Year: 1877

Letter from Cne PreSlQenC showing


his Policy-Troops Withdrawn from


the South Carolina State House.


To Hon. Charles B. Lawrence, j.
r. Hawley, John NJ. Harlan, John c.
Brown and Wayne Mac Veighe, CON-
Observation-Disclosures: am instruct.
ed by the President to lay before you
some observations upon the occasions
and objects which have led him to in.
vite you, as members of the commits
sion about to visit the State Of Louisi.
ana, to undertake the public service.
Upon assuming his Office the President
finds the situation of affairs in Louisi-
ana such as to justly demand his
prompt and s0licltous attention, for
this situation presents as one Of it's
features the apparent intervention OF
the military power of the United
States in the domestic controversies
which undoubtedly divide the opinions
and disturb the harmony of the peo-
pie of that State.


This intervention, arising during
the term, aud by the authority of his
predecessor, throws no present duty
upon the President. except to Iexamine
and determine the real extent, form
and effect to which such Intervention
actually exists, and to decide as to the
time, manner and conditions which
should be observed in putting an end
to it. 1t is in aid of his intelligent and
prompt discharge of this duty that the
President has sought the service of
this commission, to supply by means
of it's examination, conducted in the
State of Louisiana, some information
that may be pertinent to the circum-
spection and security of any measures
he may resolve upon. 1T will
be readily understood that the
service desired of and entrusted to
this commission does not include any
examination into or report upon the
facts of the recent State election, or of
the canvass of votes cast at that elec-
tion. So far as attention to that subject
may be necessary, the President cannot
but feel that the reports of the COM
mittees of the two houses of Congress,
and other public information at hand,
will dispense with and should preclude
any original exploration by the Com.
mission of that field of inquiry but it
Is most pertinent and important in
coming to a decision upon the precise
question of exclusive duty before him
that the President should know what
are the real impediments to the reg
ular, legal, and peaceful procedure
under the laws and constitution of the
State OF Louisiana, by which, the an.
omalies in the government there pre-.
sented may be put in course of settle.
ment, without involving the element of
military power as either an agent or a
make'weight in such solution. The
successful ascertainment of these i'm.
pediments, the President would conf.
dently expect, would indicate to the
people of that State the wisdom
and mode of their removal. The
unusual circumstances which attend.
ed and followed the State election
and canvass, from its relation to
the excited feelings and interest
of the Presidential election, NAV
have retarded within the State Of
Louisiana the persuasive influences bv
which great social and material inter-
.ests common to the whole people of
a State and the pride of American
character as law-abiding nation
ameliorate the disappointments and
dissolve the resentments of close and
Jealous political contests. But the
President both hopes and believes the
great body of the people of Louisiana
are now prepared to treat the unset.