The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-12-09
KUKLUN LAW.


There has been imposed upon the Ez-
ecutive branch of the Government the
execution of the act of Congress, COM
mouiy known a. the Kuklux law. in a
portion of the State of South Carolina.
The necessity of the course pursued, will
he demonstrated by the report of the
Committee appointed to investigate
southern outrages, under the provisions
of the above act. | issued a procama
ton calling the attention of the people
of the United States to the same, and
declaring nay reluctance to exercise any
OF the extraordinary powers thereby con
ferred on me, except 10 case of impera
tive necessity, but making known my
purpose TO exercise such powers when
ever il should become necessary to do so
for the purpose of securing to all citizens
of the United States the peaceful enjoy
meut of the rights guaranteed TO them
by the Constitution aud the laws. After
the passage Of this law information was
received from time to time that comb
nation Of the character referred to in this
law existed, and was powerful in many
of the Southern States, particularly IN
certain counties Of the State of South
Carolina. Careful investigation was
made, and it was asccrtained that in nine
counties of that State such combinations
were active and powerful, embracing a
sufficient portion of the citizens to con
troll the local authority, aud having
among other things the object of de-
priviDg the manumitted slaves of the
substantial benefits of freedom, and Of
preventing the free political action Of
those citizens who did not sympathise
with their own views. Among their OPP
erations were frequent scourgiugs aud
occasional assassiuations, generally per
petrated at night by disguised men, the
victims in almost all cases being citizens
of different pol teal sentiment to their
own, or free persons who had shown dis
position to claim equal rights with other
citizens thousands OF iaofEen~ive and
we'll disposed pei sons were the sufferers
by this violence; thereupon on the 18th
OF October, 1871; was issued in terms of
the law calling upon the members Of the
combinations to disperSe within five days.
and TO deliver to the Marshall or military
officers of the u. S. all arms, ammuni-
ton. uniforms, DISCUSSES, and other i'm
plements and means used by them for
carrying out their purposes This warn
ing not having been needed, on the 18th
of October another proclamation was is
sued, suspending the writ of habeas cor
pus in nine counties of that State, and
direction was given that within the coun
ties so designated, persons supposed, up
on creditable Information, to be members
of such unlawful combinations should
be arrested by the military forces of the
United States aud delivered to the Mar.
shall to be dealt with according to law
| n two of said counties York and Spar
tauburg, many arrests have been made
At the last account the number of per
sons thus arrested was one hundred and
sixty-eight Several hundred whose
crlmiualty was ascertained to be of an in-
ferior degree, were released for the pres
ent. These have generally made no con
fessioDs of their guilt. Great caution
has been exercised in making these ar
rests. and Notwithstanding the large
numbers, it is believed that no innocent
person is DOW in custody The prison
ers will be held for regular trial in the
judicial tribunals Of the United States.
As soou as it appears, that the authori-
ties Of the United States were about to
take vigorous measures to enforce the
law, many persons absconded, and there
is good ground for supposing that all of
such persons have violated the law. a
full report of what has been done under
this law will be submitted to Congress
by the Attorney General.