Year: 1877

Legislature for the State of Louisiana,
it would be a great step in composing
the unhappy strife.


The President leaves entirely to the
Commission the conciliatory influ.
ences, which in their judgment,
formed on the spot, may seem to them
to conduce to the proposed end. His
own determination that only public con.
siderati0ns should inspire and attend
this effort to give ascendency in Louis
lana to the things that belong to peace,
is evinced by his selection of Commits.
sioners who offer to the country in
their own character every guaranty of
public motives and methods of trans
action which they have undertaken.
Your report Of the result of this en-.
deavor will satisfy the President, he
does not doubt, of the wisdom of his
selection and his plenary trust in the
Commission.


A second, and less important subject
of attention during the visit to New
Orleans will be the collection of accu.
rate and trustworthy information from
public officers and prominent citizens
of all political connections as to the
state Of the public feeling in the COM
munity at large upon the general
questions which affect the peaceful and
safe exercise in the State of Louis
lana Of all legal and political
privileges conferred by the
constitution of the United States
upon all citizens. The maintenance
and protection of these rights and
privileges by all constitutional means,
and by every just moral and social in.
tiuence, are the settled purpose of the
President in his administration of the
government. lie will hope to learn
from your Investigation that this pur.
pose will be aided and not resisted by
the substantial and effective public
opinion of the great body of the
people of Louisiana. The President
does not wish to impose any limit upon
your stay in Louisiana that would
tend to defeat the full objects of
your visit. He is however, extreme.
ly desirous to find it in his pow.
er at the earliest day compatible with
safe exercise of that authority to
put an end to even the appearance of
military Intervention in the domestic
affairs of Louisiana, and he awaits
your return with confident hope
that your report will enable him


promptly to execute purpose he has
so much at heart. The President de.
sires me to add that the publication of
the results of your visit he shall hope
to make Immediately after their com.
municati0n to him.


have the honor to be with great
respect, your obedient servant,


WM. NJ. EvARTs.
SOUTH CAROLINA.


EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
WASHINGTON, d. G., April 3, 1877.


SIR: Prior to my entering upon the
duties of the Presidency there had


been stationed, by order of my prede.
cessor, in the State House at Colum.


ola, S. c., a detachment of United
States infantry. Finding them in that
place, have thought proper to delay
the decision of the question of their


removal until I could consider and de
termine whether the condition of a..


fairs in that State is now such as to IL
quire or justify continued military oc.
cupation of the State House. In my
opinion there does not exist in that
State such domestic violence as is con.
templated by the constitution as the
ground upon which the military power
of the national government may be in.
voked for the defense of the
State. There art, it is true, grave
and serious disputes as to the
rights of certain claim ants to the
chief executive office of that State, but
these are to be settled and determined,
not by the Executive of the United
States, but by such orderly and peace.
able methods as may be provided by
the constitution and laws of the State.
feel assured that no resort to VIC.
lence is contemplated in any quarter,
bu: that ,on the contrary the disputes in
question are to be settled solely by
such peaceful remedies as the consti.
tuition and law of the State provides.
Under these circumstances and in this
confidence / now deem it proper to
take action in accordance with the
principles 2announced when entered
upon the duties of Presidency. You
are, therefore, directed to see that the
proper orders are issued for the reno.
val of said troops from the State House
their previous place Of encampment.
(Signel1 r. B. HAYES.
Hon. George w. McCrary, Secretary
of War.


In accordance with this letter, the
Secretary of War issued an order
withdrawing the troops from the State
House, on the 10th.