The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-17
Senators Howe and Sumner-Schurz
on the Ku-KIux.


In the Senate, on Friday evening, an
interesting debate took place, of which we
give the following synopsis:
Mr. Howe arose and remarked that in
replying to the recent speech of Mr.. Sum-
ner on Ssnto Domingo he had not only
combated that Senator'S position, but had
INDUCED in some reflections that were
wrung out of him by a conviction he
could not then resist that that Senator
had been speaking in the interest of
the Democratic opposition. The very
explicit declaration with which that
Senator had yesterday closed his remarks
on the pending bill had convinced him
that the Senator's (Sumner's) purpose was
not what he (Howe) had supposed it to be,
and he availed himself of the opportunity
to make this declaration. No one would
doubt that he made it With great deal
more satisfaction than he did the remarks
which he had previously submitted. He
thought he might be allowed to add in his
own vindication that no one would suspect
him of having wilfully made that mistake,
especially when it was considered that it
was an inference drawn by large portion
of the Republican press, aud be might say
by the entire Democratic press.
Mr. Sumner replied: The Senator
(Howel did me an injustice the other
day, and should have known it. / on
that occasion tried to save the Repubi-
can party from responsibility for an act
of wrong. 1t was on that account among
others that / spoke. | am a member of
the Republican party, faithful to it always,
and cannot see it made responsible for
violation of international law aud the con-
stitution of the United States without
interposng my humble effort to save it.
In that spirit spoke. The Senator ar
raigned me when ! was trying to save The
constitution, to save my country, and to
save the party to which belong as much
as the Senator from Wisconsin.
SPEECH OF SENATOR soHURz.
Mr.. Schurz said he regretted the partisan
vestigation and debate he had formed some
conclusions in which partisan bias had no
share. The Ku-Klux disorders in the
South did exist to a formidable extent, and
they had political tendency. Their orr
gin was not to he found in the reconstruct
ton acts, and Congress was not the orig-
nal Ku-Klux, as had been said Such
outrages occurred in greater number i'm
mediately after the close of the war, and
an Improvement took place after the pas
sage of the reconstruction acts. Such
disorders were of usual occurrence after
great social revulsions, such as the sudden
abolition of slavery.
The origin Of the evil existed ia the baf-
fed prosavery spirit, producing morbid
public sentiment which overawed timid |
people aud obstructed the functions of JUS |
tice. Bad local governments had increased |
the difficulty, the existence of which in |
several of the Southern States had to be
admitted. 1t might have been prevented |
had the honest and intelligent men of the |
South protected the rights of the emanci- |
pated people, instead Of driving them into
the hands of unscrupulous men. The re-
medy now could not be found wholly in
penal statutes.
Mr. Schurz went on to oppose those
provisions of the bill which enlarged ma
tional Jurisdiction at the expense of local
self-government, in violation of the spirit of
the constitution, and creating constructive
rebellion in order to invest the President
with the discretionary power to suspend
the writ OF habeas corpus. Such laws were
liable to dangerous abuse by partisan
government. he could not vote for the
bill unless those provisions were stricken
out, but would support constitutional
measure for repression of outrages. The
Democratic party could not give peace to
Southern society, because it was overawed
by the lawless element aud controlled by
tendency.
The Republican party 10 many Southern
States was, in its present condition, equally
unable to secure peace and order, because
lnless it got rid of dishonest leadership it
,ould not produce good government. Bat
,he Democratic party had strong law
element in it, and the
Republican party contained a numerous
,lass of honest and independent men in
avor of good government. These elements
United would be strong enough to put
lown disorder without the interference of
he national authority. The union of
hese elements, now separated by party
ines, could be facilitated by the removal
f political disabilities, now opposed from
sentimental point of view. What was
heir practical usefulness
|