The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-20
WASHINGTON.
Civil Service Reform Sent to
Limbo.
BUTLER BLUFFS GARFIELD
Why Steamers Are Exploded-An
Inquiry.
The Presidents Ku Klux
Message.
British Mixed Claims
Commission.
THE CANADIANS AND THE CANALS.
That Amazing Oil Freight Con-
spiracy.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 1872.
Message nom the President the Ku
Klux.
The President transmitted the following message
to the House to-day
To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
In answer to the resolution of the House of Rep
resentatives of January 25, have the honor to sub
NIT the following, accompanied by the report of
the Attorney General, to whom the resolution was
Representations having been made to me that in
certain portions OF South Carolina condition OF
awlessness and terror existed, requested the then
Attorney General (Akerman) to visit the State,
and after personal examination to report to the
facts in relation to the subject On the 10th OF Octo
Der last he addressed communication from
South Carolina, In which he stated that in
Union, Lanrens, Newbury Fairfield, Lancaster and
Chesterfield there were combinations for the pur
citizens who were friendly to the constitution ana
the government Of the United States, and of de-
priyng the smancRated class q the equal protec
least two-thirds of the active white men Of those
counties, and have the sympathy and countenanc6
nected with similar combinations in other counties
and States and no doubt are part of grand system
ern States. The members are bound to obedience
al secrecy by oaths which they are taught to re-
gard as OF higher obligation than the lawful oaths
taken before civil magistrates; they organize
and armed they effect their objects by person al
violence, often extending to murder; they terrify
witnesses; they control jures in the State Courts,
and sometimes In the Courts of the United States;
systematic spying is one of the means by which
prosecution of the members IS defeated. From in
formation given by officers OF the State and OF the
United States and by credible private citizens
am justified in affirming that the instances of
tons within the last twelve months in the above
named counties could be reckoned by thousands.
varos W Of similar ar fn pm Gm
mittees of Congress upon Southern outrages, the
officers of the State, the military officers OF the
United States on duty in South Carolina, the United
States Attorney and Marshal and other officers of
the government, repentant and abjuring members
by he Of to
crimes against the United States, and from
5er ae tSa riot S OF s M
General, came to me orally, and was to the effect
that said counties were under the sway OF
the ''Ku Klux Klann the objects OF which
were by force and terror to prevent oil political
bers deprive coored citizens Of the right to bear
arms and Of the right to free ballot, to suppress
schools in which coored children were taught and
to reduce the colored people to condition closely
akin to that Of slavery; that these combinations
were organized and armed, and had rendered the
local law inefcctual to protect the classes whom
they desired to Cypress that they had perpetrated
many murders and hundreds OF crimes OF minor
degree, all of which were unpunished and that wit
could not safely testify in courts there I'M
less the more active members were placed Under
A Lively Scene Between Garfield and
Butler In the House.
The subject Of civil service reform gave us
another lively scene in the House to-day This
time General d. +. Butler and Mr.. Garfield fur
nished the entertainment The interest In this
subject has increased with the discussion OF it.
Had it been the appropriation asked for, instead OF
the passage Of the bill, which is thought by many
in favor Of reform to be Objectionable In some OF
its features, especially that one making it penal
offence for a member of Congress to recommend
an appointment In the civil service, 1t would
probably have passed. Mr.. Garfield, in making
the closing speech paid his especial attention to the
member from Massachusetts, Mr.. Butler. In Mr..
Buffers speech, yesterday, he charged all who sup
ported this agitation with being the enemies OF the
administration, that the opponents of General
Grant had inaugurated the movement, &c. To-day,
In reply, Mr.. Garfield said the remarks of the gen.
tleman had left the painful impression upon his
mind that perhaps he might be speaking upon
authority, and to satisfy himself in regard to 1t he
went to see the President, so that he might be
satisfied in regard to the matter. At this point
Mr.. Butler rose to his feet and made the point
Of order that q member had no right to
repeat conversation with the President in de-
bate, to which Mr.. Garfield replied that the House
OF Representatives was not a Middesex Criminal
Court, and the rules governing there could not be
applied here. "No,' Mr.. Butler replied, "if they
did there would be more order and decorum than
are now preserved" Mr.. Garfield replied that he
had hoped 1t would have been preserved upon this
occasion; but the gentleman from Massachusetts
had not allowed it to be done. Mr.. Butler then
challenged Mr.. Garfield to explain his position in
regard to the Cincinnati movement, and when that
gentleman declined to "allow himself to be brought |
out on anybody's race course in that way" the de-
risve smiles and shrugs implied victory for But
ler The scene was very exciting and noisy several
times and the sparring between the two gentle
men at the time appeared to assume threatening
phase but IL passed of without accident, and the
bill was recommitted to the committee by a vote Of
81 TO 70.
steamboat Explosions Inquiry - The
Oceanus Disaster.
The disaster to the steamer Oceanus by which so
many lives were lost, has again awakened an in
terest among officials here to provide some way for
testing steam boilers to ascertain the
cause OF explosions. Justice Bradley, OF the United
states Supreme Court, has addressed a long letter
to Secretary Boutwell, on this subject, advocating
an appropriation by Congress for making such cx-
periments. Tie suggests that board be consti-
tuted for the purpose OF experimenting and to care
fully note the result OF their labor This letter has been
sent to Mr.. Chandler, Chairman OF the Senate Com
mittee on Commerce, with Secretary Boutwell's
endorsement, to the effect that the subject is one
great Importance to the country it the
safe transportation OF property and the security Of
life upon steamboats, and railways. He commends
the plan for the consideration Of the ,oommttee
heartily approving Justice Bradley's suggestions
william Rogers, Supervising Inspector for the New
Orleans district, has been directed to conduct the
investigation into the cause Of the explosion of the
Oceanus, to be assisted by Frank Burnett super
vsing Inspector OF the st. Louis district
The Robson investigation.
The Naval Investigating Committee met to-night.
Mr.. Corliss tried to prove that the machinery ior
the saco failed only In the boilers. cniei Ine'
neer sherwood was recalled and stated MS con
versaton with Mr. Sargent, also conversation
with Mr.. Robson, both on the Roach contract
for the Tennessee compound engines. Id the one
he accused his superior oicer Of stealing $Soo'oo