Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-19

AEDOlsI Of The hUhLUA INVESTIGATIONS IN
THE SOUTH.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Joint select com
mlttec VIII Tomorrow report on the condition of
affairs IN the late insurrectiOnary states The
evidence taken in Washington and South Caro-
INA is submitted, as is also report OF the sub
committee TO digest the reports of the executive
officers of states. Testimony taken in other
staes is yet unprepared and will be submitted
in a supplementary report.
The committee say that inquiry has been made
into the commission Of outrages, execution of
laws, bad legislation, official incompetence cor
ruption, &c. There is a remarkable concurrence
OF testimony that the courts and iulies
administer justice between man and man in all
ordinary cases, civil aud criminal, but evidence
is equally decisive that redress cannot be OBJ
tanned against those who commit crimes in
disguise aud at night. The reasons assigned are
that dentif alton is difficult, almost impossible;
that, when this is attempted, the combinations
and oaths of the order come in and release the
culprit by perjury, either upon the witness
stand or in the jury box; and that the terror
inspired by their acts as well as public senti-
ment in their favor, in many localities PARALLELS
the arm of civil power.
Numerous complaints are made of incapacty
OF many inferior magistrates and in several
states the governors are charged with abuse of
the pardOning power, especially in favor of ne
groeS, which will he considered subsequently,
The committee trace as far as they are able the
origin, extent, purposes and mode of operation
OF the kukluX khan, the date of whose organ
lzlton is fixed in 1866, and testimony in refer
ence TO which covers fourteen hundred pagcs of
the report of the subcommittee of elections in
the Louisiana contested election cases, in 1868.
The object of the kukluX was to oDDosc and
reject the principles OF the radical party, MS
shown by the constitution, to be accomplished
by each member providing himself with a pis-
tol, kukluX gown, aud signal instruments. IL
corroboratou were needed, it could be found in
the expressions made by these bands to their
victims, when inflctIng their scourgings upon
men and outrageS upon women. That testimony
is uniform, and, if "out OF their own mouth,
we condemn Them" it must be on the ground
Of their hostility to the government and 10 the
enjoyment by the negro of the rights conferred
upon him by the amendments to the constitu-
tion aud by laws which they are organ
lied TO oppose; the refusal of large portion of
wealthy and educated men to Discharge their
duties as citizens have brought upon them the
same consequences which are being suffered in
northern cities and communities, from the neg
lect Of their business and educated men to
participate in all the movements of the people
which make up scll-goveDment.
The citizen, in either section, who refuses, or
neglects from any motive, to take his part in
scli-government, has learned that he must now
suffer and help to repair the evils of bad govern
ment. The newly made voters of the south at
the close of the war, it is testified, were kindly
disposed toward their former masters. The feel
y
confidence in all other than their political rela-
tons. The refusal Of their former masters to
participate in political reconstruction necessari-
" left negroes to he influenced by others; many
of them were elected to office, and entered it
with honest intentions TO do their duty, but
were untitled for its discharge.
Through their instrumcntaliy, many I'M
worthy white men, having obtained their conf
dence, also procured public position.
10 legislative bodies, this mixture of ignorant
but honest men with better educated knaves
gave an opportunity for corruption. and this op.
portunity has developed a state of demoraza-
ton on this subject which may and does account
for many of the wrongs Of which the people
justly complain. 1t is apparent, a. the same
time, that decentralization is not confined to
race, nativity or political creed, but presents
specimens alike of negro carpet baggers and
white native citizens OF both parties.
These remarks are not applicable to all the re-
constructed states; they are to several Of them.
Taking South Carolina as an illustration
Il is certainly as bad in these respects as any Of
the states, and there can be no doubt that We
nalily and corruption in legislation prevailed
largely.
Thus they are spoken of as existing by men
OF all parties, and seem TO be conceded. Ger
fanny their existence is almost universally be-
heved by the people of the state With such
material as legislature, and such views Of
virtue outside as are shown to have prevailed,
corruption was inevitable We point to the re-
suits OF the opinion in South Carolina in the
laet that negroes IN the nine counties of that
state in which kuklux violence prevailed 10
such an extent as to call for suspension of the
writ OF habeas corpus, are according TO the ties.
timony of Judge Carpenter, much moae intei.
gent Than N any other part Of the state.
Tue iact that they are so, when placed along
side the list OF men murdered aud matreated in
these counties, demonstrates that it requires the
strong arm of the government 10 protect lis cltl-
zens IN the enjoyment Of their rights, to keep