The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-04-29
The ku.Klux Law.

Last week. we published the able
and unanswera BILE argsm entative
speech Of our member Of Congress
from this district. Hon. Jerre M.
Wilson, and We trust every reader
Of the Palladium has given or will
give it, as it deserves, careful
pelusal. The Cincinnati Gazette
OF the 26th, in publishing the law,
makes the following timely re.
narkes regarding the necessity OF
its adoption and the unanimous
opposition it met with by the dem
ocratic members of Congress;
In most of the States no effort
has been made to suppress the
gangs Of midnight maranders and
robbers who have been destroying
life and property, and it becom-
ing evident that the lawful author
tiles in those States approved the
actions of thu Ku.Klux organiza-
tons, or were overawed by them,
Congress was properly called upon
TO protect citizens in their rights.
Democrats in Congress voted in
body against the bill, and Re
publicans for il. 1t is thus made
aparty measure, 30 far as regards
responsibility for the law. This
the Republican party accept, nor
will it hesitate to 60 70 the country
upon this issue. The party which
put down the Democratic rebellion
Of 1861 will put down this second
rebellion of the same party, for the
South ut this day is, in many
parts, as much in rebellion against
the laws and authority of the Uni
ted States as it was in 1861, and
tho object, of the present disorder
is to undo, by murder, arson, vic.
lence, threats and general terror.
ism, the work accomplished by the
war for the Union.
The Democratic party of the
North, as an organization, is afraid,
as it was in 1860, to protest
against existing outrages at the
South. 1t is even apologizing for
the outrages, as it apologized in
1860 Tor the movements that cul.
q minated 10 the rebellion. Its ar.
gument then was that the govern.
ment had no right, under the Con.
stitution, to cOerce q State. Its
argument now is thst the govern
ment has no right to enforce the
laws of the United States for the
protection Of its citizens. Herein
is striking coincidence, and it is
not surprising thattthe politicians
who cOuntenanced and sympa-
thized with the rebels throughout
1.-THE war should now apologize for
and seek to protect the same rebels
whose aim is the reestablishment
OF slavery, and the destruction of
equal rights-the overthrow, in a
/ word, of all constitutional amend
nents and laws passed in pursu-
ance thereof. which have for their
object q final settlement of all
questions involved in tie wsr for
the suppression of the rebellion
This Ku- Klux bill is termed by
some of the Democratic organs a
declaration of war. So it is. Ii
is q declaration of war sgainst
those who violate the laws of the
United States. 1t clothes the
President with power to enforce
the laws, and this power has been
conferred upon a man who will ex
ercise it discreetly, but with firm
ness and without fear.
If it shall please the Ku-Klux
Klans. their sympathizers and
apologies, to resist openly the
| execution of the laws for the pro
lection of life and property, let il
come. Open defiance of tho laws
/ of the United States can not bt
permitted anywhere. The ques
ton, therefore, whether the govern
mcnt Of the United States il
doing enough to suppress disord e1
and protect its citizens, in al
their rights under the law, may a
| we'll be tested now. .
As the war was forced upon til,
| government in 1860, so this ques
ton is now forced upon it. T,
have failed to meet the first issu,
With all the power of the nation
would have been fatal. To fail I,
meet this second issue with all Til
force that may he needed woul'
also be fatal. We are glad, there
fore, that Congress has given th
President all the power deeme'
necessary to suppress disorder
and to punish the guilty, and tina
it has at the same time CAREFUL
guarded againet abuses.
We shall nowsee whether tn
Southern people will themselve
suppress existing disorders,
whether it will become necessar
for the President to resort to ez