Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-04-13
WASHINGTON.
Loyal CIaira Commission I'm Session.
"a mil lI2AThe second

1 w y StNs
L Loyal CIaira ComnaissEeni I'm Session.
r WAsHfEGroN, "a pril eI2A The second
session of the Southern Claims Commits
sion met to- day. .ISeveral cases. were sci
for furter hearing. The Commission con-
sidered the claim of the sixth auditor,
j Martin, for articles taken from bis planta-
tion, in Alabama, during the war.
The question Of Jurisdiction over claims
forlthe rentrof occupied public buildings in
the South was presented, but the Commits
sion decline TO answer until o case involv-
ing the point comes up.
/ Public notice is given of the desire Of
the Commission, to have the petitions ad-
dressed to them for allowance of claims
accompanied by all the written evidence,
of whatever character, in the possession OF
the claimants. They also decided that
! their rules did not require the iron-clad
oath attached to petitions to be wholly in
writing, but that printed form maybe
used.
- &@fooMhuSIcxrfD.] - &@s @A&
The representations,t true and false, of
Kuklux outrages are doing untold damage
to the South, both where this sfindish Or
ganization does in truth exist, and in To-
calities where they have never had amor
gaslized existence in point of fact their
existence in the South cannot be denied !,
but, that their existence is confined to cer-
tain localities is equally undisputable.E In
East Tennessee they have not, nor can
| they have an organized existence for the
very potent reason, that public sentiment
will not tolerate such lawlessness, which
is the only sure prevention of the depre-
llations of SUCH lawless "klans." Where
public sentiment approves, or even winks
at such atrocious conduct as has character
lied the operations Of the Kuklux Khan
since its organization in the laterebellie lieHs
States, there is no amount or Character
of force which can be employed by Re-
publican Government which can even
check the operations of such organized re-
sistance to lawoand government. until
public sentiment is educated, and popular
| feeling so wrought upon by the press of
the country, that no one who connives at
such lawlessness can, or will be, respected
or treated as a gentleman, there is no ade-
quate remedy for these unbearable evils.
| A large standing army in the South can
only prevent their devilishI deeds in the
| immediate vicinity of their rendezvous, and
| the country actually traversed by their
patrols and scouts, while the rural districts
unoccupied by actual force will be more sub
ject to the depredaions of these maraud-
ing bands of midnight assassins than be-
fore and as they are driven from one To-
cality to another, they will become more
desperate and reckless, and their proscrip-
ton of all who oppose them, more ;bleoky
and relentless. The only permanent
remedy lies in the proper education of
public sentiment, and it lies within the
duties and power of the secular press to
apply this remedy, but it cannot be done
from the standpoint and warped views Ia
ken by the party organs of either political
party in the Southern country. 7g~seFku
The charges made by the republican
press are too general in their nature, and
too vague as to the localities where the
"klans" have an actual existence; while
on the other hand, the democratic press
generally deny that they have an exist
ence, or become their apologists or defend
ers. This great power, SO potent for good
or evil, has lost all it's Influence by this
Fashionable course, and the country is left
to adopt some other less efectual means to
overcome the pernicious teachings of un-
principled and irresponsible denagogues,
who would sacrifice the best ipterests of
the country to crafty their personal ma
levolence, and pave. the way for their own
future aggrandiZement.f If the democracy
are aggrieved by the present administra-
ton of the government, let them not en-
ploy such questionable means for relief.
The principles of our government are
broad enough to place it within the reach
of all to redress their wrongs in law full
way, without making these nocturnal sal
lies, and reveling in the blood of innocent
victims. While the republican party will
be acting more consistently with its past
record to level its batteries upon the actual
wrong-doers, than by its present indis-
criminate fire upon both the guilty and
the innocent, Let them give the locality
in every instance, and the names of par.
ties, where 1t is possible. They will thus
shame the guilty and save the guiltless
from insult and injury. If the press OF.
the country would discuss this question
from the proper standpoint, and do justice
to passing events, the evils complained of
would be corrected, and good feeling soon
take the place of the present bitter ami
mosities. = Af'H REPUBLICAN,.