The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-01
WAsHrNGroN, Jan. %, 1877.


transmit to that body copies of all orders
or directions emanating frpp, him or from
either of the executive departinents 10
any military commander or civil officer
relating to the service of the army in
Virginia, South Carolina and Florida
since the 1st of August last, together with
all reports from any of said military or
civil officers, the President to-day sent to
the House of Representatives the follow
ing message. After stating that the
House resolution reached him on the 9th
of December, the President says
1t was Immediately or soon thereafter
referred to the Secretary of War and the
Attorney General, the custodians of all
retained copies Of "orders or directions"
given by the Executive Department of
the government, covered by the above
inquiry together with all information up.
on which such "orders or directions" were
given. The information, it will be OBJ
served, is>voluminoussand Sith the lini.
ted clerical force in the Department. OF
Justice has consumed the time up to the
present. Many of the communications
accompanying this Ghavc Be4nSalready
made public in CONNECTION with messages
heretofore sent to Congress. This class
of information includes the important
4sdo9Elents received from the Governor of
South Carolina, and sent to Congress with
my message on the subject of the Ham.
burg massacre also the documents ac-
companying my response to the resolu-
ton of the House of Representatives
in regard to soldiers stationed at Peters
burg.
There have also come to ME and to the
Department of Justice, from time 10
time, other earnest written communica-
tions from persons holding public trusts
and others residing in the South, some Of
which append hereto as bearing upon
the precarious condition of the public
peace in those States. These communf-
cations have reason to regard as made
by respectable and responsible men,
many Of whom deprecate the publication
of their names as involving danger to
them personally.
The reports heretofore made by CON-
mittees of Congress of the result of their
inquiries in Mississippi and Louisiana,
and the newspapers Of several States, re-
commencing the mississippi plan," have
also furnished important data for estima-
ting the damage to public peace and or
der in those States. It is enough to saw
that these different kinds and sources of
evidence have left no doubt whatever in
my mind that intimidation has been used
and actual violence, to All extent reguir-
ing the aid of the United States where it
was practicable to furnish such aid, in
South Carolina and Florida and in Loui-
siana, as well as in Mississippi, Alabama
and Georgia. The troops 81 81 the -tniittted d
States have been but sparingly used, and
III nc case so rs to interfere with the full
exercise of the right of suffrage Very
few troops were available for the purpose
of preventing or suppressing the violence
and 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 election, saving that twenty. four men
and an officer were sent from Fort Fuote
to Petersburg, Va, where disturbances
were threatened prior to election.
No troops were stationed at the voting
places in Florida aud Louisiana respec-
lively. The sn;ell nnhibets of snldiera I'd
the said States lwerel stationed al safb
points in each State as were most threat
encd with violence, where they might be
available as posse for the officer whose
duty it was to preserve the peace and
prevent the intimidation of voters. Such
disposition of the troops seemed to me
reasonable, and justified by law and prec-
edent; while its omission wou!d have
been inconsistent with the constitutional
duty OF the President of the United States
to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed" The statute expressly forbids
the bringing of troops to the polls, ex-
cept where 1t is necessary to keep the
peace, implying that to keep the peace
II mhv hi r1nna hut 'tt,is ovn,, - r., - az,
am advised, has not in any case been
done. The stationing of company or
part of a company in the vicinity where
they would be available to prevent riot
has been the only use made, of, troops
prior tp;tho eleCttdn, and at tie eima,of
the election they were so stationed that
they could be called III an emergency re-
quiring it by d marshal or deputy mar
shal as Il force to aid in suppressing un-
lawful violence. a., -. : ~
The. evidence which has come to me
has left me no ground to doubt that IL
there had been more military force avail
aele It wcn!s have been my duty to have
disposed of 1t II several States with a
view to the prevention of violence and
Intimidation which have undoubtedly
contributed to the defeat of the election
law IN Mississippi, Alabama AMI Georgia,
as we'll as in South Carolina, Louisiana
and Florida. .,
by article 4, section 4, of the constitu.
tion, the United States shall guarantee
10 every State in this Union republican
lorm OF, government, and on application
OF the Legislature or of the Executive
when the Legislature cannot be con-
'ened) against domestic piolence,li,3y
act OF Congress (R. S. u. g., sec. /, ,034, Dl
'he PRESIDENT in case of 'insurrection' In
any State" or Of "unlawful obstruction
90 the enforcement of, the laws Of United
states by the. ordinary conrsc of judicial
proceedings" or rwlseneyer..o domestic vi
olence liz aiiy State so obvtrIcts the exc.
cqtion Of the laws Thereof and of the
Ia;ssii 5tntes as 20 deprive any poIiiuu
ol the people of such State" Of their civil
Ut political rights, is authorized to employ
such parts of the land and naval forces
as ne may deem necessary to enforce the
execution of the laws and preserve the
peace and sustain the authority of the
oIate and Of the United States. Acting
under this title, 60 of the Revised Sta,
lates ofsthe limited States, accompa
nied the sending Of troops to South Car
oliha with prccln mntion, such as j,
therein prescribed. The President is also
authorized by not Of Congress "to employ
such part OF the land or nava' forces o
the United States" Ms shai! be nccessar,
70 prevent thef violation aiiGird enfpre,
the dIeeSecqli6h df the 'proyfiisions 70
utie "a Of the Revised Statutes of tht
United saates for the protection of th,
oLVii'' rights of citizens, among which i
49,. -.