The Eaton Democrat

Letter to General Sherman from the War Department.

Secretary Cameron has written the following to General Sherman:

War Department, Washington City, Aug. 15.

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 resolution, viz:

"WHEREAS, The right of suffrage prescribed by the Constitutions of the several States is subject to the 15th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which is as follows:

"ARTICLE 15. SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

"SEC. 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce this Article by appropriate legislation.

"WHEREAS, The right of suffrage, so prescribed and regulated, should be faithfully maintained and observed by the United States and the several States and the citizens thereof; and,

"WHEREAS, It is asserted that 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 defeated; and

"WHEREAS, All citizens, without distinction of race, or class, or color, are entitled to the protection conferred by such article; therefore, be it

"Resolved, 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 in any State, should meet with certain, condign, and effectual punishment; and that, in any case which has heretofore occurred, or that may thereafter occur, in which violence or murder has been, or shall 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 command, not now engaged in subduing the savages of the Western frontier, in readiness to be used upon the call of the proper legal authorities, for protecting 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 stationed as to be able to render prompt assistance in the enforcement of the law. Such additional orders as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of these instructions will be given to you from time to time, after consultation with the law officers of the government.

Very respectfully your obedient servant,

[Signed] J. D. CAMERON.

Sec'y of War.