Year: 1876

Gettisg Ready to Curb tho Bulldezers.


A Saratoga correspondent of the New
York Herald, writing of an interview OF
Secretary Chandler with Secretary Gam.
eron, at that point, says:


1t is believed, in we'll informed circles,
that the meeting of Secretaries Chandler
and Cameron here was not wholly acci-
dental, but had direct reference to the con-
ditiOn of the Southern States, and to the
steps to be taken to insure protection to the
ballot box and to the col0red voters in the
approaching election. Several represents
tive Republicans from the States have been
here during the past week, and their stories
agree in depicting the condition of the
South to be as deplorable and a. threaten
ing now as at any time since the suppress
sion of the rebellion. 1t is claimed by
many that this is due to the reviving hopes
of the Democracy, and to the prevailing be-
lief that the Democratic party must get
back to power, if at all. by means Of the
united vote OF the South. They feel that
they are now engaged in . game which, if
played desperately, may win, and they arc
ready to resort to any extremities to Sc
cure victory and Q restoration of the old
slaveh0lding and unreconstructed rebel in
fuence in the national government. Presi-
dent Grant has become so we'll salts
fed, from reliable information in possession
of the government, of the intention of the
old rebel element to attempt to carry the
Southern States by fraud and violence, that
he has resolved to take as decisive and
vigorous measures to defeat their lawless
acts as he did to destroy their armies in the
field. 1t is alleged that the Democrats,
feeling this to be their last chance of arm
ing, nave boldly organized bands all over
the South, composed Of old Confederate
soldiers and outlawed desperadoes, whose
business it is to ride about the country and
ored population. If Q few negroes should
be killed off by these bands before election
day, why, it will only save the trouble of
persuasion or threats. According to Repub-
1icsu authority, these outrages against the
freedmen are more general and more dan
gerous now than in the most rampant days
Of the ku-Klux, since the rebels have
learned caution and carry on their opera
tions against the colored voters more secret
~ than they did few years ago.


The consultation between the President
and his two most active Secretaries is said
to have reference to the immediate DISPOSE
ton of troops in the Southern States, go 20
to protect the lives Of the c0lored p0pula-
tion during the progress of the campaign,
and to insure freedom of speech ~ we'll as
to prevent violence, fraud and intimidation
at the polls. Orders TOR the movement OF
troops to the South and their distribution
and location will be issued within q short
time A proclamation will be prepared, to
be issued when the Lecessity arises, setting
forth the information Of outrages and at.
tempts at intimidation which has reached
the government, declaring it to be
the duty of the government to protect the
colored people in their constitutional rights,
advising all white citizens to desist from
lawless combinations and practices, and
sgnifying the determination of the Presi-
dent to enforce the laws and protect all
citizens of a State whenever he may be
consiitutionslly called upon to aid the
State authorities. The disposition of United
States troops in the South will be SO ar
ranged a. to give guarantee of the earnest
ness Of the government and of it's ability to
carry out it's promise. Whenever a consti-
tutiOnal call is made on the President, it
will be promptly responded to, as he has
now become convinced that the protection
of the United States army is required in the
Southern States, and he will accept the
statements of the proper authorities as to
the necessity for interference without ques-
tioning.