New-York tribune., 1872-02-15


FORTY THIEVES"
fGY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TsIsUNRl
WAsHTSGToS Wednesday, Feb. Il, Isf2
The subcommittee on debts the Rebel States makes
a very startling exhibit Of affairs IN the Insurrecton
ary States notably in South Carolina. TIE report begins
by stating the committee has not confined itself TO
the answers OF State officials. but has consulted inte
gent citizens Of all parties. Tie committee has exam
ined all sources OF information. from the American
Almanac to the Report of the Commissioners OF
Agriculture, and the Census OF 1860 and
1870, and also, records OF tine War Department
The Report says: "state officials generally have been
courteous and attentive and many have rendered US
great servce but investigation, TO some States,
has made difficult by nattention and neglect
OF officers and In several States the inquiry ordered
by the Committee has been resented an Infringement
of State rights and official dignity ExGoy Bullock Of
Georgia sent letter, more remarkable for argument
against our proceedings as breach OF State rights
than for the facts furnished and Gov Reed OF Florida
declined to answer at all. although he has forwarded
to member OF the subcommittee several copies OF
his message. He protested against the invasion Of the
rights of the State Of Florida. Generally where our In
quiry had been resented, evaded ignored, have
discovered reasons for concealmen which convince
that officials concerned about their dignity
than that Of the State In South Carolina the State
Treasurer has neglected all inquiries the Governor has
answered promptly but sent us such contradictory state
ments that give little weight 70 any. The worst
the finances of that state the Committee deyote unusual
space, and the most extraordinary evidence IL Own Of
knavery and corruption.
After citing portion Of the MESA of Gov Scott of
January Q, 1872 Nh Stevenson says: "IAs may explain
the increase OF debt and t is probable that money could
not have been otherwise procured Yet We cannot agree
that it was proper submit to such disastrous and de-
grading terms continuously, for three years. had the
credit of the State been unsied up to lseo II might
have been expedent to make light loans almost any
conditions to preserve her good name, OF great ener-
gency might have justified such terms temporarily for
limited amounts; but for o State to 90 upon tic
street a nendieant borrower and remain there buf-
feted from broker broker for three years. raising
money to pay old and dishonored debts at cost Of 50
10 renewed obligations for every dollar paid to
ndeenslbe 1t Is not justified by showing that II wa.
legal by the fact that citizens Of the State conspred
destroy her credit ia order TO overthrow tie Govern
mcnt. public o.7cer should take such course only
legal cOmpusOn to preserve the existence OF STATE
and there such necessity in this case, which
mainly that OF borrowing money TO pay Old dcbts. and
the Government by every loan. II would have
been better have levied Increased taxes
seems to have Teen avoided as II 10 conc5.c aud that
levied was hardly saGsni to pay ies ooF % s fS
Subject corruption after stating the eztrayagdnee VI
satement. the proof Of wc Loweyer 1iSed in
e BY sy SS ot eo%ee aaS fpet IF the e 10 e
ton Is followed by esrge Sustained b. proofe taat
Le ,isIature anxious TO muRe ile0tiGate
profits Tor themselves tian TO perform ,heir ddty.
II charged and in evidence that there bas been cor
rupton in the Ii stJure in connection win con-
ferIing extending corporate privilege. and that
bribery has prevailed to such extent tIat N -liaou
has been controlled by a baud. composed OF
bors OF both political parties. and OF both
coors commonly called the Forty Thieves, who
would permit such measures 70 pass until tney
were satisfied To show that the report IL not Nhite
washing document has been reported, it - ouly
cessary to insert the following paragraph: "rhe worst
| feature Of corruption in south Carolina is that
members OF both parties and men OF an classes
Of corruption which ia the safeguard o. popular GOV.
! elnmcnt seems wanting or dormant. Even the Old
aristocratic class, to whom had been Taught 20
attribute sentiments OF chiy yalrc honcr, have NOT
scrnped to bribe officers. In tne operations Of the Land
Commissions the veudera were generally Old citizens Of
the planting class, VINO h,d more land chan tucy could
utiIize and the frauds committed IN The ei.c Of ihcf
lands with their consent and to tr aaa tntage
by bribery OF the officers by the land holders To ey
| dence before the ComnnJee shows nat GcH. ". G.
OF the $50 end nary OF the state
! has given valuable testimony. lie wac 81 Major.
General OF tie Eobei army, argc R!Iuei iv{ e. md
a leading citizen OF nigh Standing He sta 2f ~ der oah.
while the Committee sitting in South Carolina, that
ii he had land to sell ana cou1 sell it by buying STATE
Senator for $500, he would do So D.. T. H. smith oi
spartansburg County, an old citizen. Democratic mem
Der of the Legislature, testified before the SAID -ubC M
mittee that lie CUulu no wrong in brtlbg public
officer and compared tie transaction 10 The purchase oi
Alter citing certain testimony to Establish his
citizens OF other States to realize such prevalent eofru
iye lsV patriot and Rebel white and bacE Tie old citizen
and the Probably one cause contrDuing TO pro
duce this result is the condition OF civil w3r which Las
almost exclusively in the hands Of one class and the
| property III the hand OF the other.
While open hOstilties have generally and continually
existed there been mutual enmity bitter than
usually accompanies fragrant warfare. Hence OF
the in Office may have regarded what was taken
from Treasury taken from the property holders,
enemies Of the Government and therefore spOs of war;
and the other hand. some property holders have
consider what they procure by bribery aud
rupton a right of which they wronsfu deprived
and which they are justified in recovering by any
Another cause be the contempt which the old
property class manifest and feel for freedmen ami all
who cooperate with them politically. This gives 10 bri-
berry such persons in the OF the old native eass
the sembance Of the purchase OF q slave.
The report shows, by facts and testimony that tbe Ku
Klux organization In full existence In the spring
and OF 1865 and active and efficient in the Pres
denta election OF that year in favor OF seymoar and
controlled by violence and intimidation about
OF the state. Ii in operation before the Gov
ernmen began to receive taxes and before the burdens
OF Government had been felt in any way. These dates
dlsprove therefore, the allegation that the deplors BILE
financial condition the State the the
izaton OF that band of outlaws The Committee
the financial condition OF South Carolina cannot
assigned easse OF proyocation OF the Kuklux Kan.
the bloody proceedings OF that Order II Is however
proper to add that the mafea.ance aud corruption Of
Republican officials must have indirectly tended 10 turn
society over into violence by bringing the state Govern
ment, the party In power and the national authority
into contempt aud by increasing the relu tance OF well
disposed Southern men to identity themselves WITH tue
Republican party, to interfere against sucb al
organization TO protect Republicans.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT oP rHs rRiBuSEl
WAsHINGroN. Feb l3-The adjourned meet