The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-03-02
nonalosonbille Gbief.
Ku-Klux Committees Report.


port on the condition of affairs in the
late insurrectionary States. The evil
dence taken in Washington and South
Carolina is submitted, as is also the
report of the subcommittee and digest
of the reports of the executive officers
of these States. The testimony taken
in other States is yet unprepared, and
will be submitted III a supplementary
report. The committee say an inquiry
has been made into the commission OF
outrages, execution of laws, bad legis-
lation, official iilcompetency, eorrup-
ton, etc. There is remarkable con-
currence of testimony that courts and
iuries administered justice between
man and man in all ordinary cases,
civil and criminal, but evidence is
equally decisive that redress cannot
be obtained against those who commit
crimes in disguise and at night. The
reason is assigned that Identification
is difficult and almost impossible, and
that when this is attempted, the COM
bination and oaths of the order come
in, and release the culprit, by perjury
either on the witness stand or i'll the
Jury box, and that the terror inspired
by their acts, as well as public senti-
ment in their favor in many localities,
paralyzes the arm of civil power.
Numerous complaints have been
made of the incapacity of many infer
ior magistrates, and in several States
Governors are charged with abuse Of
the pardoning power, especially IN
favor of negroes, which will be con-
sidered subsequently,.
The committee trace, as far as they
are able, the origin, extent, purposes
and mode of operation of the Ku Klux
Khan, the time Of whose organization
is fixed in 1866, testimony in reference
to which covers 400 pages of the re-,
port of the subcommittee of election
in Louisiana and contested 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 ac
complished by each member providing
himself with pistol, Ku-Klux gown
and signal instruments. Ii corrobora-
ton were needed, it could be found in
expressions made by these bandits to
their victims when inf1icting their
seourgings on men and their outrages
ON women. That testimony is uni
form, and out of their own mouths we
condemn them. 1t must be on the
ground of their hostility to the gov
ernment, and to the enjoyment by the
negro of the rights conferred on him
/ by the amendments to the constitu-
tion, and by the laws which they are
organized to oppose.
The refusal of large portion of
wealthy and educated men to discharge
their duties as citizens has brought on
the same consequences which are be-
ing suffered in Northern cities and
communities from neglect of their
business, and of educated men to par
ticipate in all movements of the peo-
pie which make up self-government.
The citizen in other sections who re-
fuses or neglects from any motive to
take his part in self-government, has
now learned that he must suffer or
help to repair the evils of bad govern
ment.
The newly made voters of the South
ut the close of the war, it is testified,
were kindly disposed toward their for
mer masters. The feeling between
them even vet seems to be one of con-
tidence in all other than their political
relations. The refusal of their former
masters to participate in political re-
construction of a necessity left the
negroes to be 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 discharges. Through their instru-
mentality, many unworthy white men,
having obtained their confidence, also
procured positions in legislative bod
les. This mixture of, ignorant, but
honest men, with better educated
knaves, gave opportunity for corrup-
ton, and this opportunity has devel-
oped a state of decentralization on this
subject which may and does account
for many of the wrongs of which the
people justly complain. 1t is apparent
at the same time that the demoraliza-
ton is not confined to race, nativity
or creed, but presents specimens alike
in the negro, the carpet Dagger and
white native citizen of both parties.
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 corruption in
the Legislature prevailed very largely
there. They are spoken of as existing
by men of all parties, and seem to be
conceded. Certainly, this instance is
almost universally believed by the
people of the State. With such ma
terial for the Legislature, and such
views of virtue outside as are shown
to have prevailed, corruption was in
evitable.
We point to results of an opinion in
South Carolina, in the fact that the
negroes in nine counties of the State
in which Ku-Klux violence prevailed
4, T., ~ e., H.