Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-21
OUTRAGES IN THE SOUTH.

OUTRAGES IN THE SOUTH.
The evidence of outrages in the South
is arousing Congress to the necessity of
taking notice in some efficient manner of
the proceedings of the Ku Klux. On
Wednesday the subject was introduced in
the Senate by Senator Morton, and a
discussion ensued of which the following
is an abstract as furnished by telegraph
Mr.. Morton asked leave to introduce a
resolution, which was read for information,
providing for the appointment of select COM
mittee of five Senators, to whom shall be re-
ferred the documents and papers recently laid
before the Senate by the President, in refer
ence to the condition of the southern States,
and that such committee have power to en-
ploy secretary and stenographer, and to
send for persons and papers, administer oaths
and investigate the matters referred to in the
documents and papers aforesaid, and the
truth or falsity OF crimes and outrages of a
political character alleged to have been COM
mitted in the southern States.
Mr.. Bayard objected.
Mr.. Morton, in order to accomplish the
purpose of this resolution by avoiding objec-
ton, then moved to take from the table the
papers accompanying the Presidents mes
sage, with view of their reference to a
committee.
The motion was agreed to, when Mr. Nor
ton moved to refer them to special COM
mittee on the subject.
Mr.. Casserly moved as an amendment to
refer the paper to the Judiciary committee
Mr.. Wilson said that the Senate had before
it, from official sources, such arecord ofcrime
as no other Christian or civilized land during
the last five years could present. What Con-
gress now wanted to do was to put down the
Ku Klux organizations of the South, which
had all the semblance of the old legalized
Southern code system.
would be appointed to devise some remedy
for the present insecurity of the life, property
and rights of her citizens. =
Mr.. Casserly replied at length to Mr..
Warner, charging him with inconsistency
with his position at the last session, when he
advocated humane and friendly treatment
of the Southern people, and declared that the
whole subject of the proposed investigation
was to revive feuds, hatred and civil war, and
thus create republican party capital. Mr..
Casserly argued that the present unfavorable
condition of affairs in the South was only
natural consequence of civil war, and cited
the quarrels of bands of 'skinners" and
"ploughboys" in years following the revolu-
ton, which were far more bitter and desper-
ate than anything which has yet occurred in
the South, in support of his proposition.
Mr.. Warner, in his reply, said that he
would vote with the Senator from California
for amnesty for rebellion, but would be sorry
to propose that it should carry with it amnesty
for the rebellion and murder of to-day.
While for amnesty, he was also for the halter
for the murderer. AS an illustration of the
political feeling indicating the lawless con-
dition of society in the South, he cited an
incident within his own experience, of an
organized attempt, during the late canvass, to
break up a republican meeting at Eutaw,
Alabama, which was attended with the most
serious consequences. Fifty-four of the par
Elephants in the meeting were killed or wound
ed, and twas in the interest of the democracy,
and intended by them as means of carrying
the county in which it occurred There was
no greater provocaton for it than there was
now for him Warner to fire shot in the
Senate chamber. He had been informed
that during the melee several shots had been
fired at himself. 1t was impossible to punish
the offenders, because they were thoroughly
organized and had control of the county.
Mr.. Wilson said that since the war he had
striven as far as in his power to secure the
return of peace and order to the whole coun-
try, and never failed to express kindly feelings
toward cur countrymen who went into the
rebellion. He had visited them in prison and
aided in getting them out of prison, and had
received Acknowledgements on this score from
many southern statesmen and fifteen or
twenty generals in the southern army. His
home had been visited by representative
southern men, desiring aid for their return
to their section. His policy was one of
generosity, as indicated by the bill he had
introduced, granting amnesty to all except
those who were cabinet officers and Con-
gressmen in 1860 and 1861. He would vote
to relieve the disabilities of many of those if
they asked for it. He should vote to-day to
relieve Breckenridge, because since the close
of the war he had, SO far as the speaker knew,
acted like heightened and honorable gentle
man. Ridiculing what had been said about
the failing fortunes of the perishing party, he
remarked that he had no shadow of doubt Of
the election of 1872; that the official records
heretofore had indicated republican legisla-
ton, and that Mr.. Casserly had gone too far in
partisanship to the majority of the
Senate. He advocated the proposed investi-
cation as looking to means of encouraging
men all over the country who are in favor of
law and order. ~
The debate, which was almost exclusively
political, was continued at great length,
Messrs. Nye, Chandler and others sustaining
the resolution, and Messrs. Bayard and
Thurman opposing it. I4. r..
Mr.. Bayard charged the republican party
with unwarrantable interference with south
ern officers and elections, and cited the mes
sages of Governors Scott Of South Carolina