Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-12-13
WHOLE NUMBER 1892.

Stillluisilt euuCdllOU.~ TeIcr YOU To
the report of the postmaster general
for full details of the operation of last
year and for comparative statements
of results with former years There
has been imposed upon the executive
branch of the government the execu-
ton of the act of congress, approved
April 20 1871, and commonly known
as the ku klux law. in portion of
the state of South Carolina. The
necessity of the course pursued will
be demonstrated by the report of the
committee to investigate southern out
TRACES. Under the provisions of the
above act | issued a proclamation
calling the attention of the people of
the United States to the same, declar-
ing my reluctance to exercise any of
the extraordinary powers thereby con
terred upon me, except in case of
imperative necessity but making
known my purpose to exercise such
powers whenever it should become
necessary to do so, for the purpose of
securing to all citizens of the United
States the peaceful enjoyment of the
rights guaranteed to them by the con-
stitution and the laws. After the pass
age of this law information was re-
celved from time to time that combi-
nations of the character referrered to
in this law existed and were powerful
III many parts of the southern states,
particularly in certain counties of the
state of South Carolina. Careful in
vestigation was made, and it was as
certained that in nine counties of that
state such combinations were active
and powerful, embracing a sufficient
portion of the citizens to control the
local authority and having, among
other things, the object of depriving
the emancipated class of the substan-
tial benefits of preventing freedom,
and Of the free political action of
those citizens who did not sympathize
with their own views. Among their
operations were frequent scourgings
and the occasional assassinations, gen
erally perpetrated at night by dis
guised persons, the victims in almost
all cases being citizens of different po-
litical sentiments from their own or
freed persons who had shown a dispo-
sition to claim equal right with other
citizens.
Thousands of iDoffensive and we'll
disposed citizens were the sufferers by
this lawless violence. Therefore on
the 18th of October, 1871, a procla-
nation was issued in terms of the law,
calling upon the members of those
combinations to disperse within five
days and to deliver to the marshal or
military officers of the United States
all arms, ammunition, uniforms, dis
guises, and other means or imple-
ments used by them for carrying out
their unlawful purposes. This warn
ing not having been needed, on the
18th Of October another proclama-
tion was issued suspending the priv
ilige of the writ of hcbeas corpus in
nine counties in, that state Direc-
tons were given that within the cOun-
ties so designated persons supposed
upon creditable information to be
members of such unlawful combina-
tions should be arrested By the mill
tary forces of the United States and
delivered to the marshal to be dealt
with according to law, In two of
said counties, York and Spartanburg,
many arrests have been made. At
the last account the number of persons
thus arrested was one hundred and
sixty-eigth. Several hundred, whose
criminality was ascertained to be of
an inferior degree, were released for
the present. These have generally
made confession Of their guilt Great
caution has been exercised in making
these arrests, and, Notwithstanding
the large number, it is believed that
no innocent person is now in custody.
The prisoners will be held for regular
trial in the judicial tribunals of the
United States. As soon as it appear
ed that the authorities OF the United
Statos were about to take vigorous
measurers to enforcethe law, many per-
sons absconded, and there is good
ground for supposing that all such
persons have violated the law. A full
report Of what has been done under
this law will besubmmitted to congress
by the attorney general. In Utah
there still remains a remnant of bar
barism repungnant to civilization, to
decency and to the lawsof the United
States. Territorial officers, however,
have been found who are willing to
perform there duty in spirit of equity
and with a due sense of sustaining
the majesty of the law.
Neither polygamy nor any other
violation of existing statues will be
permitted within the territory of the
United States 1t is not with the re-
ligion of the self styled saints that we
are now dealing, but with their prac-
tices. They viii be protected in the
worship of God according to the die
tates of their conscience, but they will
not be permitted to violate the laws
under the cloak of religion. 1t may be
advisable for congress to consider
what, in the execution Of the laws
against polygamy, is to be the status
of plural wives and their offspring
The propriety of congress passing an
enabling act, authorizing the terrific
al legislature Of Utah to legitimize
all children born prior to a time fixed
in the act, might be justified by its
humanity to these innocent children.
This Is suggestion only, and not a
recommendation.
The policy pursued towards the
Indians has resulted favorable,
so far as can be judged from the
limited time during which it has
been in operation. Through the exer-
ton. of the various societies of Chris
tians to whom has been intrusted the
execution of the nolicv and the hoard