The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-20

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| fail to find out names? We do not say that al
| condemn the Ku-KlnX. Many see the immediate
good, and think not Of the consequent evil. But
many, very many, oppose and abhor these deeds,
committed without any legal sanction, and theJ
express their adherence In unneasured terms.
This letter has been made too long. We wrote
however. to show that the Ku-Klux we're com
batting evils rs dangerous to the peace OF society
as the counter evils they perpetuase; and thai
these fearful counter evils were not approved Of
by all the people Of upper South Carolina.
BRuTrs.
Letter from Judge Thomas-VVhy the
j stevens lIurderers were to Have Been
Removed to Colnnbia.
a TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
As a Judge should. i have remained Silent Until
enorss are made to make me the scape-goat to
| bear the responsibility OF the Union troubles
| Allow me to make short statement.
On the morning Of the first Thursday in Janus.
/ ry left Columbia for Spartan6arg. In passing
up the railroad, found that the people OF Union
| were very much excited by The murder OF one.
| armed man by a detail OF the State milltia-al
colored--oecs1se he would not give them whis-
sey, Epop passing Union, found that o large
| band OF armed men, In disguise, had taken OUT
i've OF the prisoners WIZ tsu ueeu pus VI eue
Killed TWO, and badly wounded three Upon In
au!ry, / found that the impression OF the people
was that, had they have been tried, they would
have been .pardoned and escaped. also found
mat large meeting had been held that day, con.
demnlng The action Of the night before. As soon
as had finished the object cf my visit to spar.
tanburg. hired yeacie and went to Union, not
waitlpgs for the Monday train. On Monday /
tne Aeeis, OF law once more over the Community.
bhrank from no responsibility. and brought
away with me the assurances OF many OF the
best citizens that qulet had been restored.
On arriving 10 Columbia sent for Go7ernor
Scott, and Informed him ~ had held the civil
courts In Onion, and thought tnas law and ofder
was restored"
|. On the first Tuesday in this month, being In
Colunblas and ready 10 leave for Charleston,
three influential citizens desired me to have
pelsonsl interview with Governor s. OF. and give
him plain statement OF what Thought sl tne
troubles In the up-counsry. My idea was that the
disease was Constitutional, and not local. l did
So and es part OF the interview, succeedei 10
having some Of the best men OF the up-country
appointed 10 office. oae Of the dimcultes Waicn
had presented itself to my mind was that this
class OF citizens toek no interest In the govern
ment, and had found an apathy among them so
far that they would not risk their lives when call
ed upon to act as posse TO execute the laws IN
some respects.
This interview detained me until after the train
left for Charleston. and while waiting for the next
train, General Anderson, Of the state militia ap-
for three prisoners at Union, the petition
alleging that they were insecure in their lives
at Union, aud asking TO be removed TO place
OF safety. Mr.. Brawley, the solicitor Of the sixth
Cfrcntt. went with me to the Governor, and he
guaranteed to US that they shouh be returned
to u at Union for trta.
Being surprised at the allegation In the ped-
.tion. mad Mr.. BraW!ey to make inquiries con,
loand That those who came down that night were
not uneasy, and apprehendet no trouble. Upon
reflection concluded that something other than
their safet5 was the cause OF the appncatmn lqr
removal. The three men sought for removal we9
the three who had been badly wounded IN the
arst raid on the bail, and were likely to know me
raidefsn II any one did. knowing the dlsllust
which many OF the citizens had IN the State Gov.
ernmapt.i stipulated with General Anderson
that the prisoners should be kept in separate cells
80 as not to c0ncoct story, and secondly, eaak
NO OF e-should see them except by especial order
from him or myself.
Upop the evening when the writ was to have
been returned with the prisoners, and after near.
lug that the sheriff ", uld not obey IL, was walt
ed on BY Mr.. dunbar, the attorney OF tae pTlsSn pss
declined 10 sgn as mere "o1atuns .ful1rssn, " but
Indicated to him that all that was lett OF ctgtl au
thority was for me to 'trule the Sheriff." he san
he would prepare the rule and return .nas M Lignt @
with IL. This was not DONE and the rule was lssu.
ed of mr. own motion late that night anu sent on
on the cars. One OF the leading members OF the
bar OF the Sixth Circuit, and the candidate OF tne
CONSERVATIVES tIe schb VI pSuSiit was PkS'
SENT advising and urging this as my only course.
l had consulted with Two Of my brethren on tne
bench and several lawyers. who agreed win me 10
the visw that, as Judge Of the state lhad notn,
inc to do with the execution OF the processes OF
the court These were for the sheriff and the cOro-
ner. II they could not carry Into execution the
processes by calling out the posse then the respon
sibiitS was upon those who refused to net as
posse or upon that constitutional difficulty which
Invested these people Of the interest they had III
obeJlng the orders Of the Sheriff or executive
onlcer.
On Sunday night, the sherid's guard at the jail
in Union was oTerpowered, aRd the three prison.
ers who were named In the writ or hd6rGS corpus,
with five Others were killed.
The position Of Judge 1t present 1s tnanSless
enough, and il have failed to discharge my anty,
1 am ready to resign. | feel that have done al
that was IN my power, and II there ls responsl.
bility anywhere, except on the armed pand Who
violated the JAIL 1t Is not on me.
Who IS responsible 2 II may be the Snerlil; IL
NAV be those who organized the militia in such o
Way astO make 1t liable 70 such acts as com.
menced this carnival OF b bood, and now renders
IT. inefaciene as o posse. But II think the trut
canse will be found in constitutional deficiency,
which occaslo the apathy OF leading citizens, TO
wit: taxation and no representation. THIS IS
contrary TO all repli6Licdnfsnl, and Should oe re-
moved by those in authority by change Ia the
constitution OF the State, making tax'paElng
qualification for one OF the branches OF the LegiS'
lature. This is slow remedy for . bursting poll
but when the patient sees the physician Apply tue
proper remedy, he may not be so restless.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
CIvYh