The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-04-14
The Presidents Southern Policy


The President writes to George
W. McCrary, Secretary of War, of
date April 3. that there is no
longer any fear. Of domestic VIC
lence in South Carolina, and that
therefore the detachment of United
States iufantry IL the State House
at Columbia can safely be removed
ana the people of South Carolina
left to settle their difficulties by
peaceful methods.
Geo. w. McCrary accordingly
telegraphs to Gen. Sherman, com
mander-in- chief of the United
States army, directing the with
drawal Of the troops from the
South Carolina State House to the
barracks they occupied before
they moved. there.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSION.
The following are the instruc-
tons sent to the members of the
Louisiana Commission by the At
torney General . -,
WAsHISsToS, April 2, II.
TO Hons. Chas. B. Lawrence, Joseph L.
Hawley, John VI, Harlan. John c.
Brown, and Wayne Mcveigh, CON-
missioaers
Gentlemen-I am instructed by
the President to lay before you
some observations upon the occa-
sion and object, which have led
him TO invite, you, as members OF
the commission about to visit the
State of Louisiana, and to under
take this public service. Upon
assuming your Office the President
finds the situation of affairs in
Louisiana such as to justify and
demand his prompt and solicitous
attention, for the situation pre-
sents rs one, Of its, features the
apparent Intervention of the mill
tary power of the United States
in the domestic controversies
which undoubtedly divide the
opinions and disturb the harmony
OF the people of that State.
GRANT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MIDDLE.
This intervention arising dhring
the term. nd Bythe autholiy OF
his predecessor, ? throw no Pres
ent duty upon the President, ex-
cept to examine and determine
the real extent and form and effect
to which such intervention actu-
ally exists, and to decide as to the
time manner and conditions which
should be observed in putting an
end to it. GA
1t is in aid of his intelligent
and prompt discharge of this duty
that the President has sought the
services of this Commission to
supply, by means of its examina-
ton, conducted in the State OF
Louisiana, some information that
may be pertinent to the 1circum-
spection and scrutiny of any meas
ures that he may resolve upon.
THE LATE ELECTION NOT TO BIZ EXAM
MED INT0
1t will readily be understood
that the service desired ofqand in
trusted to the commission does
not include any examination into
Or report upon the facts of the re-
cent State election, orIof, the cam
vass of the votes cast at that cleo.
ton. So far as attention to that
subject may be necessary, the Pres
ldent cannot but feel that the re-
ports of the committees of the
two houses of Congress, and other
public information at hand, viii
dispense with and should preclude
any original explanation by the
commission OF the field of inquiry.
THE nIpEpInEsTL TO PEACE AND LAW.
But it is most pertinent and i'm
portant in coming to a decision
upon the precise question Of the
executing. duty before him, that
the President should know what
are the real impediments to regu-
lar, legal and peaceful procedure
under the laws and constitution
Of the State Of Louisiana, by
which the anomalies in the gov
eminent there presented may be
put in course of settlement with
out involving the element OF mill
tary power, as either an agent or
a make weight in such solution.
The successful entertainment of
these impediments the President
would confidently expect would
indicate to the people of that State
the wisdom and mode of their re.
moval. -t-