The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-20
THE MILITARY AND TIE KU-KLUx.
A Conference in York County.
From ;be YorsviIle Erouirer.)

A number OF orr citizens. by invitation,
visited Major Merrill, post commandant NJ TINS
place, on Saturday last. 10 confer upon lne
Subject of the disOrlerly and turbulent spirit
which has preTailed in this secllon Oh tne
State. a.,
Major Merrill. expressed his regrets that
bands of disguised men had recently been
whipping and otherwise maltreating white
and coored citizens OF this seclon. lie NEIL
toned incidents connected with each OF the
mosE recent acts of violence, which impressed
those present with the idea that he is kept i'll
formed a. to the operations Oh disguised per,
sons in this county. He stated that ne had
IN his possession the names OF NUMBER OF
the parties who had engaged in thf Sc .!awess
acts: aud was also in possession Of proof
amply sufficient to convict some oil the per-
sons before any impartial jury. He seemed to
be amused at the idea that the names OF tne
ruilty parties were not known 10 The people,
and asserted th.t he could furnish them, anu
could also have such persons arrested IN a ."''
hours. He expressed the belief that the
reason why these parties persisted IN snch
acts, was the certainty they felt That no per
son would dare to testify against them; and,
in This connection he exonerated the civil
officers OF what would appear TO be derelic-
ton In the discharge OF their duties, 0y not
arrestng and bringing to trial the guilty per.
sons. For the reason that victims are AFRAID
TO make compla mis-, no warrants are issued,
and consequently the sheriff or other proper
officer Is powerless 10 nuke arrests.
Major Merrill frankly stated that MS sole
object in asking conference, was that ne
might induce The influential citizens OF the
county to adopt prompt and decisive meas.
ures 10 suppress any further disturbance. anu
thereby avoid the consequences o. military
interference; thst he much preferred thai the
civil authorities should regulate iheir own
affairs; and that he was satisfied tnat II Tue
people opposed 20 lawleSsness would unite anu
sustain each other and the civil authorities In
suppressing such acts, domestic disorder
would cease at once He referred 10 the fact
that large number OF the laoorers IN the
northeastern section OF the county were
afraid to sleep In their houses. and that such
state of.afIairs could not longer be tolerated.
that he was daily expecting notice that tne
writ Of habeas corpus had been suspended IN
action OF the people, the necessity OF declaring
martial law would be avoided.
1t is now left To our people TO say whether or
not they intend 20 regulate their own civil AZ
fairs. To succeed in restoring quiet anu order;
men must no longer withhold their expressed
aud. nnequivocal disapprobation; Can we
longer permit the best interests OF society 10
he jmpsrilled without protest. when the
remedy is so plain and obvious? ANY further
repetition of acts Of violence in this county,
we feel assured, will be regarded by The
military authorities. under the hu-hinx
act as o derial of the equal protection
of law to all of our citizens. The military
will proceed by arresting the supposed guilty
parties to suppress acls Of violence, as d.
rected under tae Ku-Klux act; and parties
when arrested, will be delivered over TO the
United States marshal, to be tried before the
United States Court ut Columbia, Charleston
or Greenville Under such circumstances II
will be next TO impossible to procure bail. The
Innocent as we'll as the guilty are liable to be
and tae expense OF TRIAL IN the UNI
ted States Court vii! necessitate costs in pro-
curing witnesses, counsel, fees, &C., that lew
of our citizens can meet.
The Ku-Khlx act comprehends all persons
found in disguise. or in unlawful assemblies Oh
the highways, or on the premises OF another.
This act will be enforced, and rigdly enforced;
and unless our people at once determine that
there must be no further acts ol violence III
the county, We will soon have occasion to OBJ
serve the practical operations OF the law in It's
utmost severity and with all its unpleasant
consequences.