The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-06
VOLUME VINO. 48.
From the augusta Chronicle and Sentinel.
Mr.. Voorhees, Speech-Injustice to Greeley.


Mr.. Voorhees, Speech-Injustice to Greeley.
Many persons in the South seem to believe
that Mr.. Voorhees, statement as to the partici-
patton of General Grant in regard 70 the Ku
Klu1 bill is in accordance with the facts of the
case. Mr.. VOORHEES,, in his late speech, said:
'I am told that this Administration has been
cruel to the South. Sir, it has simply executed
the laws which the Cincinnati nominee asked
this Congress to enact. That is the simple
difference between them. The one is an exec
utive officer, bound by his oath to execute the
laws of his country. He has merely executed
bad laws which another man, who had no oath
on his conscience, demanded"
We are greatly surprised that politician of
Mr. Voorhees, standing and experience could
have been betrayed into so great an error. The
truth is, if Mr.. Greeley ever asked for the pas
sage Of the law and advocated its passage, it
was not until after Gen. Grant had sent spe-
cial message to Congress, stating that from in
formation in his possession "a state of affairs
existed in the South which rendered life and
property insecure, and the carrying of the
mails and the collection of the revenue dam
gerous" Mr.. Greeley believed Gen. Grant to
be an honest, truthful man. In this, we con-
fess, he made great mistake. Gen. Grant was
in 8 situation to be well and truthfully in
formed as to the condition of Southern affairs,
and as he had stated in an important official
communication that life and property we're un-
safe in the South, we suppose that MIR. Greeley
gave him credit for honesty and sincerity in
making that most solemn charge against the
people of the South.
We do not pretend to justify Mr.. Greeley for
his alleged support of the Ku Klux bill. Our
conviction Is, that great wrong was done, not
only to the South, where the act was to be ex-
ecuted, but to the cause of constitutional gov.
ernment throughout the land, and that no ne
cessity would justify the enactment and en-
forcement of such law. But we simply say
that Greeley's ofense in this matter was not
so great rs Grants. The latter had taken
solemn oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, and violated that oath in asking
for the passage of the act and in enforcing it
after it had been passed by subseryient Con-
gress. Grants official position enabled him to
know that no necessity for the restraints and
penalties of such law was required, even II 1T
was constitutional. Greeley only endorsed the
statements of Grant, who he believed was tell
ing the truth.
But we should not have referred to this mat
ter at all but for the fact that improper use was
being made of Mr.. Voorhees, erroneous state
ment To show that we are right in thus char
acterizing Mr. Voorhees, attack on Greeley, We
publish the full text of Grants special Ku
Klux message, that our readers may judge for
themselves whether Grant "merely executed
the Ku Kluz bill because by his oath of office
he was compelled to do so"
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
A condition of affairs now exists in some of tho
States of the Union rendering life and proper:
ty insecure, and the carrying of the mails and
the collection of the revenue dangerous. The
proof that such condition of affairs exists in
some localities is now before the Senate. That
the power to correct these evils is beyond the
control of the State authorities, l do not doubt:
That the power of the Executive Of the United
States, acting within the limits of existing laws,
is not clear. Therefore, urgently recommend
such legislation as in the judgment of Congress
shall efectually secure life, liberty and proper.
ty in al parts of the United States. 1t may be
expedient to provide that such law as shall be
passed in pursuance of this recommendation
shall expire at the end Of the next session of
Congress. There is no other subject on which
would recommend legislation during the
f'~0~ u. S. GRANT.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March %, 1871.