The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-06

B. Gordon has been addressed to the Hon.
John Scott, United States Senator from Penn
sylvania
Sir: My attention has been called to some
remarks made by you in the United States Sen
ate on Friday, the 18th inst, in which you
allege that General J. B. Gordon, of Georgia,
was among the organizers and earliest leaders"
of the Ku Klux.
Not satisfied with the prompt denial by two
of your brother Senators, you sought, in furth-
erance of the political object which is apparent
throughout your remarks, still to impress the
idea that General Gordon refused to tell all
he knew upon the subject" and you affect to
knowledge for dishonest purposes.
It is not for me to contrast my motives, my
honor or integrity with yours, but your persis.
tent reiteration in your place in the council
chamber of the nation of statement already
stamped as falsehood demands some notice
from me- You cannot be ignorant of the fact
that distinctly stated in my testimony that
knew nothing of any such order as "Ku Klu1,"
save what have seen in the newspapers; that
Ihad belonged to an organization of gentlemen,
the nature Of which was that of police for the
preservation of the peace in the disorganized
State of our society that there was no politi-
cal idea in it; that it had never within my
knowledge called meeting ofits MEMBERS that
I had never seen or heard of disguise in
Georgia except those worn by two captured
robbers, who were members OF and tit repre-
sentatives of your own political party as it ex-
lists in many portions of the South, and these
two, believe, are now in the Georgia Peniten-
tiary. This is my impression as stated in my
testimony before the investigating committee
in Washington.
If your vision, sir, had not been distorted by
prejudice, which I respectfully submit is un-
worthy the high position you hold as repre-
sentative of great nation, you would have
seen upon your Southern tour what every hon.
orable Northern man who goes amongst us
sees, viz, that whatever crimes have been COM
mitted in the South are the direct outgrowth
of the wrongs perpetrated by the infamous
State governments you have set up over US.
I challenge your denial of the following
facts: Whatever apprehensions were felt at the
cessation of the war for the peace of society
and the safety of citizens, in consequence of
the overthrow of our local governments, the
disbanding of an army suddenly made paupers,
and the emancipation of whole race OF slaves,
these apprehensions were all soon allayed.
The kindliest relations existed between the
two races peace and an observance OF law
we're everywhere found. And never, sir, until
your carpet-bag governments, through the fears
and cupidity of the poor deluded negro. had
embittered him against us, and by his aid and
yours had robbed our treasures, plundered our
corporations, blighted our agriculture, blasted
our hopes, and hung debt like q milestone
about our necks-neyer until then, and until
the administration of law became mockery
and political subserviency passport to Exec
utive clemency for crime, was the peace in the
South ever broken or i'll will engendered be-
tween the races.
And it is this diabolism you would continue
in the South. Like the tormentor in the Span
ish bull-fghts, you continually fling the bloody
flag in the face of the negro, and goad the
white man to desperation with the bayonet
that the inevitable conflict may furnish the ex-
cuse for the perpetuation of your despotism.
pray that the American people may rebuke
this spirit in the coming elections, and let the
reign of constitutional government be once
more inaugurated.
But be that as it may, I shall not permit you
by my silence to bolster up the fortunes of
political party by thus dragging my name into
notoriety without asking you to carry also the
responsibility of the wilful falsehood you have
perpctrated in the effort. 1 am, sir, very re-
spectfull yours,
J.B. GORDON, of Georgia.