS winch nave Dtc
formed under II. IL has b en- necessary 7"
employ troops occasionally 70 overcome resistance ~
Internal Revenue laws from the time OF sac resist
the collection or the whisky tax H. pennsylvania
under Washington 10 the present time. III 1904 Wh:h
IL apprchcuded tlat resistance would ne lnauc III
BOs ~ The aud return % his master OF i
tive slave troops there stationed were employed 10
enforce the masters right under the Constitution ana
troops stationed at New-fO were ordered 10 be III
readiness 20 TO Boston If 1t shoId prove
10 be necessary. In 1859, when John Brown
with small number OF men made his attack upon
Idrpers Ferry The President ordered United states
troops assist in the apprehension and suppression ~
aim aud his party with formal call OF the Legislature
sGOyornOr OF Virginia and without Iroclanatlon
II the President. Without recalling turtAef
instances in which the Executive has eAer
CiScd his powers cOnmludcr OF nc
army and navy to prevent suppress resistance 70 the
laws OF United states where ne has exercised IKE
authority obedience to cal from state 10 suppress
Instruction, desire TO assure bOh Congress ana me
country that it has been my purpose TO admlnstef tne
executive powers OF the Government fairly ana III Il" IN
disregard transcend the limits OF the consul
fuf