Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-07


fixed value to our currency, that value
constantly and uniformly approaching par
with specie, very desirable object will be
gained.
| THE KUKLUXr LAW.
There has been imposed upon the Exc
cutiye branch of the Government the exc
cution of the act of Congress, approved
April Goth, 1871, and commonly known as
the KukluX law. In portion of the State
/ of South Carolina the necessity of the
I course pursued will be demonstrated by
the report of the committee to investigate
Southern Outrages. Under the provisions
of the above act | issued q proclamation
calling the attention of the people of the
United States to the same and declaring
my reluctance to exercise any of the ex-
traordinary powers thereby conferred upon
me except in case of imperative necessity,
by making known my purpose to exercise
such powers whenever it should become
| necessary to do so for the purpose of Sc
curing to all citizens of the United States
| the peaceful enjoyment of the rights guar
ranteed to them by the Constitution and
the laws. After the passage of this law in
| formation was received from time to time
that a combination of the character re-
| ferred to in this law existed and were pow
erful in many parts of the Southern States,
particularly in certain counties in the
State of South Carolina.
| A careful investigation was made, and it
was ascertained that in nine counties OF
| that State such combinations were active
and powerful, embracing sufficient pOr
| ton of the citizens to control the local au-
| tborities, and having, among other things,
| the object of depriving the emancipated
| class Of the substantial benefits of freedom,
and preventing the free political action of
| those citizens who did not SympathiZe with
their own views. Among their operations
were frequent scourgings and occasional
| assassinations, generally perpetrated at
| night by disguised persons, the victims in
almost all cases being citizens of different
political sentiments from their own, or
free persons who had shown q disposition
to claim equal rights with other citizens
Thousands of inoffensive and we'll dis
posed citizens were the sufferers by this
lawless violence. Thereupon, on the 18th
of October, 1871, a proclamation was is
sued, in terms of the law, calling upon the
members of the combinations to dispense
within five days, and to deliver to the mar
shall or military officer of the United States |
all arms, ammunition, uniforms, disguise IS |
and other means and implements used by |
them for carrying out their unlawful pur- |
poses. This warning not having been |
needed, on the 18th of October another |
proclamation was issued suspending the |
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in |
nine counties III that state,
Direction was given that within the |
counties so designated persons supposed, |
upon creditable information, to be MEM
bers of such unlawful combinations should
be arrested by the military forces of the
United States and delivered to the Marshal,
to be dealt with according to law. In two
of said counties-York and Spartanburg
many arrests have been made. At last
a ested Eof the en number Of persons thus
Several hundred, whose criminality was
ascertaned to be of an inferior degree,
were released for the present. These have
generally made confessions of their guilt.
Great caution has been exercised in max
ing test arrests, and, Notwithstanding the
large number, it is believed that no innO
cent person is now in custody. The prison.
ers will be held for regular trial in the iu-
dicial tribunals of the United States.
AS. soon as it appeared that the authoei-
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 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.
POLITICAL DISABILITIES.
More than six years having elapsed
|
tween the armies then arrayed against
each Other-One for the perpetuatipn, and
the other for the destruction of the Union /
it may be well considered whether it is
not time that the disabilities imposed by
the Fourteenth Amendment should be re-
moved that the amendment does not eX-
clude the ballot, but only requires the disa-
bility to hold office of certain classes,
when the purity of the ballot and secure
majorities are sure to elect officers reflect
ing the views of the majority. / do not
see the advantage or propriety of exclude
ing men from office merely. They were,
before the rebellion, men Of standing and
character sufficient to be elected to posi-
tions requiring them to take an oath to
support the Constitution, and admitting
to eligibility those entertaining the same
views, but of less standing in their COM
munities. 1t may be said the former vio-
lated all oath, while the latter did not.
The latter did not have it in their power to
do so. If they had taken this oath it cans
not be doubted they would have broken it
as did the former class. If there are any
greater criminals distinguished above all
others for the part they took in opposition
to the Government, they might, in the
Judgment of Congress be excluded from
such an amnesty. This subject is sub
mitted for your careful consideration.
The condition of the Southern States
are, unhappily, not such as all true, patri-
otto citizens would like to see. Social os-
tracism for opinions sake, personal vio-
lence or threats towards persons entertain
ing pqlitieai views opposed to those enter
tanned by the majority of the old oitigenst
prevents immigration and the flow of
much needed capital into the States lately
in rebellion. twill he a happy condition
of the country when the old citizens of
these States will take an interest in public
affairs and promulgate ideas honestly en-
tertained, vote for men representing their
views and permit the same freedom of ex-
preston and ballot in those entertaining
different political convictions.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In nay message TO Congress one year ago,
urgently recommended q reform III the
civil service of the country in conformity