The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-22

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Sp Top" "the Nev York World publishes
the following abstract Of the msjority
report Of the Ku Klux Committee to
Congress-: Il ~
The proceedings and debate. in Con.
gress show that whatever other causes
were ssFgHed tor disorders in late insur.
recsionary States, the execution of laws
and security OF life and property were
alleged to be most seriously threatened
oy the existence and acts OF organised
bands OF armed and disenised men-
known as Ku Klux. Inquiriug, as our
primary duty. into the truth OF these al.
legations. IN those Ststes where suoh
acts have most recently been committed.
The investigation necessarily assumed a
wider range Not only has Inquiry been
made as to the commission Of outrapes.
as to the execution Of laws By tho Snpe.
rior Courts and inferior Magistrates, but
bnd legislatton, ofacial inoompetency.
corruption, and other causes having been
assigned as accounting for. il not iosti-
lying disorders, they, too, have, to q
large extent, entered into the statements
and opinions Of witnesses. There is a
remarkable concurrence of testimony to
the effect that III those of the late rebel
Nous States, into whose condition the
committee have examined, the courts
and Juries administer justice between
man and man in all ordinary cases, civil
aud criminal; and while there is this
concurrence on this point, the evidence
Is equally decisive that redress cannot be
obtained against those who commit
crimes In disguise and at night. The
reasons assigned are that Identification
is difficult, almost impossible; that when
ibis IL attempted the combinations and
oaths OF the order come in aud release
the culprIt by perjury, either upon the
witness stand or in the jury box; and
that terror inspired by their acts, ~ we'll
as public sentiment in their favor, in
many localities, paralyzes tho arm Of
civil power. That this organization may
not be looked at In the exaggerated light
OF overriding all law and justice in the
communities where it exists, and that
the facility with which the ell.dispossd
people of the South have adapted them
selves to their changed circumstances
may be seen. they introduce statements
on this subject OF few prominent men
from several Of those States, including
ex-Gov. Orr, of South Carolina; ex-Goy.
Paraons, OF Alabama; Gen. Clanten. @.
~. Forsyth, tho Solicitor of the Rome
(Georgia) judicial Circuit While there
ID this general concurrence OF evidence
TO the efficiency of the administration of
justice ny the Superior Courts. there are
that, in some instances, in
Judges have been appointed.
numerous complaints Of the incapacity
OF many OF the inferior Magistrates, and
In several of the States the Governors
are charged with an abnse Of the pardon.
ing power, especially in favor of the ne
groes.
The inquiry into the present condition
OF the late insurrectionary States neces.
sarily involved the history Of the sue.
cessive steps which have led to that con.
dition, es effected by tho bands already
referred to. and before proceeding to
consider their present situation the com.
mittee trace, so for as they are able to
do so from the testimony and from
ofticial reports, the origin, extent, pur.
poses and mode OF operation Of this
heretofore secret and mysterious organi-
cation, and the causes assigned for it's
existence and earlier actions. There are
expressions of belief by United States
military officers and others that secret
were formed in the insur-
reetionary States soon after tho close of
the war. hostile to and intended to EN-.
barrass the Government of the United
States and of the States in the proper
of the affairs of the
country. Among these were the state
ments made by Major General Thomas
before the Reconstruction Committee in
February, 1866. and by General Meade
in his official report for 1868, as com.
mander OF the Department of the South
Neither Of the statements of these GEN
Element refer to the Ku Klux Khan, but
they cover the period during which it
made its appearance. It's gradual de.
velopment is then traced by the evidence
Of witnesses. Taking these statements
from official sources, showing tho preva-
lence of this organization in every one
Of the late insurreotionary States and in
Kentucky, it is difficult now, with the
light which has recently been thrown
upon its history, to realize that even the
existence OF the z j Klux order has been
so long mooted question in the public
mind. Especially is this remarkable in
view OF the effects that are disclosed by