The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-08

kNQ1unola, teofuary q: ..-,
n ptppose i1f this letter 10 furnish the
rs&det3 ofl the ;Ne,rs with such informa-
tton u reGardj to the organizations. OK
teht hhd objspts Of the new political
oonspikacy khbwn as the independent
Order of United Brethren, as has been
obtained In the course of careful and
diligent. ,ip pyestigation: Some of the
facts and details which will be presented
have been gathered from the statements
Ind i6tipations Of, iddrtaiu, pfdrpf nent
officials OF the organization, while others
have been furnished by pefs6ns who
have good opportunities for with essing
its operations, but who are outside of its
oath-bound circle, and are amazed ct it's
audacity. Il is admitted by all, however,
that it is secret society. with oaths,
grips, inoaptations and. all sorts of
ghaatly mysteries, and that it's scope
and purposes arc purely political, snd
in the interest Of that portion OF the
Radical party which ia in communion
with the present State administration.
Myluformants. among the members of
tue. order. have generally accompanied
their statements with suoh plentitude Of
winks and mods and pokings in the ribs,
as to intimate that of course they did
| hOo ASctAO CAolI 10 Do DuO.
lished, and merely impaired it in spirit
OF supreme good-fellowship, like the
serlO- -oomioal fellow in Punch, who
''Smole ghastly emile
While many wink wunk he."
The outsiders, on the contrar,, have
been 30 prolific of romantic and exugge-
rated descriptions of the doings of the
new Ku Klnx. rs to cause me- to reoei We
With nnnoI Cf 1f
statements, and to evolve from the mass
of Information the following facts, every
one OF which appears TO be thoroughly
established, and easily susceptible OF
proof:
1t appears. then, that this precious
organization, although it was from the
first secret and political society, did
not contemplate at it's inception any pur-
poses or operations outsfdB of local in-
huence IN the CITY Of Columbia In
ternal dissensions of more or less Sc
rlous nature had existed for long time
in the local councils OF the Loyal League
or the Union League OF America, which
is composed in this city of four ward
clubs and one main body or council
These local difficulties arose, as was emi-
nently natural, in the distribution Of
local pap and plunder, and eliminated
upon the division Of spoils incidental to
Columbia's latest and greatest swindles-
the building Of the new City Hall and
market. Various efforts were nude to
heal the dissensions and close up the
ranks of the Loyal League, but without
avail, and at last it came to the opon &C.
cession of large delegation, who i'm
mediately applied to the Estate Council
OF the Loyal Leagne for 'dispensa-
tion" to authorize the establish meut of
another Council" in Columbia, but
they wero refused the "dispensa fiup,"
under the operation OF Section II Of the
Constitution of the Loyal League, which
says that ''dispensations for tho esta.
blishment of councils shall be granted in
the same manner as charters. But no
person shall be allowed dispensation
except upon the recommendation of
subordinate council, or of at least two
thirds vote Of the members present at
the meeting at which the application
therefor may be acted upon.''
In this dilemma they resolved upon
setting up an organization of their own,
independent. ct any authority, State or
national. and, casting about for q title,
adopted the high-sounding and churao.
teristic designation Of the Independent
Order Of United Brethren. This an
swered very we'll, and the brethren grow
apace, steadily increasing in power and
influence, but still confining themselves
to local enterprises. until ono morning q
happy thought occurred tot. j. Mickey,
gentleman who is known to be prolific
OF brilliant ideas, and who has the fur
ther commendable trait of thorough
fidelity to his friends. Now, L. J.
Mackey has been for months the friend,
tutor, coach and confident of Gov. Scott,
and his Excellency was, just then in. des-
perate e.ctremis. This was about tb lat
OF lust December. Tho sword Of Da-
mocles was suspended over tho head of
Scott in the shape of Bowen's impend.
ing resolutions Of impeachment, White
more's report OF frauds unparalleled,
tue Baltimore bond-holders threatened
prosecution, and the angry clamors Of
swindled creditors and pluudered citi-
Sans. 1t occurred to Mackey that some
thing must bo done, and he thought
also IAN 'twere we'll done, it were well
'twere done quickly" The impeach.
ment resolutions might be killed. and
great meuy other things accomplished by
the use of money from the gubernatorinl
purse, but some mechanism was needed