The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-21
The Kh Klux Investigation.

4h6 xAu AIuX 1nVe2tIRnttOn,
A special despatch to the Baltimore
Sun. dated Washington. February 1s,
says:
The majority of the select committee
on "affalrs in the insurrectionary States"
will tomorrow finally not upon their re-.
port, which will then be presented to
both Houses of Congress. In this re-
port, the testimony of the majority of
the witnesses summoned by the commit
tee asserts that the Ku Klux had it's
origin in 1868, and that it was for politi-
cal purposes. These witnesses do not,
however, deny that there is much bad
government in the South, but attribute
this IN some respects to the failure Of
prominent white citizens to take part in
politics. They think there should be q
removal OF political disabilities, exclud-
ing from the benefit 'distinguished
criminals" who have taken part in oppo.
sltlon to the Government, and also those
VINO have accepted Office contrary to the
constitutional disabilities.
Senators Blair and Bayard, and Rep
resentatives Cox, Beck, Van Trump,
Woddell, Robinson and Hanks, consti-
tuting the minority of the committee,
will also submit their report to Congress
tomorrow.
The minority report deals with every
question that came under the considera-
ton OF the committee, aud gives terri
bic picture of the existing condition of
affnlrs in the South. Speaking OF the
existence Of ku Klux in the Southern
States, the minority report says: "Whie
we do not intend to deny that bodies of
disguised men have, in several of the
States OF the South. been guilty of the
most uagrant Crlmes-crimes which we
neither seek to palliute nor excuse, for
the commission of which the wrong.
doers should, when ascertained aud duly
convicted, suffer speedy and condign
punlshment-we deny that these men
have any general organization, or politi.
cnl Significance, or that their conduct is
endorsed by any considerable number OF
the white people in any State; OH the
contrary, the men and the bands by
which such outrages are perpetratcd are
almost universally regarded by the intel
llgent people Of the several States as the
worst enemies Of the South, as they fur
nlsh the men now in power at Washing
ton tho only excuse left to maintain war
upon them, and to continue the system
OF robbery and oppression which they
nave lnaugurated-a system which is de-
structive not only of their peace and
prosperity, but is intended to backen
and malign their character as men before
the country and the world. We will
show, by testimony incontrovertible,
that in no one of the six States of North
and South Cnrolina, Georgia, Alabama.
Mississippi end Florida, has there ut any
time existed combinations of lawlcss
men in one-tenth part of any of said
States. These six States have, in the
aggregate, population Of 4,973,73S,
and the total number of their Counties
oxceeds 420. We do not fear successful
contradiction when We say that there
never was disguised band in one.tenth
part OF them, or in over forty Of these
42O Counties; simply in County here
and there, or at most in one or two
Counties together in several of these
States, have such bands committed de-
predations; and we will show to all men
not blinded by prejudice or passion,
that the ku klux bill and the conduct of
the majority of this committee as innn-
gurated, continued and reported, is the
grossest outrage, the foulest calumny,
ever porpetrated or circulated upon or
against helpless people by their rulers,
who ought, for that reason. if for no
other, to he their friends. instead of
being their relentless enemies and ca
lumniators. The state of society at the
close Of the war, and the over-running
of the country by an army Of alven-
turers. is thus drawn: "Before even
breathing time was allowed them, q SGT
OF harpies. most of whom had shirkcd
the dangers OF the battle field, camp
followers, horse holders, cowboys,
plunderers from both sides during all
the years Of strife, rushed down singly
and in squads on that people, thus pros
trate md defenccless, and for their own
private gain seized and carried oil what
ever could be found worth seizing in
that country. All rcmonstrance or re-
sistance WAS stifed and crushed out by
the cry of disloyalty and treason they
raised against the Southern people, and
by the pretenco that the plundercrs we're
prosecuted because of their loyalty and
devotion to the Union, and especially to
the Republican party and its continued
supremacy"
The charge that the Northern men
who went South with the intention to
In