The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-03-09
SOUTHERN OUTRAGES.

Report OF the JOINT select Com@4ttee
The Cause, Objects and Strength Of the
Kuklux Klan--The General Condition
Of the Southern States.
[From the Washington Chronicle, Rad.
The report of the majority of the
Joint Select Committee on Southern
Outrages submitted to both houses of
Congress yesterday gives Il brief sketch
of the organization and work of the
committee. It states that there is II
remarkable concurrence of testimony
to the effect that in those of the late
rebelliOus States into whose condition
the committee have examined, the
courts and juries administer justice be-
| tween man and man i'll all ordinary
cases, civil and criminal, and, while
there is this concurrence Oh this point,
the evidence is equally decisive that
redress can not be obtained against
! those who commit crimes in disguise
and at night. The reasons assigned
are that identification is difficult and
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 wit
ness stand or in the jury box; and that
the terror inspired by their acts, as well
as public sentiment in their favor in
many localities paralyzc the arm OF
the civil power. While there is this
general concurrence of evidence as to
the efficiency of the administration
Of justice by the superior courts, there
are complaints that in some instances
incompetent Judges have been appoin-
ted. Numerous complaints are made
of the ncapacity of the inferior mag
istrates, and in several Of the States
the Governors are charged with an
abuse of the lar.loning power, especial
ly in favor of the negroes, all of which
arc assigned as causes for disorder.
There are expressions of belief by Uni
ted States military officers and Others
that secret organizations were formed
in the insurrectionary States soon after
the close of the war hostile to, and in
tended to embarrass the Government of
the United States and of the States in
the pr2per administration of the affairs
of the country. That it was used as Il
means of intimitlating and numbering
negro voters during the Presidential
election of 1868, the testimony in the
Louisiana and other contested-election
cases clearly establishes.
With the exception OF the presence
of Northern men in the Southern
States, and the establishment of Union
Leagues to influence the political ac-'
ton of the negroes, none of the assign
ed causes for the origin of the KuKlux
were themselves in existence in 1866,
when it was established. The object of
the KuKlux 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 a pistol, a I<uKluX gown,
and signal instruments.
The newly made voters ut the South,
at the close of the war, it is testified,
were kindly disposed toward their for
mer masters; the feeling between them
even yet seems to be one Of confidence
in all other than their political rela-
tions. The refusal of their former mas
ters to participate in political recon-
struction necessarily left the negroes
to be Influenced by others. Many OF
them were elected to Office, and enter
ed it with honest intentions to do their
duty, but were united for it's discharge.
Through their instrumentality many
unworthy white men, having obtained
their confidence, also procured public
positions. In legislative bodies this
mixture of ignorant but honest men
with better educated knaves gave OPP
portunity for corruption, and this op-
portunity has developed Il state of de-
moralization on this subject which may
and does account for many of the
wrongs Of which the people justly com
plain. 1t is apparent at the same time
that the decentralization is not confined
to race, nativity, or political creed, but
presents specimens alike in the negro,
the carpet-bagger, and the white native
citizens of both parties.
In relation to the restoration of order
throughout the South, the report says:
ssIt required full forty years to develop
disatIection into sedition, and sedition
into treason; should we not be patient
if in less than ten we have 4 fair pros
pcct of seeing SO many who were arm
ed enemies becoming obedient citizens:
Should we not give all encouragement
to those who manifest the disposition
now to become such, especially when
it is apparent, as it's, that in many
sections well-disposOd men were de
tered by fear of the power ofan armed
and desperate conspiracy from afford
ing aid to the authorities i'm enforcing
the law?''
/ "But while we invoke this forbear-