Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1876 — An Order for the Protection of the Ballot-Box. [ARTICLE]

An Order for the Protection of the Ballot-Box.

f Washington, Aug. Mi Sec’y Cameron has written the follow, ing to Gen. Sherman: War Dep’t, Washington City, Ang. 15.18 M. To Gen. W. T. Sherman, Commanding U. S. A.: Sir: The House of Representatives of the United States on the 10th inst., passed ' the following preamble and resolutions, viz.: Whereat , The right of suffrage prescribed by the Constitution of the several States is subject to the 15ih amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which is as follows: Article 15, Sect on 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or byanyßtute on race, color or previous condition of servitude. o . Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropiiate legislation. And whereat , The right of suffrage so prescribed and regulated should be faithfully maintained and observed by the United States and the several States aud citizens thereof, Whereat, It is asserted that the exercise of the right of suffrage is in some of the States, notwithstanding the efforts of all good citizens to the contrary, resisted and controlled by fraud, intimidation and violence, so that in such cases the object of the amendment is defated, and Whereat , All citizens without distinction of race or class or color are entitled to the protection conferred by such article; Therefore, be it jgetolved , By the House of Representatives that all attempts by force, fraud, terror. Intimidation or otherwise to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage ia any State should meet with certain, condign and effectual punishment, and that in any case which has heretofore occurred or that may occur in which violence or murder has been or ■hall be committed by one race or class upon the other, the prompt prosecution and punishment of the criminal or criminals in any court having Jurisdiction is imperatively demanded,whether the crime be one punishable by fine or imprisonment or one demanding the penalty of death. The President directs that in accordance with the spirit of the above you are to hold all the available force under your comihand, not now engaged in subduing the savages of the Western frontier, in readiness upon caR or requisition of the proper legal authorities, for the protection of all citizens, without distinction of race, color or political opinion, in the exercise of the right to vote as guaranteed by the Fifteenth Amendment, and to assist in the enforcement of certain, condign and effectual punishment upon all persons who shall attempt by force, fraud, terror, intimidation or otherwise, to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage as provided by the laws of the United States, and have such force so distributed and star Soned as to be able to render prompt asstance in the enforcement of the law and such additional orders as may be necessary to carry out the purpose. These instructions will he given to you from time to time after consultation with the law officers of the Government. Very respectfully, you»

obedient servant,

J. D. CAMERON,

Secretary ofi Wa*.

—The Thibodaux (La.) Sentinel has items of this Hind: “While three young men were hunting young grosbeaks, in the swamp at Clioupic last week, one of them was seized by an alligator-, which inflicted two severe wounds, one oa the calf of his leg and another on his thtgk. He was rescued by his companions, who were-luckily near lam. Attacks of this kind are rare, except in remote and unfrequented localities, and the probable explanation of tlie unusual ferocity of the alligator is that its nest was near.”