Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-09-21
South Carolina Ku.Klux.

The following is the letter oescrlonS
the present state of affairs in South caro-
lima which Senator Scott addressed TO the
President short time ago
TO the President of the United States:
SIR: Since the return of the sub COM
mittee sent to the State of South Carolina
bv the Joint Committee of Congress, ap
pointed "to inquire into the condition OF
the late insurrectionary States, SO far as
regards the execution of the laws and the
safety of the lives and property of citi-
zens of the United States," communica.
tions have been forwarded to me from citi-
zens of Spartanburg and York counties,
and from the officer commanding the
United States troops at Yorkville, which
consider it nay duty to lay before you with
this letter.
The subcommittee visited bath these
counties, and took testimony in them
that testimony has not all been printed,
but with this forward the testimony of
Rev. A. w. Cummings, of Spartanburg,
and of Colonel Lewis Merrill, relating to
York County. That of DR.. Cummings
shows that from October last until July,
when the committee was there, outrages
had been committed upon 227 citizens,
whose names are given, two of whom had
been murdered. This list does not en-
brace all the cases that have occurred, and
the Deputy Marshal in that county testi-
fed that the actual number largely ex-
ceeds this Some forty or fifty persons
were before the committee, who proved
the outrages committed upon themselves
and others by bands of armed men in dis
guise. The extent of this violence was SO
great that leading citizens of that county
were informed that if any of the witnesses
who testified were interfered with, or if
outrages of character similar to those
proved were again committed, the fact
would be reported to the President, that he
might consider the propriety of exerting
the full extent of the powers conferred
upon him for the protection of citizens of
the United States against such lawless-
ness. 1t is due to these citizens to say
that they promised to exert their influence
to rapress disorder, and I have since seen
published notices Of meetings held for
that purpose.
Before the committee left, one witness,
who had been examined, reappeared and
testified that he had bought gun, re-
turned home, and had been visited by
armed men in disguise, from whom he
escaped, but who took his gun away and
threatened to his family that they would
kill him.
| forebore to report this case, hoping
that the promises of leading citizens
would be fulfilled, and be effective to stop
further violence. On the same day that
the committee left Spartanburg the County
Court assembled.
As an evidence of how far the State law
is effective in reaching such otfenses, !
quote sn extract from the report of the
Grand Jury, made under date OF July 25.
We regret to report that we have heard
of number of outrages having been COM
-, af ha fu
but express the hope that the good and in
fuential men in every part of the commu-
nity will unite their efforts in preventing
every infraction of the law and in assur-
ing to all perfect security in their persons
and property"
This is the notice taken of such state
of affairs as that presented by DR.. Cum.
mings' testimony. No man has yet beer
convicted or punished in that county fol
any of these offenses. DR.. Cummings let
ter of the 10Th inst states that number
of outrages have been committed since the
committee left-One of them, as appears
by the affidavit of DR.. Ba es, of mos
brutal character. One of the witnesses
before the committee is also stated to b.
now refugee in Spartanburg, having beer
threatened with death.
Colonel Merrill's testimony gives th'
in York County since October last, six o
whom were killed, and shows the actua
number to have been from three to fOu
hundred. His letters and that of Hon. A
8. Wallace, which I enclose, informs M
that since the committee left the Ku-Klu,
have renewed their deeds of violence ant
crime in that county; whipping inoften
sive men for no other cause than thei
political opinions and the color of thei
skin" and burning a negro school house
This state Of insecurity was, am salts
fed, as great in Union County as in eithe
of those above named, one witness havin|
testified that the county was in effect unde
KuKluX rule that no order issued by tn
Klan would be disregarded. AS showin
the state of feeling in that county, tn
number and power of the organization
and especially to give the views OF thos
who think it no part Of their duty to hav
such offenses as are committed by the Kr
Klux prosecuted, submit to you the tes
timony of r. w. Shand, Esq, a prominer
Democratic lawyer of that county. I hav
no report of any renewal of violence
that county since the visit of the commi
tee. Information has been sent me of O,
currences in Chester, Fairfield and New
berry counties, which would indicate ths
the cessation of laWlessness is but tempo
rary.
The state of public sentiment in th
counties of Spartanburg, Union, Lauren
Newberry, Chester, and York is such tbs
if these outbreaks continue, there is n
hope of protection from the local tribl
nails, and earnestly invite your Exec
lency's attention to the testimony SUI
mitted, with view to action for the DR.
lection of those who have so long suffere
without redress. The cr1elties that ha,
been inflicted in Spartanburg and Yor
Counties are shocking to humanity-crim'
that ought not to go unpunished in an
civilized country. Their perpetrators al
at large and unwhipped of Justice. A
though inquiry has been made in the
midst, and the enormity of their crime
exposed, aud the consequences Of their r
petition foreshadowed, the members
these lawless organizations have again r
sumed their aims and their midnight rai(
of brutality and assassination
In these counties of Spartanburg ar
York crime has run riot with impunit,
all warnings have been disregarded, ar
the efforts of the well disposed citize1
have proved unavailing. Isubmit wheth
the time has not come, in view of the
facts, when the people of these counties
least should be informed by proclamatie
that the limit of endurance has been reac
ed, and that the whole power of the go
ernment will be exercised to protect j
tizens in the enjoyment of the rights al
privileges guaranteed to them by the Co
stitution.
Reluctant as am to do so, the fac
proven before the committee in these cou
ties, the state of feeling witnessed the1
the warnings. given the citizens, and,
the face of this, the speedy reappearan
of the same criminal disorders viii,
have been the subject of Investigate
defying the execution of the laws, rende
ing life insecure and property but
nominal value, impel me, in Justice to tt
suffering people who have endured
much, and in mercy even to those who
sympathy with or Indifference to the
wrongs may arouse retribution more te
rible than they dream ola retribution
would go to any lawful length of pow
to prevent; all these considerations imr
me to call your attention to the facts co
tanned in the testimony, letters, and al
davits submitted, and to ask whether tn