A resolution of the House of Representatives relative to the employment of the military forces of the United States in the State of Nebraska during the present month. MARCH 20, 1882.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 18, 1882. To the House of Representatives: In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives, adopted March 16, 1882, in which the President is requested, if not incompatible with the public interests, to furnish to the House all the facts before him at the time he authorized the sending or employment of troops or military forces of the United States in the State of Nebraska during the present month, together with his reasons therefor, I have the honor to state that the employment of military forces of the United States, as to which it is understood that information is desired by the House of Representatives, was authorized on the 10th instant, and that all the facts before me at that time are set forth in telegraphic communications, dated the 9th and 10th instant, from the governor of the State of Nebraska, and Brigadier-General Crook, commanding the Department of the Platte, of which copies are herewith submitted. For the further information of the House of Representatives, I transmit copies of telegraphic correspondence had on the 9th, 10th, and 11th instant between the Secretary of War and the governor of Nebraska, and the Secretary of War and the Lieutenant-General of the Army, of which the instructions issued by my direction for the employment of the military forces upon the application of the governor of Nebraska are a part. From these papers it will be seen that the authority to employ troops was given, upon the application of the governor of Nebraska, in order to protect the State against domestic violence. The instructions were given in compliance with the requirements of that part of section four of article four of the Constitution which provides that the United States shall, on application of the legislature or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), protect each of the States against domestic violence. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. [Telegram.] Received 2.33 p. m., Washington, D. C., March 9, 1882. Dated State of Nebraska, Executive Department, Lincoln, Nebr. To the President of the United States, Washington: Just previous to issuing my proclamation I received the following dispatch: OMAHA, 9TH. A mob of three or four thousand men drove the laborers from their work on the B. and M. grounds and seriously injured three men. We are powerless to keep the peace, and call on you to force the laws and protect peaceful citizens from mob violence. We are of the opinion that United States troops are absolutely necessary to restore quiet, and that militia would be useless. We have just been informed that to-day notice is to be served on all manufacturers that their men must join in the strike and remain idle till the difficulty is settled. We fear danger. JAMES E. BOYD, Mayor of Omaha, and Sheriff of Douglas County, Nebraska. [Telegram.] Received 2.55 p. m., Washington, D. C., March 9, 1882. Dated State of Nebraska, Executive Department, Lincoln, Nebr. To His Excellency the President of the United States, Washington: I have received official information from the city of Omaha, in the State, that a riot is in progress in that city and threatening the lives and property of peaceable citizens, and, from the best information I can obtain, with the force at our command, we are not able to protect the property and the citizens from violence. I therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as governor of the State of Nebraska, call upon the President of the United States, by placing at our command a sufficient number of United States troops, to protect the citizens and property of citizens of this State, Your two telegrams of this date to the President have been by him referred to the Secretary of War. By direction of the President, I have to advise you that if you will certify to the President that domestic violence exists in the State of Nebraska, and you call upon him to protect the State against such domestic violence, certifying that the legislature cannot be convened as provided by section four article four of the Constitution of the United States, instructions will be issued to the commanding general Department of the Platte accordingly. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Lieut. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN, Chicago, Ill.: [Telegram.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, March 9, 1882. Governor of Nebraska telegraphs that formidable riot is in progress at Omaha, and Federal aid is necessary. He has been advised how to frame request under the law. When he forwards same instructions will issue. It would be well to have forces in hand at points from which aid must be drawn to respond at once. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. [Telegram.] Received Washington, D. C., March 9, 1882, 11.30 p. m. To ADJUTANT-GENERAL U. S. A., Washington, D. C.: For some days there has been a strike here amongst laborers. Yesterday occurred a parade of, say, three thousand; they drove from work some men in employ of B. and M. R. R.; small fight, in which two or three special policemen injured. Rioters then dispersed themselves. No open demonstrations to-day. Civil authorities of this city appear to think they can do nothing. Thus far there has been no necessity for interference of military. Strikers declare no men shall work for railroad except on terms for which they are striking. Impossible to foretell what may happen. GEORGE CROOK, Brigadier-General Commanding. [Telegram.] Received 12. 28 p. m., Washington, D. C., March 10, 1882. Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Washington, D. C. : CHICAGO, ILL., March 10, 1882. Your telegram about troubles at Omaha was received at 7.30 p. m. yesterday, and immediately transmitted to General Crook, with directions to hold sufficient troops in readiness to be able to comply with any orders received from the President. P. H. SHERIDAN, [Telegram.] Lieutenant-General. Received Washington, D. C., March 10, 1882, 2.45 a. m. Dated Executive Department, State of Nebraska, Lincoln, March 9, 18-2. To His Excellency CHESTER A. ARTHUR, President United States, Washington, D. C. : It is impracticable and impossible to convene the legislature of this State in time to meet the emergency at Omaha. [Telegram.] ALBINUS NANCE, Governor. Received Washington, D. C., March 10, 1882, 3 p. m. Dated Lincoln, Nebr., Executive Department, Lincoln, Nebr., March 10, A. D. 1882. To the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C. : I hereby certify that domestic violence now exists in the State of Nebraska, and that from reliable information it is beyond the power of the State authorities to control or stop the same. I also certify that it is impracticable and impossible to con vene the legislature of this State as provided by section four, article four, of the Constitution of the United States. I therefore call upon the President of the United States to place a sufficient number of United States troops under my direction to secure protection of the property and lives of the citizens of this State against this domestic violence. Your telegram received. The governor of Nebraska having called upon the President for military assistance, the President directs that United States troops available be used in case of emergency in suppressing the riot at Omaha. Please to issue the necessary instructions by telegraph to Brigadier-General Crook, directing him to place himself in communication with the governor of Nebraska, and to cause any forces that may be assigned to this duty to act therein under the directions of the governor of Nebraska. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, [Telegram.] Secretary of War. Hon. ALBINUS NANCE, Governor of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr. : WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 10, 1882. Your telegram of this date is received by the President. The following telegram has just been sent to Lieutenant-General Sheridan at Chicago: “Your telegram received. The governor of Nebraska having called upon the President for military assistance, the President directs that United States troops available be used in case of emergency in suppressing the riot at Omaha. "Please to issue the necessary instructions by telegraph to Brigadier-General Črook, directing him to place himself in communication with the governor of Nebraska, and to cause any forces that may be assigned to this duty to act therein under the directions of the governor of Nebraska." ROBERT T. LINCOLN. [Telegram.] CHICAGO, ILL., March 10, 1882—11.33 p. m. Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Washington, D. C. : Your dispatch of this date received at 7 p. m., and the directions contained therein were immediately transmitted to General Crook, at Omaha. P. H. SHERIDAN, Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, [Telegram.] LINCOLN, NEBR., March 11, 1832-7.20. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: Why is it that your instructions through General Sheridan do not reach General Crook? I anxiously await their transmittal to the Commander of the Department of the Platte, General Crook. The situation at Omaha is growing more serious. ALBINUS NANCE, Governor. [Telegram] MARCH 11, 1882. Governor ALBINUS NANCE, Lincoln, Nebr.: The following telegram from General Sheridan answers yours of this date: "Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN: "CHICAGO, March 10, 1882. "Your dispatch of this date received at 7 p. m., and the directions contained therein were immediately transmitted to General Crook, at Omaha." H. Ex. 127-2 ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. |