Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-01-31
President Grants Message Relative -
the Use OF Troops In the South.
WAsHfxGTaN. Jan. y.

of Representatives raised early in Deem
der, 1876 requesting the President to
transmitto that body copies of all orders
or directions emanating from him or from
either Of the Executive Departments TO
any military commander or civil officer
relating TO the service Of the army in Vir-
ginia, South Carolina, Louisiana and
Florida since the 1st of August last, to-
gether with all reports from any Of said
= military or civil officers, the President
to-day sent to the House OF Representa-
tives the following message After stating
that the House resolutions reached him on
the 0thof December the President says:
1t was Immediately, or soon thereafter re.
ferred to the Secretary Of War and Attorney
General, the eustodans OF all retained copies
Of oil orders or directions given by the
Executive Department Of the Government
covered by the above inquiry, together with
all information upon which such - ders or
directions" were given. The information, 1t
will be observed, ia yoluminous, and, with
the limited clerical force in the Department
of Justice, has consumed the time up to the
present. Many communications accompany
ing this have been already made public In
= connection with the messages heretofore
sent to Congress. This class of information
includes important documents received from
the Governor OF South Carolina, and sent to
Congress with my message on the subj Of
the Hamburg massacre. Also documents ae-
companying my response to the resolution
of the House Of Representatives In regard to
soldiers stationed at Petersburg. There have
q also come to me and to the Department of
Justice from time to time other earnest
written communications from persons hold
ing public trusts and others residing in the
South which ! append hereto as bearing
upon the precarious condition OF the publ
peace In those States These cDmmunipa.
lions | have reason to regard as made by
respectable and responsible men. Many Of
them deprecate the publication Of their
names AS involving danger to them person
ally, The reports heretofore made by the
committees Of Congress OF the result OF
their inquiries In Mississippi and In Louis
siana and the newspapers OF the several
States recommending "the Mississippi
PLAN have also furnished important data
for estimating the danger to the public
peace and order in those States.
IT. 10 enough to say that these different
kinds and resources Of evidence have left no
doubt whatever In my mind that intimida-
ton has been used, and actual violence, to an
extent requiring the aid Of the United States
where 1t was practicable TO furnish such aid
In South Carolina and Florida, aud In Louis
lana, as well in Mississippi, Alabama, and
Georgia, the troops Of the United States have
been bat sparingiy used and In no case so as
OF suffrage, Very few troops were available
for the purpose Of preventing or suppressing
violence or intimidation In the States above
named. In no case, except that OF South
Carolina, was the number Of soldiers in any
state Increased In anticipation Of the cleo
ton, saving that twenty-four men and an
officer were sent from Fort Foote to Peters |
burg, Va, whore disturbances were threat.
cncd prior 10 the election No troops were |
stationed at the voting places In Florida and |
Louisiana, respectively Small numbers OF |
soldiers in said States were stationed |
Mt such points In each State as were
most threatened with violence, where
for an officer whose duty 1t was to
preserve the peace, aud prevent the intim-
idation OF voters. Such disposition Of
troops seemed to me reasonable and jussa-
fled by Law and precedent, while its omission
would have been inconsistent with he con
stitutiona duty Of the President of tue
United States To take care that the laws be |
faithfully executed" The statute expressly !
forbidS the bringing Of troops TO the polls !
except where necessary to keep the !
peace implying that to keep ihe peace it |
may lac done; but this even, 50 far as | am |
advised has not In any ease been done. The |
hationlng OF q company, or part OF COM |
pany, In The vicinity where they would be
available to prevent riot has been the only |
use made OF troops prior 10 and at the time |
of election when so stationed they could |
be called on, In an emergency requiring IL, !
by Marshal OF Deputy Marshal Ms posse
to aid In supprrsning un,awful violence
The evidence which has come to me has
left me no ground To doubt That If there had
been more military force available IL would
have been my duty to have disposed vi It in
the several States, with view 60 the proven
ton of violence aud intimidation which
have undoubtedly contributed sa defeat tho
Election law in Mississippi Alabama and
Georgia, as well as In South Carolina, louis
lana aud Florida,
BY Art. 4, See. 4 Of the Constitutions "the
United States shah guarantee TO every state
in this Union q republican tona of govern
meut and on the application of the I4fgisla-
ture ur uf the Executive when the Leg sla-
turc cannot be convened, against domestic
Violence" BY act Of Congress Or. 5 L. =,
See loS4.N the President, In case of Asur-
rcetinn IN any State, or Of unlawful o9struc-
ton to the enforcement ol the laws of the |
United states 10y the ordinary coarse Of
judicial proceedings, err whenever domes-
Tie violence in any State So ohstrnctS The
execution of the laws thereof and 1T the
United States As to deprive any portion
Of the people Of such State ot their
civil or political rights, is authorized 10
employ such parts Of the land and naval
forces as he may deem necessary IL enforce
the execution of the laws, and preserve the
peace aud sustain the authority OF the State
and Of the United States. Acting under this
Critic % ot the Revised Statues OF the
United States) accompanied this sending
of troops TO South Carolina with a procia-
mutiou such AS is therein prescribed. The
President is also authorized 10y act Of Con.
Yves, " TO employ such part of The land or
naval forces Of the United States as shall
be necessary 10 prevent Violation HnI 10 en-,
force the due execution Of the provisions Of
Title - NJ the Revised Statues OF The United
States for the protection Of the civil rights
OF citizens, among which Is - provision