The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-20
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WASHINGTON.
Cabinet Meeting.


met meeting to-day, the controversy
between the United States and England
over the claims for consequential
damages was informally discussed up
to the adjournment OF the meeting.
Two opinions prevailed here as to
whether the reply to Earl Granvilles
last note had yet been dispatched. The
President, however, settled the question
by stating that the note had been agreed
to and had been forwarded on Wednes-
day last. This reply is understood to
be merely courteous argument in
favor of our case as presented, and does
not close the door to our retreat from
our claims for consequential damages.
1t is very plain that the admin
istration is becoming influenced by
popular opinion regarding these
claims, and it is believed than when
the subcommittee appointed bv the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
consults Secretary Fish regarding Mr..
Peters resolution, they will find him
prepared to gracefully acquesce in their
Recommendation, and the resolution
will pass the House. A notice will
then be served upon the British Cow
ernment to the effect that this Govern
ment will not press the clam objected
to, before the Geneva tribunal, but will
retain them in our case as historic evil
dence ofour sense of the magnitude OF
the grievances OF which we complain.
This, it is believed, will satisfy the
British Government and insure the
success OF the treaty.
The ku.Kiux ProclamatiOns.
The President to-day transmitted to
the House reply to the resolution OF
that body offered by Mr.. Beck in
January last, requesting him to state
upon what ground he issued the Ku-
Klux proclamation regarding South
Carolina. In reply the President states
that he had information that certain
portions OF South Carolina were IN a
condition of lawlessness, and that
reign of terror existed there lie sent
Attorney General Akerman to visit the
locality, who after inspecting the facts
in relation to the subject, reported that
in nine counties there existed combina
tons for the purpose OF preventing the
free political action Of the citizens who
were friendly to the Constitution Of the
United States, and Of deprrving the
emancipated class Of an equal protec.
ton OF the laws These combinations
embraced at least two-thlrds of the
active whites in these counties who had
the sympathy and countenance Of a
majority Of the other third, &c. He
also received information of a similar
,mport from various other sources,
among which were the joint select COM
mi,tee of Congress upon Southern out
races, the officers Of the State militia
on duty there, the United States District
Attorney and Marshal and other civl!
officers of the Government, all to the
effect that these counties were under
the sway Of a powerful combination
known as the Ku Klux Klan, whose
objects we're by force OF terror, to pre-
ven, political action not in accord with
their views; to deprive negroes OF the
right to bear arms or the right Of
free ballot; TO suppress schools for COL
ored children, and TO reduce the colored
neople to a condition closely akin to
slavery; that these combinations were
organized and armed aud had rendered
local law Intellectual to protect the
classes oppressed; that many murders
and hundreds Of crimes Of a minor de-
gree had been committed by these COM
b;natrons which went unpunished, and
the witnesses could not safely testify
against them unless the more active
members were placed under restraint
Accompanying the message was a
report of the Attorney General contain
ing a large mass Of testimony Of the
same kind as that furnished by the
President.
The Honorable Reverdy johnson
has addressed letter TO Mr.. Peters,
endorsing his resolution looking to the
withdrawal Of the American claim for
consequential damages.
The Mexican Officers.
The Mexican officers captured on the
Rio Grande are still in the hands o.
the military authorities, but this is
merely to insure their safety. Their
cases have been transferred TO the con-
sideratior of the Attorney General, who
has opened a correspondence on the
subject with the United States Marsh Al
OF Texas. If the facts furnished BY the
Marshal Justify it, the prisoners will
be turned over TO him, with instructions
to bring them to speedy trial.