The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-03-09
Report Of the Committees Oh Investigations in
W, : tho Third Congressional DistriOs, ~

$50 printed pages, signed by "Joseph
Nrsw$, Chairman" charges tho Dem.
sncmtic party through the medium
VI the mnch-talhcd of mythical Ku Klux,
mith'innumcrnble crimes, and makes
tho direct charge that I'D. Wyatt Aiken
il responsible for ull the murdcrs com.
mitlcd In Abbevillc County immediately
,bs(ore and ut the late general clcctions.' u
Ihe minority report, signed by "Javan
Bryant" is as follows: q"
r,Thc undersigned, member Of the com
mittce appointej ITO thoroughly invcsti.
gate the disordercd state Of affairs IN the
Third Congressional District, and tho
causes OF the intimidation, outragcs and
murders pcrpctrated preceding aud at
the late general election, whereby it is
stated that fair and unbiased cxprcs
sion OF the peoples choice could not, and
was not given; aud or tho existence of
organizations inimical to tho pcocc and
VOL being Of the State" bcgs leave to
submit the following minority report.
From the testimony given before the
committee, II appears that the election
campaign of 1868 was regarded, in the
Third Congressional District, as one of
no ordinary interest; that it was prose.
cnted with nnusua! energy and vigor
and thai party sliife prevailed TO n. cx.
tent previously unknown in that com-
munty, eliminating, in not few ill.,
stances, III acts Of violence and blood.
shed.
1t requires no extraordinary knowledge
OF human nature To understand why the
former master should br jealous Of tho
rising political strength Of his former
SInSpS ,thy
SO recently released from the shucklcs Of
servitnde shou' regard with suspicion
ana d'stiust those who formerly held
him in bondage. Bnl it a!Iol dis ne
great pleasure to report that while the
brutal instincts of n few lawlcss ruiians
led them To imhruc their hands in the
life blood of their fellow. .bri"gs, the great
masses, the respectable and intelligent
citizens, kept their feelings circu,nscIihcd
within due bounds. and exercised toward
their opponents that Oh, iStian charity so
characteristic OF all well regulated com
muni,irS.
To attempt comment upon the tcsti.
inony, and reference to the various
questions an'l answers, would be task
ms endless ns it would he useless and to
I'LL ont report with rXtrava.au ScnSa.
ilonal asset tons, not supported ty rvi.
dcncc, would Savor alike Of puc,ility and
ignorance.
IL canno, lac dcnic,l that many Of the
poor. ignorant and helpless coorcd pco.
pic have hcru shamrtully tlrrrautlrl and
abused That they have been tlcspiScd
Tor color lor which they arc no more re.
sp"nsiblc than for their existence; and
prosecuted for 4 freedom for which they
nrc no m,rc culp pnblc than for their
color ma! IL 'is the opinion Of the min.
mlly VI this committee that had the
Legislature devoted as much attention TO
tho consideration Of the prosperity of
these pc"plc aS it has To tho prosperity
OF wealthy individuals AID corporations,
much Of their poverty might have been
relieved. and much Of their Ignorance
dlSpcllcd; ~ had the Executive been aS
visIant in guarding their interests rs he
has been in guarding the interests Of
wealthy bond holders Of the North
many Ut their prosecutions might have
been avcrtcd and many Of their wrongs
removed!
n" one can fail to hc struck, upon
reading the evidence taken by the com.
nittcr, with the many vagnc, incohrrcnt
and ludicrouS accounts ivcn hy these
poor colhFcd pcoplc-mnny of whom
were SO ignorant rs not even to know
their own nalncS--of the hcrculcan size,
hhlooDs proportions and diabolicaI fea.
lures OF what they called the Ku Klux.
And il affords me great pleasure to hc
able to report, that after hayin. "tho.
roughly investigated" the matter, | am of
opinion that the ghosts, hobgnl,InS, jack
q tho. In ntprnS nn,1 L., - Il
Third Congressional District, arc bat
nlso'ro?ic conditions Of the witches of
New England, whose larv;u. having long
lam dormant until imported hithcr in
the carpet bags Of some pious political
priests. gcrminatcd in tho too crcdulouS
minds OF their poor proSclytc les. and
loaned into luxuriancc in The fertile fields |
ol their o"n imaSinationS.
1t also ali"r&,Shc.g pleasure to bc
aoic I" report that, by careful cxami.
nation ol the evidence taken by the com.
m'ttcc, 1t will DO seen that the colossal
reports OF gigantic election frauds at the |
various voting places in the Counties Of |
Newhcrry, Ahbrvillc and Anderson, |
made expressly to the idea Of some
cadctShp'seilins Congressman, are not
merely exaggerated statements Of dini. |
nn',vc truths, but are aS absolutely |
"iaSe MS the basclrss fabric OF fading
vision"
The mljori'y Of Your committee !:av.
Ing referred your honorable body to |
tnc testimony Of but II few Of tho many
who testified before u.s." in order to
prove their assertions, would most re.
Srcctiully call your attention to the les.
tlnony Of nil tho others who tes. flied |
oe'"rc MS, to prove tho ftllacy Of the
statements Of the majority committee
NM! to demonstrate the truthfulncSS of
the propositions Of the minority Of lh:
committee.
'n conclusion, allow me to call the az,
'en''"n "f your honorable body to the
existence. in The Third Congressional |
District. Of "thoron.hly organized
!"rty called the "Uuion League" which
party has an "oil>pring" known as the
Investigating Committcc," tho real
o"Ject and intention Of which Is TO nc.
c"n"Iale capital for tho cnming cam.
pn'Sn. All OF which is respectfully sub.
united. JAYAN BRYANT.
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TIE CUBAN CurEr-The Savannah |
Republican says that General "Qucscda,
the leader of the ('ubnn r,nv nryiyrd in