Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-03-20
The Story of Major Merrill, tho ku-
Klux Hunter.
Washington Correspondence Of the NesO
York World.


- WASHINGTON, March TO-
Senator Bayard's resolution of enquiry
az to whether any officer Of the army sta
toned in South Carolina has received pay
ment from the State Legislature for SER
vices performed in the line of his duty. or
has been admitted to practice at. the bar
of the State for his own emolument while
receiving pay as an army officer, is under
stood to be aimed at Major Lewis Merrill,
who for some time past has commanded
the post OF Yorkville, in South Carolina,
and who for the last two years has been
conspicuous for his zeal as hunter Of Ku-
Klux When the Administration and the
then Attorney General, Akcrman, deter
mined upon the invasion Of South Carroll
ma, under color OF the Ku-Klux law, they
selected MAJOR Merrill as proper man
to manage the military force of the pro
gramme. They desired man who would
look upon the whites Of South Carolina
as enemies deserving punishment, not
alone the punishment Of arbitrary arrest
and illegal Imprisonment, but also the
punishment Of annoyance. insult, and the
exercise of petty tyranny. Such an in
strument they thought would be found in
Major Merrill Nor did the result disap
point their expectations. The work en-
Z trusted to his hands was with him labor
Of love
At the head OF rough-rders fully as
ierocious and unfseling as the dragoehs Of
Clayerhouse he rode over the State like &
vsritsble Sergeant Boutwell, carrying de
vastation and destruction wherever his
column went A reign Of terror was in
augurated, whole counties were hurried
and the people driven to Businesses oI the
forests and the swamps for protection
Major Merrill increased the alarm by
making his expeditions under cover OF
darkness Citizens were dragged from
their beds at midnight by armed men,
and their wives and children terrified by
domicliary visits. A gentleman conver-
SAINT with the facts says: Nothing like
this ku-Klux campaign was ever known
in this country, not even in times of war,
and nothing like it. we hope, for the honor
of the Government, will ever be known
again The names Of Merrill and his
marauders will ever be held in just exc.
Grafton by the people, not Of South Caro-
lima alone, but bv all the fair minded, hon
orable men North and South" Besides
his hatred and his malice, his love of per-
secution and his fondness for playing the
tyrAnt, Major Merrill seems TO have been
Influenced By still another incentive.
The Columbia Phenix states that when
the Legislature met he came forward IS a
lobbyist to urge payment for the "ssr
vices" which be. had rendered. He was
equally successful IN his new vocation,
aud Bill passed appropriating $35, 900
as compensation for himself and Others.
While hunting Kn-Klnx he was an off
Ger in the United States army, and regu-
lsrly received his pay, yet he is to be CIV
en-, IN addition, an enormous bonus from
an impoverished State whose people he
hsrTassed and ruined. While an officer
Of the army he bought and was granted
admission TO the Bar, thus bringing re-
prosch upon two honorable professions.
The Phoenix says bis exertions did not
stop with the arrest and imprisonment Of
accused citizens. He assisted the Attor-
ney-General in the Court room, and his
labors never ceased until his victims were
convicted by packed jury, and condemn
ed by the American Jeffres 1t is to be
hoped. that Senator Bayard's resolution
viii be acted upon as soon as the next
Congress assemblies, and that even justice
will be dealt out to the hunter Of Ku
Klux.