The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-07-30
WASHINGTON.
THE KU.KLUX COMMITTEES
REPORT.
HOW THE MAN AND BROTHER
Is ABUSED AT THE SOUTH.
GEN. PHIL. SHERIDAN ON THE
INDIAN QUESTION.

kluX COfnmittee, consisting Ot soeHhtOr
Scott and representatives Stevenson and
Van Trump, visited Washington to-day
returning from a sojourn Of four weeks in
various parts Of South Carolina where
they have boon investigating ku-klux out
RACES on the spots where they occurred.
They first visited the capital, Columbia,
where more than one hundred refugees
who had fed from violence in various
counties had come. After examining the
witnesses for two days the committee de-
alleged violence and went 10 Spar tan
burg. They expected TO remain there
three or four days but stayed eleven.
When word got out through Spartans-
burg county, the whites and negroes, VIC
tins Of violence, came in scores every day
from all directions. Murders and cruel
whippings by the ku-klux bands had so
terrified, them that:in many neighborhoo
nearly every negro man and white repub-
lican man had slept 10 the woods every
night for months. They showed scared
backs, gun-shot wounds, MANNED ears and
other proofs of violence they had suffered
In Limestone, Spring township, lis cases
Of whipping were proved.
The committee awake every morning
to find in the yard by the hotel new
crowd of victims Of the ku-klux. After
being whipped the victims we're oftencom-
manded, under pain Of death, to publish O
card renouncing the republican party.
In File, South Carolins, . democratic
paper had published forty-two such cards.
At Unionvllc the committee remained
two days, and not an avowod white repub.
liean was found in the place, though .
member of the committee was privately
assured by few that they would avow
themselves if protected. The last election
was carried BY o republican majority, but
the republican county officers received ku-
klux notices and all resigned or fed.
The policy there had been more to-
wards murder and less towards whipping.
The killing of ten negroes, taken from
Jail by several hundred ku-klux, acting
under a military organization, was inves-
tiga:ed.
a prominent lawyer Of the place, Mr.
Shard, democrat, on cross examination
startled the committee by stating that he
believed almost every young may in the
county belonged 10 tho Su-klux, and be-
lieved q thousand ku-klux we're within O
day march Of the village.
A negro Methodist preacher, named
Louis Thom2 2son, who had appointed June
llth, at Gashen Hill church, Union coun-
ty, as day for worship, received notice
form the ku-klux in the usual form, not to
preach. He preached, Notwithstanding, to
q very few, most Of the congregation fee
ing when they saw the notice. In the
evening, @ clan of twenty mounted ku-
klux came and tied and whipped him
They led him of several miles, dragging
him part of the way, whipped him "a
death, and mutilsted him in u way ths,
cannot with propriety be described.
They threw him into Tiger river, lesv
ing notice forbidding any one from bury
ing him. Before the committee returned
Senator Scott sent Thompson's brother
now refugee from Columbia, to Union
county with letter to insure. him strong
guard of cavalry to 60 and bury the body,
which was reported to be still lying, hall
decomposed, on the waters edge.
Two more days were spent in examin-
ing witnesses ia Columbia.
On returning from Spartansburg one
day was occupied in hearing the state.
ments and general views CT
GEN. WADE HAMPTON
and Gen. Butler, the democratic candidate
for governor last fall.
Tho committee visited Yorkville, where
they found the community in almost utter
social and political generalization. The
civil authorities being a useless farce and
mockery. Col. Merrill, in command of q
small force stationed there, aud an officer
Of high character and great energy, laid
before the committee 6S cases Of outrages
which he had investigated. Some of them
was most horrible. 1t was found impos-
sible for the committee to examine more
than o small part OF the cases Of whipped,
MANNED or terror stricken wretches who
had fiocked in upsn hearing Of their COM
ing. When the committee adjourned the
building in which they had sat was filled
The stairs, hall and porches were lined
with those waiting.
Judge Van Trump usually called two or
three OF the most prominent lawyers who
each occupied several hours in setting
forth democratic view of affairs, giving
their opinions on the relations Of the two
races in efficiency and corruption, the
state government and the feeling Of the
white people towards the general govern
ment, They all said they had heard Of
ku-klux but had never seen one. They
generally said that the negro seemed To
regard them as sort of vigilance COM
mitree, regular local police. They
did not consider them under general or
ganization, but simply to repress out
breaks.
Judge IVAN Trump subjected all the
witnesses called by the majority to tho
most searching cross-examination.
THE INDIANS. ..
In forwarding to the headquarters of
the army letter from Lieut.. Davidson,
of the Tenth United States cavalry, ex-
pressing fear of war between the Chey-
ennes ann Kiowas, Gen. Sheridan endorses
IL as follows: ......
"Much of what you hear may be set
down as Indian talk. 1t is we'll known on
the plains that the kiowas are the most
cowardly and, at the same time, the most
nois v and troublesome Of all the tribes. l
do'not anticipate any hostility from them,
nor do think they can get any sympathy
from any other Indian tribes. If agents
will only hold stifly to the policy that
when an Indian commits crime he must
be punished, the Indian question will soor