Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-20
PROEKTS OE kC.kLUXING IN
Se9ITEs CAROLINA.

living and oar dead.
PROFITS OE KU-KLUxING IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Onr South Carolina friends seem to
be disposed to grumble at the large
profits that were made out of the ku-
Kltlx business in that State.
The GOOD fortune of one Major Lewis
Merrill of the United States Army is
especially commented upon and III
style that doubtless seems quite I'M
gracious to that much trusted servant
of the best government the world ever
saw. Major Merrill did, indeed 1t
seems, reap a rich harvest during his
ocr1lpation of the Palmetto State, but
our friends there ought to remember
that the work he performed was very
dirty work. Nor have they presented
both sides of Major Merrill's case with
the fullness that truth and justice seem
to demand.
We have very high authority, au-
thority that even our South Carolina
friends themselves will not attempt to
controvert, for saying that Major Mer-
rill and his command did not constitute
the worse federal grievance inflicted
upon our neighbors across the hne.-
There have been meaner men i'll South
Carolina than Merrill.
1t certainly cannot be forgotten that
Mr. Bayard declared upon the floor OF
the United States Senate that as an
innocent man he would prefer to run
the gauntlet Of the bullets of Merrills
cavalry rather than take his chances
in a trial in the Federal Court presided
over by His Honor Judge Bond.
Unless they can show that the dis
tinguished Senator was mere ridicul-
ing the accuracy Of the aim OF N errills
men we beg our South Carolina friends
not to hold up the lucky Merrill as the
worst man in their state.
Major Merrill will doubtless thank
us for bringing to public attention one
of the few kindly words that have been
spoken of him. Some people may
think the Senator's remark was at best
only qualified praise. We do not pre-
tend to decide that question with the
fear of Solicitor Cantweu before our
ewes. It is sufficient for us that Sena-
tor Bavard intimates that Merrill with
his cavalry was preferable to Bond
with his Court, and as impartial
journalists, we give Merrill the benefit
Of the doubt.
Here is what the Neacs and Courier
has to say on the subject
No wonder that Major Lewis Mer-
riII. of the United States Army, in
command of the counties under mar
tial law. was indefatigable in hunting
down the Ku-klux. No wonder that
pcaceable citizens were arrested with
out cause, and that any trumped-up
testimony was warrant enough for tear
inc q citizen from his home and lOdg
ing him i'll jail. It paid. In those
two words lies the whole explanation
of the ardent zeal of the ku-klux pur-
Suers.
How much did it pay? 1t paid
Major Merrill 50, 400 for forty-seven
convictions. So, coo for the arrest of
fort; persons who became witnesses
for The prosecution, and $4,000 for
twenty persons who were indicted, but
are not vet convicted. Total $2l 400.
Is it not evident that arrestlng ku-
EIux at 5000 Il head is highly profit
able business especially for person
who draws. besides, his full pay and
@ ;,yarces us an officer in the army of
tie United States?
The Gen, raj Assembly appropriated
5000 for the pigment of the re-
wards offered by Governor Scott fer
iUr tic apprehension and conviction OF
y -rson5 engaged III the ku-hlux con-
s9:-acy-. Major Lewis Merrill, United
States Army, gobbles S21, 400, and the
al'Ditrators pay themselves $500 for
their trouble. The remainder goes in
this wise: Thomas n. Wilkes, $1,000,
T. II. y. Byron. 81 200, James Canton,
81 900, ". Fl. Brown, 81 500. Grand
Total, S3f, 900. Balance left in the
treasury, for manners, 500. Poor
treasury
1t IS now said that the appropriation
under which these payments were
made was not passed by two-thirds
vote, and is, therefore, void and of no
effect. The money IS gone, and cannot
be recovered, but what were the Gov
ernor and the Acknowledgement doing
that they did not detect this important
irreg,llarity? Governor Moses knows
all about the passage of bills, and
what forms are required to be complied
with 10 make them binding. 1t is
somewhat strange that he did not re-
member that an appropriation of
money, by reclamation, is absolutely
null Perhaps somebody can prove
that tie ku-Klux appropriation was
properly made in which case the
people will have the consolation of
knowing that they have been robbed
by law, under the forms prescribed by
the Constitution.