The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1878-10-17
FAIR ELECTIONS.
The AITOrney-6eneraI Sends Instruc.
tIOBs 10 UfHeIaIs IN the south.

WASHINGTON, October 7.-ALtor,
ney-Genersl Devens has sent the fol.
lowing letter TO United States Atror-
neys in Louisiana, Alabama and
South Carolina
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, October 8.
Charles z. Mayer, Esq, Attorney
General, Montgomery, alabama
SIR :-Information has been given
me Of certain outrsges alleged to have
been committed and threatened to be
committed in the northern and mid
die districts Of Alabama in eOnnec-
tion with the approaching Congress.
sional election. Fhis Information is
OF such q character that I deem il
proper TO call your attention to the
laws OF Congress intended to protect
the freedom and purity Of such elec-
tions, in order that proper steps may
be taken to bring 70 justice those who
offend against them, and to secure to
all citizens without distinction OF
party, while election Is pending,
their just rights. The statement OF
crimes against election franchise is
condensed in chapter seventh, title
seventy Of the Revised Statutes, and
your attention Ia especially called to
section s, $50, which enapts-
"If two or more persons in any
State or Territory oOnspiFe to pre-
vent by force, Intimidation or threat
any citiZ sn who is lawfully entitled to
vote from giving bis support or sd-
vocacy in 8 legal manner toward or
In 10 81 a rNFo la ffn1
Iy qualified person as eleotor for Presi-
dent or Vice President, or as 8 men,
ber Of Congress, or to iDjure any eiti-
zsns in person or property on ac-
count Of such support or advocacy /;
each Of such persons shall be punished
by lne not Iess than 500 nor more
than 8. 600, or by imprisonment with
or without hard labor not less than
six months nor more than six years,
or by both such fine and imprison-
ment."
The Enforcement OF this provision
is essential to the proper discussion Of
the merits of citizens VINO come for
ward as candidates for Congress.
When therefore it Is invaded by COM
binatiOns as conspiracy, by force, in
lluIiudAlOu VI buACabd W HlCNCuN ClNl-
zens from giving their support and
to any lawfully qualified
person as q member of Congress Of
the United States, and sufficient evi.
denGe OF thia is brought to your at
tention, you will act sneTgetiGally in
bringing those entering into such con-
spiracies to Justice by causing war
rants to be issued against them by
some firm and impartial United
States Commissioner, and by having
such parties brought promptly before
him TO be dealt with according to
law.
Such warrants should be made re-
turnable where you or your assistant
can attend st the hearing. On account
Of the importance of the matter, I
deem it proper also to add that in
such cases you should endesvor to
select those whom you are satisfied
are leaders of such cOnspiracies rather
than the nero followers. In no CAGE
will you permit any warrants to be
or carelessly Issued. The
laws are to be executed firmly, but
always fairly and impsrtIslly.
You will show this letter to the
marshal il you should have occasion
to place warrants in his hands relst-
ing to this subject.
[Signedl Very respectfully,
CHARLES DEVENs,
Atty. General.