Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-13

The New York TriJane has corrc.pou.
dent in Charleston whose letters throw "a
great deal Of light upon the financial condi.
ton Of the State of South Carolina II
seems that there has been Ring there
similar to that which existed in New York
After the war, few men from the North,
who had followed the army as sharks 20 in
the wake of a ship fastened themselves upon
the States Of the South, getting possession
Of all the prominent offices through tne con.
nivance or silence Of the government They
were able to secure the election Of an gno-
rant and corrupt Legislature, composed large
ly of the newly emancipated negroes, whose
votes were as easily controlled by Scott and
Niles as the Irish votes of New York by
Tweed aud Sweeny At the suggestion or
dictation Of this Ring" Of carpet baggers
the Legislature voted nearly thirty millions
of bonds for various purposes indicated to
them These bonds to the amount Of fifteen
millions or more have been negotiated in
New York by one Kempton, "guttcr bro
ker," as the Nation calls him, on such terms
as he could get. The proceeds have been
used to honor the drafts of the Governor
aud Treasurer Of the State, aud have gone to
increase their private fortunes, to large ex-
tent. OF course the credit of the State is
exhausted no more money can be raised o
bonds the treasury is empty the other OIL
GERS Of the State are unpaid, and the public
improvements, for which the bonds were is
sued arc scarcely begun. Among other forms
of expenditure the Legislature voted to
themselves per diem of ten dollars, and no
method seems to have been unused to enrich
the Ring and its subseryicnt dependents Of
the Legislature
Other States than South Carolina have
suffered in the same way. OF course when
no inquiry has been made, no results have
been reached but sufficient is known in
Georgia, in Florida and in Louisiana to infer
similar state of facts in each Of these
States
The cruelty aud mischief of these things
are both equally obvious. Here nrc States
almost utterly impoverished by the desoa.
tions of a long war. Their industries are
paralyzed, their manufactures destroyed, their
accumuations scattered Nothing is left to
them but their real estate and their physical
and intellectual faculties. On such a COM
munity, wholly bankrupt, with the gains Of
two centuries swept of in the vortex Of the
conflict, these northern vampires iastou them
selves in order to suck the blood which is be-
ginning to flow into their veins, and mort
gage the industries, the productions and the
gains of the future to their unholy rapa-
city. There has been no such cruelty any
where recorded in the history Of nations.
Conquered provinces have been drained of
all their present resources by the greed Of
their conquerors, but it is new device in
the system of plumber to issue bonds that
shall destroy the resources of the present aud
all the gains and hopes of the future, in a
a conquered province.
1t is to rob State not only Of all its inn
mediate wealth, but Of all hope of ever ne
quring it in the future. Such monstrou-
system of plumber for individual enrichment
was never before carried into execution.
The robberies Of Tweed and his associates
sink into insigD6cance and become actual
mercy by the side of this rapacity Of carpet
bagism. For their pillnge was from a rich
community. They relieved the plethora Of
a wealthy city. They drew little blood
only aud left the community still rich and
prosperous But this "Ring" has famed the
patriotic feelings of the North with the vi
bration of their wings with their religious
aud moral and patriotic talk, while they hay,
been drawing the vital currents from this and
from the next generation at the South. tn,
North is not vindictivc nor cruel 1t is mag
unanimous and generous 1t desires to re
cover and restore the South aud make i
great and better than it was before. L
does not wish to rob or Cypress a single South
ern State. 1t has been blind to the robbie
ries that have been done there aud ignorant
of the cruel greed Of northern tromps ant
carpet baggers who have made gain Of theil
misery and desolation. 1t needs only o
knowledge of the facts to visit with merit
ed indignation all who have been engaged il
the merciless robbery of helpless communi
ties.
\ We have no justification for the Ku Klux
1t has been lacking in the elements of a
righteous vigilance committee or a legal pro
seeution. 1t was born in bitterness and has don,
its work with cruelty aud revenge. Yet il
is not strange that in communities dosoated
by war, aud ravaged by the followers of the
camp after the war is over organizations o
tbs sort should spring up, and that reveDg,
for real or iancied injuries should be the prin
ciple of their action. But while the Govern
ment should repress all such organizations
which permit irresponsible individuals tc
make reprisals for public or private offenses
it should bear itself with equal severity
against those who act under its cover, who's,
injustice aud fragrant abuse of power have
made whole communities seek relief from
their clutches 10 the terrors Of the Ku Klux
1t is incredible that the Southern States de.
sire to perpetuate either the Ku Klux or Gar.
pet bagism. They would gladly consigu them
to common grave, Self Interest aud COM