Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-20
The South Carolina Kuklux.
Message from the President.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 19.-The president
transmitted the following message to the house
to-day:
TO the House Of Representatives:
In answer TO the resolution of the house of repre-
Sentatlyes, OF January 18th, have the honor to
submit the following, accompanied by tine report of
the attorney general, to whom the report was re-
ferred Representations having been made TO me
That in certain portions of South Carolina condi-
ton OF law lessnsss and terror existed, l requested
the then attorney general (Akerman) to visit the
states ana after personal examination TO report TO
me the facts in relation to the subject On the 18th
of october last he addressed communication from
South Carolina, in which he stated that ia the
counties OF Spartanburg, York, Chester Union,
Laurens, Newbury, Fairfield, Lancaster and Ches-
terlied, there were combinations for the purpose of
preventing the free political actions of citizens who
were friendly to the constitution and the gov
eminent of the United States, and of de-
priylng the emaneipated class of the equal
protection of the laws. These combinations
embrace at least twO-thirds of the active white
men Of those counties, and have the sympathy and
c0untenance of the majority of the other third
They are connected with similar combinations in
other counties and states, and no doubt are part
OF grand system OF criminal associations pervad-
ing most of the southern states. The members are
bound TO obedience and secrecy by oaths which
they are taught to regard as of higher obligation
tnan the lawful oaths taken before civil magis
trates. They are organized and armed; they effect
their objects by personal violence, often extending
to murder; they terrify witnesses; they control ju.
ries in the state courts and sometimes in the courts
of the United States systematic spying is one of the
uleals ny WHICH prosecution or the members is de-
feated.
From information given by officers of the state
and OF the United States, and by credible private
citizens am justified in affirming that the instances
Of criminal violence perpetrated by these eombina-
lions within the last twelve months, in the above
named counties, could be reckoned by thousands
lrecelVed information of similar import from VA.
Tlous sources, among which were the ioint commit
tee Of congress upon southern outrages the Off
GERS OF the state, the military officers of the United
states on duty in South Carolina the United States
attorney and marshal, and other officers of
the government, repentent and abiuring menu
bers OF those unlawful organizations, per-
sons specially employed by the department
OF Justice TO detect crimes against the United
states, aud from other credible sources Most il
not all, OF this information except that received
from the attorney general, came to me Orallv and
was 10 the effect that said counties were under the
sway OF the powerful combinations popularity
Known as the "kukluX klan" the objects of which
were, by force and terror, to prevent all political
actlou not in accord with the views of the members
TO deprive colored citizens of the right to bear arm
and Of the right to free ballot to suppress schools
IN which colored children were taught, and TO re-
duce the colored people TO a condition closely akin
TO that OF slavery. That these combinations were
organized and armed, and had rendered the local
law nenectual TO protect the classes whom ihey de-
sired TO Cypress that they had perpetuated many
murders and hundreds of crimes of minor degree
all OF which were unpublished; and that witnesses
could not safely testify In courts there unless the
(signed) III & GRkNT
Executive Mansion, April 10, 1872