The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-10-09
MORE CAPITAL.
A LETTER wHHCm Is HELD AS AN
OFFICE RECORD,
AND which ms Such CannGt be seen.

and which as Such Cannot no seem
An Associated Press dispatch. which appeared
In the papers yesterday morning, announced
shat ''ths Attorney General has written to the
United States attorneys in Louisiana, Alabama
and South Carolina that he has Information
Of certain outragns alleged to have been com
mitted, and threatened to be committed in the
northern and middle districts Of Alabama. in
connection with the approaching congressional
election"
Learning that the letter referred to had come
to hand and was In possession Of Assistant
United States District Attorney J. W. Gurley, q
DEMOCRAT reporter called on that official for
the purpose of obtaining copy OF the docu-
ment. Mr.. GurleY, when seen by the reporter
at about o'clock. was just leaving hia office In
for permission to look at the paper, SAID
that he did not feel authorized to make 1t pub
lic as 1t WIS an office record but that the state
ments regarding It In the press dispatches were
being unable to obtain anv information re-
the letter ny ryoa Gse be Ra ~ o
change his fdens about the Hacredness OF the
letter "a an office record tho reporter ct later
hour called ht his residence. NO. 20 ooiiseum
Ushered into the parlor the reporter had not
long to wait betore Mr.. GurleT appeared. The
Mr. Guriey. I haye called on you, once again =,
2 e Pqblf e Interest and think
M Mr. e aurleyi nf am not at liberty to make the
correspondenoe Of the office public. AS | said
before tho substance of the letter is In the dis
patch. ar
Here morning paper was looked up by Mr..
GqEey and the attention q the nig rG9onter M wns
~ contains the Substance Of the letter." The
dispatch In its entirety rends as follows: ~ >,
1.-THE Attorney General has written to United
t,s, .nttx1 In iili
South Carolina that he has information of.cer,,
tain outrages alleged to have been committed
and ars t. 9 o an m he
tion with the approaching congressional eec.
ton. fhe information is of such an important r q
character that ne deems u proper r TO c ea th9, h
freedom and purity of such elections. and In
order to secure oil citizens their Just rights he
calls the attention Of these officers to section $500
OF the Revised Statutes imposing fine and i'm
prisoument upon persons forciby or by threats
deterrng any citisan from his right to vote or
support any candidate for the Offices; OF Presl-
dent Vice President or Congress: and prompt
" instructs them to promptly arrest all violators
Of the law, The attorneys addressed nre g. also
required to show the letter to United States
Marshals, II they have occasion to place War-
rants in their hands relating to this subject, ,r.
After glanclng over II the reporter said: IT
appears. Mr. Gurley, that information regard
Ing the contents Of the letter were given to the
reporters at Washington, Can you not under
ana ns the t ] t IS oe
document, give 1t to the public?"
Mr.. Gurley did not think he could, 1t was
rule of the Office that letters Of the nature OF the
one In question should not be made public.
Reporter-Wel, aside from that general rule.
Is there any other reason-anythlng In the lot
ter-why you will not give it2
Mr.. Hurley.-No other reason. and there Ia
nothing In the letter which would prevent its
publication.
Rep.-I must tell you. Mr.. Gurley. before /
leave, that the letter Is believed to be Of coneid
cradle political interest, and that your refusal
to make 1t PUBLIC, taken In connection with the
mittee to-day. will be attributed to political
motives.
1t belongs to the Office and / cannot give 1t.
After the interchange of the usual courtesies.
tho reporter withdrew.
| As copy of the letter could not be obtained
| In this city, dispatch calling for 1t was sent
TO WASHINGTON,
and the communication will he found in the
telegraphie column of the DEMoCRT to-day.