The New York herald., 1877-01-23
GENERAL WASHINGTON DESPATCH.

wAsHrxavox, Jan. -. 1877.
TIE Use or TROOPS AT Ei.EcTIoNs--ASswER
OF PRESIDENT GRANT TO THE RESOLUTION
OF THE HOUSE ASKING NFoRxArIox--Hm
VIEWS ON THE DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION ASD THE LAWS.
In ropy to the resolution Of the House OF Rcprssen
satives, passed carry In December, 1885, requesting
the President TO transmit to that body copies Of all
orders or directions cmanating from him or from
either OF the executive departments 10 any military
commander or civil officer relating TO the service Of
the army In Virginia. south Carolina and Florida
the LIST of August last, together with oil reports
from any ol 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 tho 9th OF December, tho President
nys:-
1t was Immediately or soon thereafter referred to
She Secretary Of War and the Attorney General tho
eustod ans OF sil retained copies VI ''orders or
directions" gwen by the Executive Department Of
the government. covered bv the above inquiry
together with All information upon which such 'or-
ucrs or directions" were given. The Information, TO
VA, ss Observed . soG ,s S"n ~" no, limited
sumcd the time up 10 the present Many oftnc CON-
municsiions accompanying this have been al
ssrcs heretofore sent to Congress rms class
OF information includes the important documents
received rom the Governor OF South Carolina, and
sent 10 Congress with my message the subject Of
the Hamburg massacre, aiso the documents accom-
painting my response TO the resolution OF Tue House
of Representatives In regard 10 soldiers stationed ~
There have also come TO me and to the Department Of
Jussce from time time other earnest written
municatiops from persons holding pubic trusts
ers residing che SOUTH some ofwhch append hereto
psscs IN sscss sssses @ These eommuo,cai,oss fhavs
reason 70 regard by Respectable and RESPONSE
bic men, many o. whom Ssrrsease @ ,ns psSes,,on Of
The rcporu heretofore made by conimiitees of Con.
gress Of the OF their inquiries Mississippi aud
commesdinr the ''Mss'ssippi plan" have also irr.
nishcd important data Tor estimating tho damage TO
pubIIc peace and order those siatek Il Is enough
~ say that these different kinds and sources OF
deucs have lett no doubt whatever Va my mind that
sxssps recurring The aid OF the Uncd states where 70
was prscsicsbe 10 furnish such aid. IN soun Carolina
and Florida and 10 LOUISIANA. ns well a. IN
Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The troops
Of the United states have been hat sparn-iy
used and A. 10 Interfere ~1sh the fui
srcisc OF the right oi suffrage Very lew troops
available ior the purpo~s Of preventing snlprcss-
ing the violence ard intimidation the states above
s.sS number 10 nS o. scser n an, ss.e e", er.s.sa
anticipation Of the election. SAVING shst twcutyfour
men sna an onacer we're sent nom fert fcoie 70
Petersburg Va, where Disturbances threatened
No troops we're stationed az the vounx places In
rioriss and LOUISIANA respectively The small nnn-
Der OF soidcfs IN tho ssia states stationed st
such points each state wcrc mos Threatened Win
violsscc where they might be avslsbe a. posse scr
snd nrcyeot M, intitnldat,on of voters sach ds-
position Of the troops seemed 10 me f~ssonahic aud
Justified by law and precedent; white its omisisn
would nave been with the conxsitusonai
duty Of President cf the United states 90 'tsEe
care that the laws be faithfully stecufca" The
statute expressly fcrbds the bringing o. tfcs 10 Tue
polls except "whcre u 10 necessary % Keep The
bus .ns even. 90 r IS s'a sivs s.s sss -
apy case been done. The statiUn ~ Of company er
part Of company the vicinity where they would ts
avs,labIc 10 prevent has <>n The ony sss nssas
of troops prior 70 the erection aud a. she time of the
called IN an emergency requiring w n'nrshsI %
deputy marshal icrcc TO aid IN surprcssinE m
lawful violence. - II
iorcc available u would have been my dnsy " nave
disposed Of IN several States With view 70 the Pre-
venio Of violence and ntmfdation when bHse IN.
doubtedy contributed 10 The defeat OF thc e'cei"n law
In nississippi, Alabama aud seorTm. a. weii - 20
south Carolina, Louisiana aud Florida.
Ey article T. section 4, Of the con.
ssi.u,,on. ..,he unhed states shall saarssses 10
every state unon rcpubicsa Iorn Of govern.
Executive (whcn the Legislature cannot De convenef
ugainst domestic violence. by act OF Congress N ~
u. S, 034 ~ the President IN case Of 1nsarrte-
ton any ssalc" OF unlawiu obstruction 20 The
enforcement Of tho laws OF the United states ~ the
ordinary OF Judicial proceedings" OF Whenever
violence any State obstructs he exccu-
tion OF the laws thereof and OF the United states
as deprive any portion cf the people OF sucn state
OF their civil political rights - authorized 90 em-
poy such parts OF the land and naval orcck ns he may
deem necessary enforce the execution Of the laws
and preserve tho peace and sustain the authority OF
Tic state and Of the United states Acting
lie United States accompanied ths sending OF troops
70 south Carolina with prccamasion, such a.
is therein prescribed. The President 70 also
sssAorssd by act OF Congress ''e employ sseh