The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-22

contain no evidence, but are simply devoted
10 proving from reports which existed before
the appointment of the committee that the
Ku.Klux organization was reality. After de-
claring that the Ku.KIux was organized fol
the purpose of defeating the Republican party,
the committee acknowledge that much fraud
and corruption have been developed during
the investigation. They, however, lay the
onus of this fraud upon the former slavehold-
ers, whom they declare refused to vote or
| take any part whatever In elections. Thrown
upon their own resources, the negroes elected
Ignorant men of their own color to office, and
also many unworthy white men who had OBJ.
tained their confidence. The committee call
these white men educated knaves, and say
that they corrupted the honest negroes. After
this direct assault upon Governor Scott OF
South Carolina, Governor Reid of Florida, and
Governor Bullock of Georgia, the committee
say that this state of corruption and demorali-
cation accounts for many of the wrongs OF
| which the people justly complain. The COM
mittee add:
These remarks are not applicable to all the
L -
them. Taxing South Carolina as an illustra-
tion. and 1t is certainly as bad In these respects
as any of the States. and there can be no
doubt that venality and corruption In the Leg
islalure prevailed largely. There they are
spoken OF as existing by men OF all parties,
and seem to be conceded. Certainly their ex-
istence is almost universally believed by the
people of the State. With such material as the
Legislature, and with such views OF virtue out.
side as are shown to have prevailed. .corrup-
tlon was inevitable.
The committee next assert that martial law
was necessary where 1t was declared Dy tae
resident. 1t does not make 1t very clear why
this was 80, as the State government was In
the hands Of Grants friends, who, 1t declares,
were The victims of the Ku-Klux. The COM
mittee, however, content themselves with
laying the entire responsibility for the out
RACES upon the ex-slavehoders, because they
had held themselves aloof from politics, ,o,,
The committee declare that the law OF 1871
has been effective in suppressing the ku-Klnx
outrages, but they oppose TeEocatlon Oh
martial law. They recommended tnat the
power conferred on the President be extended
until the end of the next session OF Congress.
They recommend that the Judiciary IN Inc
Southern States be increased, 80 as TO speeol.
" Try all those accused OF being connected
with the Ku-Klux organization. They recon-
mend also the passage Of a law removing ais,
those who have been elected to Office In de-
fance OF the existence of constitutional dlsa,
biIilies shall be excluded from the benefits OF
an amnesty bill.
Representative Stephenson, from the sub.
committee on debts and election laws, says
that the Governors Of Georgia and Florida
looked upon the proceedings OF the commlt-
tion showed that these officials were more
concerned about their own dignity than that
of the States. The report concludes Win
statement OF the general financial condition
of the eleven States. The total ascertained
loss by the rebellion 10 these eleven States 10
crate, is IS, ,262, 1903 ,654 Aud TO this the egltl-
mate. Including debts due Northern mer'
chants, So 976, las, 1855 90. This was SIZE, 400
384 At greater than our national debt at It's
maximum, and s247, ,220, $40 IS more than the
assessed value of all property IN the Soutnern
States In 1860, less slaves.
Senators Blair and Bayard, and Represent
atives Cox, Van Trump, Waddell, Robinson
and Hanks, constituting the minority OF the
committee, submit
TIE MINORITY REPORT.
The minority report deals with every qucs-
tion that came under the consideration OF the
committee, and gives terrible picture Of the
existing condition OF affairs In the South.
Speaking of the existence OF ku-Rlux In the
Southern States, the minority report says !:
'While 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 fagrant
crimes-crimes which we neither seek 10 pall-
ate nor excuse, for the commission Of which
the wrong doers should, when ascertained. and
duly convicted, suffer speedy and condign
punishment-we deny that these men have
any general organization. or political signih-
canoe, or that their conduct Is endorsed by
any considerable number Of the white people
In ;any State; on the contrary, the men and
| the bands by which such outrages are per,
petraled are almost universally regarded
| by the intelligent people Of the several
States as the worst enemies OF the South, as
| they furnish the men now In power at WASH
| ington the only excuse left TO maintain war
upon them, and tc continue the system of
robbery and oppression which they have
inaugurated-a system which Is destructive
not only of their peace and prosperity, but is
Intended to blacken and malign their cbarac-
Ter as men before the country and the world.
| We will show, by testimony inconlrovertible,
that in no one of the six States OF North and
South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama, Misslssip-
pi and Florida, has there at any time existed
combinations of lawless men in one-tenlh
part of any of said States. These six States
have, in the aggregate, population of 4,973,-
| 1888, and the total number OF their counties
| exceeds 420. We do not fear successful con-
tradiction when we say that there never was
\ a disguised band In one-t tenth part of them,
or in over forty Of these 420 counties; slmp!y
In county here and there, or at most in one
or two counties together In several of these
( tates have such bands committed depre-
dalioDs; and we will show TO all men
not blinded by prejudice or passion
that the Ku-Kiux bill and the conduc,
of the majority OF this committee as inaugu.
rated, conlinued and reported, Is the grossest
outrage, the foulest calumny, ever perpetrated
or circulated upon or against helpless people
| by their rulers-who ought, f)r that reason, il
| for no other, to be- their friends instead ol
being their relentless enemies and calumnia
| tors" The state of society at the close of the
war and the overrunning of the country by au
army of adventurers, Is thus drawn: tBgfore
even breathing time was allowed them sci oi
harpies, most of whom had shirked the
dangers of the battlefield, camp follow
ers, horse holders, Cowboys plunderers
from both sides during all the years of strife
rushed down aingly and in squads on thai
people, thus prOstrated and deienseless, and
for their own private gain seized and carried
off whatever could be found worth selling II
that country. all remonstrance or resis' ancs
was stif1ed and crushed out by the cry of dis
loyalty 10 the Union, and especially To the
Republican party anu It's continued suprem
acy."
The charge that Northern men who wen
South with the Intention to reside aud trans
act business were driven out Is entirely con
tradctyd by the testimony: on the contrary