The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-03
Il XIX oufraees.

A NuX 0afF1Sos.
Below We give an abstract Of the report
Of the Ku-Klux commissioners appoint
ed by Congress, who have been on a
tour of INVESTIGATION in the South:
The sub Ku-klux commissioners, con-
sisting of Senator Scott and representa-
tive Stephenson and Van Trump, visited
Washington to-day, returning from a So
journ of four weeks in various parts OF
South Carolina, where they have been in
vestigating Ku-klux outrages on the spot
where they occurred. They first visited
the capital, Columbia, where more than
one hundred refugees who had fed from
violence in various counties were there
but after examining witnesses for 2 days,
thecommission decided to goto the scenes
of alleged violence, and went to Spar
tansburg. They expected to remain
there three or four days, but stayed clev-
en-. When they got out through Spar
tansburg county, they were there met by
whites and blacks, who came in by scores
every day from all directions.
A negro man and q republican white
man had slept in the woods for months
every night. They showed scarified
backs, gun shot wounds, MANNED ears
and other proof of violence they had suf.
fered. In Limestone and Springtonship
one hundred and eighteen cases ofwhip-
ding have been proved. A committee
awOke every morning to find in the yard
by the hotel new crowd of victims of
Ku-klux. Some including whites, had
suffered outrages which cannot be de-
seribed with deccney. After being whip
ed, the victims, well known persons,
were often commanded, under pain of
death, to publish a card deouncing the
republican party. In file of the South
Carolina Spartan, democratic newspaper,
forty-twO such cards were found, recent
ly published. At UniOnsville the COM
mittec remained two days. Not an av-
owed white republican could be found
in the place. Through member of the
they were privileged to be
notified by few that they would avow
protected. The terror OF
the negroes here is complete. The last
election was carried by republican
majority, but the republican comfy Off
GERS received Ku-klux notices and all re-
signed or fled. The policy there has
been more towards murder and less to-
wards whipping. The killing of ten
negroes, taken from the Jail by several
hundred Ku-klux, acting under the
organization; was investigated
by prominent lawyer of the place.
Mr.. Hand, democrat, in the course of
the examination, startled the committee
by stating that he believ ell almost every
unmarried Nan in the com
belonged to the ku-klux, and he
believed that thousand ku-klux were
within days march Of the village.
A negro Methodist preacher named
Louis Thompson, who had an appoint
mcnt June lIth at Goshen Hill Church,
Union county, received Ku-klux notice
in the usual form, not 10 preach. He
preached, Notwithstanding to very few,
most of the congregation fleeing when
they saw the notice of the clan. TWEEN
" mounted Ku.klux came, tied and whip
ped him, led him off several miles, drag
,ed him part of the way, tied 10 horses,
md whipped again until death. They
nutilated him in way that cannot,
with propriety, be described. After
him to a tree they threw his
body into the Tiger river, leaving a no
ice f0rbidding any one to bury him be-
ore the committee returned. Senator
Scott sent Thompson's brother, now q
'efugee from Columbia to Union county,
With u strong guard Of United States
to bury his body.
Judge Van Trump usually called two
n three prominent lawyers, who each
occupied several hours in sitting for the
democracy, in view of.the affairs, giving
heir opinion in relation to the races in
and as to the corruption ofthe
state government, as well as the freedom
" the ucnDle.