The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-14
HoYT g. CO., Proprietc
letter from Senator Scotia Plea for Ex-
ecutiye Interference.


The following letter from Senator Scott,
Chairman of the Joint Investigating Commit
tee. was received by President Grant on FIJI
day. 1t is probably the key to the telegraphic
report that martial law would probably be pro-
claimed shortly in certain counties OF the
Esate.
70 the President of the United States:
SIR: Since the return of the subcommittee,
sent to the State of South Carolina by the
Joint Committee of Congress appointed "to in
uuire into the condition of the late insurrec-
tiopary States, so far as regards the execution
of the laws and the safety of lives and proper
ty of citizens of the United States, }" communi-
cations 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 l consider it my du-
ty to Law before you with this letter.
The subcommittee visited both these coun-
lies and took testimony in them. That testl-
mony has not all been printed, but with this l
forward the testimony OF Rev. A, W. Cum-
mings, of Spartanburg, and OF Colonel Lewis
Merrill relating to York county.
That of DR.. Cummings shows that from Oc-
tober last until July, when the committee was
tbere outrages had been committed upon two
hundred and twenty-seven citizens, whose
names are giyen, two of whom had been muir
dered. This list does not embrace all the cases
That had occurred, and the deputy marshal IN
that county testified that the actual number
largely exceeded 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 disguise. The extent of this violence
was so great that leading citizens of that coun-
~ were informed that if any of the witnesses
who testified were interfered with, or If any
outrages of character similar to those proven
were again committed, the fact would be repor-
ted to the President, that he might consider
the propriety of exercising the full extent OF
the bowers conferred upon him for the protec-
ton of citizens of the United States against
such lawlessness. 1t is due to these citizens to
sav that thew promised to exert their influence
20 repress disorder and have since seen pub
lished notices of meetings held for that pur-
pose.
Before the committee left one witness, who
had been examined, reappeared, and testlhed
that he had bought gun, returned home, ana
had been whipped 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. I forebore to report this case,
hoping that the promises of leading citizens
would be fulfilled and be effective to stop fur
ther violence. =.
On the same day that the committee left
Spartanburg the county court assembled. AS
an evidence of how far the State law Is enec-
tive in reaching such offenses, quote an eX-
tract from the report of the grand jury, made
under date of July 90:
awe repret to report that we have heard of a
number of outrages having been committed IN
various portions of the county, but express the
hope that the good and influential men IN every
part of the community will unite their efforts
In preventing every infraction of the law, and
In assuring to all perfect security III their per-
son and property"
This ID the notice taken of such a state of
affairs as that presented by DIR. Cummings tes-
timony. No man has yet been convicted or
punished in that county for any OF these often
ses. Dr. Cummings letter, of the 10th instant,
shows a number of outrages committed since
the committee left One of these, as appears
by the affidavit of DR.. Bates, was of most
brutal character. One of the witnesses before
the committee is also stated to be q refugee IN
Spartanburg, having been threatened with
death.
Colonel Merrills testimony gives the names
of sixty-eight victims of violence in York
county since October last, six of whom were
killed, and shows the actual number to have
been from three to four hundred. His letter,
and that of Hon. A. S. Wallace, which IN
close. INFORM me that since the committee lett
the Ku Klux have renewed their deeds of vio-
lence and crime in that county, whipped IN
huential men "for no other cause than their
political opinions and the color of their skin"
and burning negro school house.
The state of insecurity was, am satisfied, as
great in Union county as III either OF those
above named one witness having testified that
al ptxyx. ff.,ctr ndo
that no order issued by the Klan would be dis
regarded AS showing the state of feeling IN
that county, the number and power of the or.
ganization, and especially to give the names OF
those who think it no part of their duty to
have such ofienses as are committed by the ku
Klux prosecuted, submit to you the testimony
of r. w. Stearns, Esq, prominent Demo
cratic lawyer of that county. | have no report
of any renewal of violence in that county since
the visit of the committee.
Information has been sent me. of occurrences
in Chester, Fairfield, and Newberry. counties,
which would indicate that the cessation OF law
lessness is but temporary.
The state of public sentiment in the coun-
ties of Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry,
Chester. and York is such that if these atrocl-
ties continue, there is no hope of protection
from the local tribunals, and earnestly invite
your Excellency's attention to the testimony
submitted with view to action for the protec-
sion of those who have SO long suffered without
redress.
The cruelties that have been inflicted in
spartanburg and York counties are shocking
to humanity y-crimes that ought not to 60 un-
punished in any civilized country. Their per-
petrators are at large and unwhipped of justice
Although inquiry has been made in their
midst, and the enormity of their crimes expos
ed, and the consequences OF their rePetition
foreshadowed, the members of these iawiess or, :,
carnations have again resumed their arms and
their midnight raids of brutality and assasina-
ton.
In these counties of spartanburg and York
crime has run riot with impunity. All warn
ings have been disregarded, and the efforts OF
the well-disposed citizens have proved inefec-