The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-01-13
THE TRUTH AT LAST.

to apply it.
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THE TRUTH AT LAST.
Whenever some peculiar mischief Is
meditated in reference to the people of
the South, it is the cue Of the radical
press to invent some tale of horror con-
cerning their social condition. If "re-
construction" is to pass through a Sec
ond process ofcongress.onal distillation,
a story ofthe murder ofa negro or two is
eoncocted; if the second reconstruction
is to be doubly refined, a romance con-
cerning the assassination of a "whIte
loyalist'' is invented; and so on to the
end of the chapter Of pretexts for con-
gressional interference with the rights
of the people and the States. a sa-
trap by the name of Reynolds, who
has for some time held sway in Texas,
seems. however, to have come to the
conclusion that his party have practic-
ed about long enough on the credulity
OF the Northern people. In a report
made to the President, bearing date
Nov. %, 1869, we find the following:
"After a careful examination of all
the evidence | have been able to
collect from official reports, and the
statements of officers and citizens
unbiased by partisan feelings, l am
forced to the conclusion that the a.
mount of crime committed in the sew
eral States of the division is very lit
tie greater than before the rebellion,
nd eortainly WAS uu gICator than woe
reasonably to be expected at the close
of an embittered and prolonged civil
war, when large numbers OF laWleSS
and desperate characters, both at the
North and in the South, were turned
loose upon society without any legiti-
mate meads of support. Certain dis
tricts of country may, and probably
do, form exceptions to this general re-
mark but even of these exceptional
cases very few have any partisan char
( acter or political significance. Those
| who murder and rob, do 80 simply as
murderers and robbers, Influenced by
/ the motives which ordinarily incite
/ men to commit these crimes. One
/ Of the worst desperadoes in Kentucky
/ served in the Union army during
/ the war: but he and his band now rob
/ and murder rebels and loyalists, as may
/ best suit their purposes, at one time
/ claiming to be kukluy, and at anoth-
/ er to be anti i-KukluXs Although there
! may be special Organizationso of outlaws,
/ in particular localities, under the name
/ of Kuklux, | am ofthe opinion that no
such general organization now exists
/ i'm the Southern States. 1t is probable,
/ however. that outlaws not uDfrequent-
! Iy assume this name in order to intim-
/ idate the weak and credulous, especial
/ ly when calculated to increase their
! own importance.
ain regard TO the interference of mil
! itary officers in local difficulties under
/ the plea of maintaining peace and good
/ order, think that no such military in
reference should be permitted, except
on the requisition of the Governor OF a
State, and by order Ofthe President, as
| provided by law. The principal occu-
/ patton of the troops, in certain localI-
/ ties. has been assisting revenue Officers
/ to execute the revenue laws. 1t IS We.
| nv natural that these officers should
| call for the assistance of troops WheneV'
/ er they can get it, for by this means
/ they avoid danger and trouble, and in'
/ crease their own emOlumentS at the eX'
pense of military appropriations"
Besides exploding the absurd inven-
tions concerning organized bands oi
desperadoes, said to plunder and Kill
only their political opponents, General
| Reynolds opens the eyes Of his party
friends to the existence of fact in con.
nectiOn with the occupation Of the
army in the Southern States, which
ought to startle them not little
The troops are principally occupied in
assisting Internal Revenue officers
/ who make it point to call on them
for aid, not merely to ensure their own
personal safety, but to enable them tC
turn an honest penny by saving the
expense which would come out oi
their own pockets if they performed
their duties in person 1t seem:
then, that the large portion of oul
standing army which is now stationed
in the Southern States, is simply the
posse of Internal Revenue officers who
get handsome salaries for the work
performed by their military assistants
This fact is but another argument in
favor Of a plan by which the federal
taxes would be apportioned to the
several States and the several State
governments allowed to assess and
| collect them in their own way. The
attention of some OF our vigilant and
thoughtful democratic reformers in
Congress, Is called to this report o
Gen. Reynolds. The opportunity af
forded by its publication should not
pass uniInproved.
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