Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-10
SENATOR PATTERSON,S LETTER.


the Washington Republican on the condition
of affairs in the South, in which he says:
"Is it not right that the loyal people of the
North should know that this same Board of
Trade passed resolutions during the ku-klux
reign in South Carolina, that no violence had
occurred, and that life and property were per-
fectly safe? Every member is Democrat,
and many of them sympathized with the ku
klux. The world knows whether they were
good authority then, and the sequel will prove
whether they are authority now as to the con-
.lition Of South Carolina. No doubt the Board
of Trade of Charleston will pass similar reso.
lutions, as it is composed Of similar material.
The Neacs and Courier, Democratic, Of Charles
ton, S. c., will give similar certificate; the
rifle clubs will do the same and here let me
add, that over 100 rife clubs have been or.
ganized during the political campaign, armed
with Winchester rifles, and every member is
white Democrat, and very many are kuklux,
and not one of these companies carries the
United States flag on parade. Every ku-klux
khan in the State will testify to the good order
prevailing now. [ do not say that every
Democrat in South Carolina is ku.klux, but
| do say that every ku-klux was Democrat
Judge Thompson Cooke, Of the Eighth Cir
cult, also protests against the use Of the troops
to preserve order. True, he was elected as
Republican, but Judge Thomas, of the Sixth
Circuit, who was elected as a Republican in
1871, announced from the bench in York
county that there was no violence in that
county, and that life and property were very
safe. The grand jury of the county reported
the same. and yet in the fall Of that year it
was proven before the United States Court
that over 300 had been killed and over 1000
whipped because they were Republicans, be-
fore and after Judge Thomas so declared and
the grand jury so reported. Three of that
same grand jury were indicted as kuklux,
and one is now in the Albany penitentiary,
serving out his term for the crime Of ku-klux-
ing" In conclusion, he says: 81 am acting
in the interest of peace and order The evil
doers in South Carolina have wholesome re-
spect for United States troops, and when it is
known that the government is in earnest, the
lawless bands will take notice and conduct
themselves accordingly. I have not asked
the President to send troops into South Caro-
lima, but have only asked that the troops al
ready there shall be used for public peace and
for the protection of American citizens, with
out regard to race or color, and that all men
shall be held harmless in the exercise of the
elective franchise"
In reply to the letter of Senator Patterson,
the following comes by telegraph from Charles
ton:
CHARLESTON, S. G., Sept. 6.-The state.
ment of Patterson in the National Republican
of Saturday is false in the following particu
lars That the board Of trade in Columbia
denied, in 1871, the existence Of kuklux, or
that Judge Thomas, of the 9Th circuit, at that
time, or the York grand jury, did deny their
existence, or that the rife-clubs of to-day are
kuklux. The board of trade in 1871, admit
ted the fact and passed resolutions condemna-
tory of the same. Judge Thomas did the
same in York, and the York grand jury pre-
sented 6fty-four persons for kukluxiDg, ante
ror to the session Of the kuklux committee.
But they could not find a single case upon
which the United States could suspend the
habeas corpus and take charge Of the cases.
This was the trouble with the York court for
it proved that the suspension was based upon
falsehoods, and was itself conspiracy.
The United States Court, which afterward
did take charge of the kuklux cases, never
found any of these cases, subsequent to the
session of the committee, or Of the grand jury,
that were even indicted for kukluxing, and
are now in the Albany Penitentiary.
Judge Thomas does know that there was
an inofensve white republican named
Hambright, who may be the man referred to-
as convicted. A more harmless man was
never tried.
The rifle clubs at Charleston and in the
State, have been suspected of ku-kluxing-
they were in existence during the ku-klux
trials in 1871, and were not even char
ged with connection at the time in any official
manner. The trouble with Patterson and his
white radicals is that the ku.klux act having
expired, and the enforcement act only pro-
tecting colored people, they are without pro.
lection, and this is aroused by the attempt of
Patterson and his ring to enforce the valida-
ton of the fraudulent bonded debt Of the
State, which the radical Legislature at its last
session repudiated. The negroes laugh at the
situation and declare Patterson's statement to
be clap-trap, and unless forced to do so, will
not sustain his bond scheme