Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-20
Union AND AMERICAN.
"SOUTHRRN OUTRAGES."
Reports Of Kg-KluX Committee.
Plans OF Presidential Canvass.
More Martial Law Recommended
Federal Courts for Every County.
Views Of the Minority.
"SOUTHERN OUTRAGES.'
Federal Courts for Every County.
Views Of the Minority.
The Majority Renort.

The Majority Report.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Joint Sc
lect Committee tomorrow will report on
the condition of affairs in the late insured
tiOnary States. The evidence taken in
Washington and South Carolina, is
submitted, as is also the re-
ports Of the subcommittee. The
testimony taken in other States is UMPIRE
pared, and will be submitted in a supple
mentary report. The committee say that
inquiry has been made into the commission
Of Outrages, the execution of the laws, the
Ku-Klux band, the legislation, the official
incompetency, the corruption, ETC., testified
to. There is a remarkable concurrence of
the testimony that the courts and jurors
administer justice between man and man
in all ordinary cases, civil and criminal; but
the evidence is equally decisive that redress
cannot be obtained against those who COM
nit crimes in disguise and at night. The
reasons assigned are that Identification is
difficult, almost impossible; that when this
is attempted, the combinations and oaths
of the order come in aud release the Culprit
by perjury, either upon the witness stand
or in the jury box; and that the terror in
. spired by their acts as well as the public
sentiment in their favor in many localities
paralyze the arm of the civil power.
NulltIOuS CDIlpldlllLH etlC ludNAb VI TIC
incapacity of many of the inferior magis-
trates, and in several States the Governors
are charged with abuse Of the pardoning
power, especially in favor of negroes,
which viii be considered subsequently.
THE KU-KLUX KHAN.
The committee track, as far as they are
able, the origin, extent, purposes and mode
of operation of the ku-KluX Klan, the time
of whose organization is fixed in 1866, and
the testimony or reference TO which covers
1,400 pages of the report of the Sub-com-
mittee on Elections in the Louisiana con-
tested election cases in 1868. The object
Of the Ku-Klux was to oppose and reject the
principles of the Radical party, as shown
by the constitution, to be accomplished by
each member providing himself with a
pistol, Ku-Klux gown, and signal instru-
ments. If confederation were needed, it
could be found in the expressions made by
these bandits to their victims when inhict-
ing their scourgings upon men and then
outrages upon women. That testimony is
Uniform, and out of their own mouths. If
we condemn them it must be on the ground
of their hostility to the Government and
70 the enjoyment by the negro of the rights
conferred on him by the amendments to the
Constitution and by the laws which they
are organized to oppose. The refusal Of a
large portion of the wealthy and educated
men to discharge their duties as citizens,
has brought upon them the same COnse-
duences which are being suffered in North
ern cities and communities from the neglect
of their business and educated men
TO participate in all the movements
Of the people which make up selfgOvern-
ment. The citizen in either section who
refuses or neglects from any motive TO take
his part in self-government has learned that
he must now suffer and help to repair the
evils of bad government. The newly made
voters of the South at the close of the war,
1t is testified, were kindly disposed toward
their former mas ers. The feeling between
them even vet seems to be one of cOnfid-
ence in all other than their political rela-
tons. The refusal of their former masters
to participate in political reconstruction ne
cessarily left the negroes to- be influenced
by others. Many of them were elected to
office and entered it with honest intentions
10 do their duty, but were untitled for its
discharge. Through that instrumentalty,
many unworthy white men, having obtain
ed their confidence, also procured public
positions. In legislative bodies this mix
ture of ignorant but honest men with bet
ter educated knaves gave opportunity for
corruption, and this opportunity has dew
eloped a state of Generalization on this sub
ject, which accounts for many Of the wrongs
Of which the people justly complain. It is
apparent at the same time that demOraliza-
ton is not confined to race nativity or poll
teal creed, but presents specimens alike in
the negro, the carpet-bagger, and white ma
tive citizens Of both parties.
A SPECIMEN STATE.
These remarks are not applicable to all
the reconstructed States, but they are to
several Of them. Taking South Carolina as
an illustration, and it is certainly as bad in
these respects as any Of the States, and
there can be no doubt that venality and cor
ruption in the Legislature prevailed largely
there. They are spoken of as existing by
men Of all parties, and seem to be conceded.
Certainly this instance is almost uni
versally believed by the people of the State. .
With such material as the Legislature, and
such views of virtue outside as are shown
to have prevailed, corruption VS. inevitable.
We point to the results Of this opinion in
South Carolina, in the fact that the negroes
in nine counties of the State in which Ku-
Klux violence prevailed TO such extent as
70 call for the suspension eff the writ of
habeas corpus in them, are, according to the
testimony of Judge Carpenter, much more
. intelligent than in any other part of the
State The fact they are so, when placed
along side the list of men murdered and
natreated in these counties, demonstrates
that it requires the strong arm Of the Gov
eminent TO protect the citizens in the enjoy
mept of their rights, to keep the peace and
preveHt this Observation-Disclosures to stop this
initiated var of races till the experiment
which It has inaugurated, and which many
Southern men pronounce now and many
more have sworn shall make Failure, can
be determined in peace.
THE NEGRO MUST BE PROTECTED.
The race so recently emancipated, against
which Punishment or serfdom is thus de-
creed, but which has been clothed by the
Government with the rights and RESPONSE
bihties of citizenship, ought not to be, and
we feel assured will not be-. left hereafter
without protection against the hOsti.ities and
sufferincs il has endured in the past, as long
as the legal arm and the constitutional pow
or Of the Government are adequate TO al
ford il. Communities suffering such evils
and inf Fenced by such extreme feelings
may be slow to learn that relief can come
only from ready obedience and support OF
the constitutional authority, looking to the
modes provided by the law for the redress
~ grievances. That the Southern commu-
mites do not seem TO yield this ready obedi-
encs at once, should not deter the friends
of GOOD government in both sections from
bo6inp and working for that end. The
Northern commissioners, exasperated BY de-