Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-20

4 WASHINGTON, April f9.-The Presi-
dent transmitted the following message
to the House to-day:
I To the House Of Representatives:
In answer 70 the resolution OF the House Of
Representatives Of January 25th, have the
honor to submit the following, accom- panied
BY the report Of the AttOrney-(ien eral, to
whom the resolution was referred. Represen-
tatlohs haylns Deen made 20 me uhat IN Ger
tain portions Of South Carolina a condition Of
lawlessness and terror existed, req quested the
then AttOrneT-General Mr.. Aekerman to
visit the State, and, after personal eXamina-
ton. to report TO me the facts in relation to
the subject On the sixteenth OF October last
ne addressed communication from south
ties of Spartanburg York, Chester, Union,
Laurens, Newburg, Fairfield, Lancaster and
Chesterfield there We're combinations for
the purpose of preventing the free political
action Of citizens who were friendly TO the
Constitution and the government Of the United
states, and OF deprfYing the emanCipated
classes of the equal protection OF the laws
These combinations embrace at least two
thirds Of the active white men OF those eoun-
ties and have the sympathy and eountenance
OF the majority Of the other third. They are
connected with similar combinations in other
counties and States, and no doubt are part
of a grand system Of criminal association
pervading most Of the Southern States. The
members are bound TO obedience and secrecy
BY oaths which they are taught TO regard as a
higher obligation than the lawful oaths TAX
en- before the civil magistrate. They are or
ganized and armed; they effect their
o2Iect by personal vioisnee, often
witnesses; they control jures in state
courts, and sometimes in the courts OF the
United states. Systematic spying is one Of
the means by which the prosecution Of mem 4
bers is defeated. From Information given by I
officers OF the state, OF the United states and
by credible private citizens, i am justified in I
Affirming that the Instances OF criminal viO- /
lence perpetrated by these combinations /
within the past twelve months, in the above /
named counties, could be reckoned by thou
sands. received information Of q similar 4
import frOm various sources, au1n1g which /
were the Joint Committee OF Congress- on /
southern Outrages, the officers of the State /
the military officers Of the United States on 1
duty in South Carolina, the United States At
toEney and Manhals and other pffiners of the I
bers Of those unlawful organizations, persons
specially employed By the Department Of JUS
tlce 70 detect crimes against the United
states, ana nom ether credible sources.
except that which derived from the Attnr
ney General, came to me orally and was to
tne erect that the said counties were under
the sway OF powerful combinations, popular
~ Known as the ku-klu1 Klan, the object of /
Wnlch were Dy rOree and terror 10 prevent all
political action not in accord with the views
OF tne members; TO deprive the colored cft-t
zens OF the right to bear arms. and Of the
right o. free ballots TO suppress the schools L
IN winch the cOlored chlldren were taught
and to reduce the colOred people to
g condition closely akin to thar |
OF slavery that these com nbinations were ar
ranyed and armed, and had rendered the local
Law ineneotuai to protect the classes whom
they desired TO oppress; that they had perpe-
trated many murders, and hundreds of crimes
Of minor degree, IL OF which were unpunish-
"a tnat witnesses could not safely testify In
The courts there, unless the most active mem
oers were placed under restraint.
Executive Mansion, April 10, 1872,