From the foregoing it is seen that in all cases in which the integrity or existence of the National Government is attacked or threatened, or a resistance offered to the execution of its laws too great to be overcome by the ordinary agencies of government, the aid of the federal troops or of the organized militia of the States may be at once called upon. In cases, however, of domestic violence within a State, directed against its laws and government, the federal arm may extend help only when called upon by the state authorities.

In 1894 at the time of the great railroad strike of that year, the employment in Illinois of federal troops, there having been no request for their use by the authorities of that State, gave rise to a vehement protest on the part of the governor of the State. It would appear, however, that the action of the federal authorities in that instance was fully justified, the federal troops being employed avowedly and in fact "to prevent obstruction to the federal postal service, to aid the federal courts in the exercise of their jurisdiction, and to enforce the law of July 2, 1890, forbidding conspiracies against interstate commerce." 33

28 Texas v. White, 7 Wall. 700; 19 L. ed. 227; Tyler v. Defrees, 11 Wall. 331; 20 L. ed. 161.

29 Martin v. Mott, 12 Wheat. 19; 6 L. ed. 537.

30 Houston v. Moore, 5 Wh. 1; 5 L. ed. 19. 31 Houston v. Moore, 5 Wh. 1; 5 L. ed. 19. 32 12 Wh. 19; 6 L. ed. 537.

In Re Debs,34 decided in 1895, the Supreme Court upheld the action of the federal authorities in 1894, in the course of the opinion saying:

"The entire strength of the nation may be used to enforce in any part of the land the full and free exercise of all national powers and the security of all rights entrusted by the Constitution to its care. The strong arm of the National Government may be put forth to brush away all obstructions to the freedom of interstate commerce or the transportation of the mails. If the emergency arises, the army of the nation, and all its militia, are at the service of the Nation to compel obedience to its laws."

The court also goes on to assert that "the right to use force does not exclude the right of appeal to the courts for a judicial determination and for the exercise of all their powers of prevention." 35

33 26 Stat. at L. 109, § 1. "Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal."

§ 4. "The several circuit courts of the United States are hereby invested with jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this act, and it shall be the duty of the several District Attorneys of the United States under direction of the Attorney-General to institute proceedings in equity to prevent or restrain such violations."

To the protest which Governor Altgeld of Illinois issued, President Cleveland replied:

"Federal troops were sent to Chicago in strict accordance with the Constitution and laws of the United States, upon the demand of the Post-Office Department that obstruction of the mails should be removed, and upon the representations of the judicial officers of the United States that process of the Federal Courts could not be executed through the ordinary means, and upon abundant proof that conspiracies existed against commerce between the States.

"To meet these conditions, which are clearly within the province of Federal authority, the presence of Federal troops in the city of Chicago was deemed not only proper but necessary, and there has been no intention of thereby interfering with the plain duty of the local authorities to preserve the peace of the city."

34 138 U. S. 564; 15 Sup. Ct. Rep. 900; 39 L. ed. 1092.