The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-12-09

government the execution Of the act OF con-
gresss approved April 20. 1871. and COM
monty known as the ku klux law, in por
ton Of the state Of South Carolina. The
necessity cf the course pursued viii be de
monstrated by the report of the committee
to investigate southern Ou,rages Under the
provisions of the above act | issued g proc
lamation calling the attention OF the people
Of the United States to the same, declaring
my reluctance to exercise any Of the extra
ordinary powers thereby conferred upon me,
except in case Ct 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
cities Of the United States the peaceful en-
ioyment Of the rights guaranteed to them by
the constitution and the laws. After the
passage of this law Information was received
from time to time that com binations OF the
character referred 10 in this law existed and
were powerful in many parts OF the south~
ern states, particularly in certain counties OF
the states Of South Carolina. Careful inves-
tigation was made, aud it was ascertained
that in nino coUu ties of that state such corn
binaiious were active and powerful, embrac
ing a sufficient portion Of the citizens to con-
troll the .Cca authority and having. among
other things, the object Of dePriving the
emancipated class Of the substantial benefits
Of preventing freedom. and Of the free polit-
cal ASTON of those citizen. who did not sym
pathize with their own views. Among their
operations were frt quent scOurgings and oc>
casional agsassinatous. generally peTpstrsted
at night by disguised persons. the victims in
almost all cases being citizens Of different
political sentiments from their own or freed
persons who had shown disposition to claim
eqnal rights with other citizens.
6 4 ed
citizeus were the sufferers by this lawess
violence Therefore, on the 18th Of October.
1871, proclamation 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, ammu
ntiun uniforms, dsguses, and other means
or implements used by them for carrying
out their unla.ful purposes. This warning
not having been headed. on the 18th of Oc-
tober another proclamation was issued sus-
pending the privilege Of tbe writ Of habeas
corpus in nine counties in that State. D.
rPctions were given that within the counties
so designated persons supposed upon credits
able information TO be members of such un-
lawful com bnations should 5e arrested by
the military forces Of the United States aud
delivered to tie marshal to be dealt with ac~
cording to law. In two of said Couu ties,
Tork and Spartanburg many arrests have
been made. At the last account the num-
Der Of persons thus arrested was one hundred
and sixty~eight. Several hundred whose
criminality was ascertaned to be Of nj infe-
rior degree, were reIeaeei for the present.
These have generally made confessions Cf
their guilt. Great caution has been oxer-
cissd In making these arrs SITS, aad. notwith-
standing 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 appeared that the authorities OF
! the United States ere about to take vigOr>
/ Gus measures to enforce the law, many per-
sous abscoudsd. and there is good ground for
supposing that ali Of such persons have vio-
lated the law. y full report Of What has
beer done under this law will be submitted
20 congress by the attorney general.
/ with view to econom zing space, wo
summarize the remaining portion Of the mes
/ sBge as foll0ws.-FD
! In Utah remnant Of barbarism repug-
/ uaut to civilization and to deccncy aud the
/ laws still exists It'is net with the religion
/ Of the self styled saints that deal. but
/ with thsir practices. They will not be per-
mitted to violate The laws under the cloak
/ Of religion. 1t may be advisable for con-
J gress to consider what. in the execution Of
/ the laws against po!ygamy, is to be the sta>
/ tus OF plural wives and their offspring. and
an act might legitimatize the children born
/ prior to the time fixed in the act The In
/ dian policy has resulted favorably and many
tribes have been induced TO settle upon rescr-
vations. The peace policy is recommended
because considered Christian, humane and
right The retention Of the public lands for
actual settlers is again recommended. Flu
catiCual interests may we'll be served by the
grant of the proceeds of the sale of public
/ lands to settlers. Allusion is made TO the
reports of the severa! heads of departments
an J an increase Of compensation recommend
. Ell for many of said fficiais. As more than
/ six years have elapsed since the close of the
| war. it may be considered whether it is not
now time that the disabilities imposed by
/ the Fourteenth amendment should be re-
moved. When the purity Of the ballot is
secured msjnrities to elect officers
/ rejecting the views of the maj lrity. ! do
not see the advantage or propriety of exclud-
ing men from office me,siy because they
were before the rebellion of character and
standing sufficient to be elected to positions
requiring them to take oaths to support the
| constitution. and admitting TO eligibility
these holding precisely the same views, but
of less standing in their communities 1t
may be said the former had violated an oath
while the latter did not have it in their power
10 do SO. If they had taken this oath 1t can
not be doubted they would have broken it
as did the former class. If there are any
great criminals distinguished for the part
they took against the government. they
might. in the Judgment of congress. be ex-
c|uded from such an amnesty. The condition
of the south is not such all patriotic citi-
zens could desire. 1t will be happy con-
dtion Of the country when the Old citizens
of these states'wil take an interest in public
affairs, and tolerate the same freedom of
expression and ballot to thoso entertaining
different political convictions A liberal ap-
preparation to the District Of Columbia to
aid local improvements is recommended.