The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09
MERRILL ANDTHE KU-KLUX
THINGS BROUG HT FRESHLY TO MIND
BY AN INVESTIGATION.

Some Very Interesting q "Reminiscences Of M n
jor Merrilrs Political Raid Upon the Peo-
pie and tho Treasury of south Carolina.
CHARLESTON, April 3.-The examination
Of Major Merrill, OF the United States Cavalry,
before Congressional investigating committee.
recalls certain "reminiscences Of this tyrant.
The Ku-Klux commenced their operations in
North Carolina during the State elections OF
1870. There were no outraGss In South Carolina
until after the election. This contest In the lat
ter State was between Scott aud the Conserva-
tive candidate, Carpenter, who was defeated.
After the defeat, the whites bordering on North
Carolina formed bands OF Ku-Klux all over that
section. For four months they held control
against every effort of the State Government.
Gov; scott, who was largely interested In the
issuing OF the conversion bonds at that time,
did not feel II advisable to call In the United
states military to actively suppress them.
Major Merrill, however, was sent upon the
stage, and having large amount OF Federal
money to spend In ferreting out the klahs. COM
same time the better class OF citizens cndoa-
vored to suppress the disorders. Among other
efforts, they obtained from Gov. scott the re.
moval OF the local negro magistrates and the
appointment OF efficient men In their stead.
The ku. klux Immediately subsidized.
Then the Congressional Committee, OF which
Senator Scott was chairman, came down to in
vestleate the troubles personally They found
every thing quieted, and 80 reported They in
formed the people however. that II there was a
renewal OF the OuraRes after their return TO
Washington they would recommend the suspen-
sion OF the habeas corpus and the interference
Of the United States Government under the En-
ALL ron EFFECT.
Some month or so after their return, while the
people OF that section were keeping themselves
on their good behavior, Major Merrill sent to
Sen-tor Scott account OF new outrages
a. occurring after the committees return. A
letter of senator Scott TO President Grant was
published In some OF the newspapers, telling Of
the assurances of the committee tn the citizens.
recitiug the recent alleged outrages, and asking
mediately addressed by some OF the awe-sttlck-
on citizens, and he gave the names Of Major
Merrill and Congressman Wallace as the authors
OF these reports OF recent outrages. This letter
OF senator scott was laid before the Grand Jury
OF York county, which WAS then In session, and
they were directed to examine into the matter
They sent for Major Merrill and Sir. Wallace,
gave them every opportunity TO produce their
witnesses. and then presented the fact that these
reports of recent Outrages were lies.
The consequence was that Major Merrill do
nounced the Grand Jury aud tho Court as ku-
hlux, and by some private manipulation
had the habeas corpus suspended, and the
whole country subjected to the IRON heel OF his
troopers. York jail was packed with many of
iOrk's best citizens, and even women anu chill
dren were arrested. Not an outrage mad been
committed for four months before this raid Of
tho United States cavalry. President Grants
PROCLAMATION commanding the bands to
disperse and go To their homes" sounded
strange to them when every man was at home,
busy III his usual cmplOvmcnts.
The cases were not brought before the State
which mot one and two hundred mlles away,
and the whole OF very largo appropriation bv
Congress was squandercd. Witnesses on both
sides bad to hc paid enormous travelling ex-
penses as well ss their per diem nav; and In
inent side was PAID Tor IN large sums by Merrill
ono man was paid 500, and promised t2OO more.
Another witness testified that he was paid $50
CoRDIN's FEES
United States District Attorney Corbin en-
tered readily into this conspiracy against the
til. .aaff Fa p
erist which came 10 his mill, ana each blank in
dictment he filled out placed an additional item
on his account against the United States Gov
ernment. He Ia reported 10 have made 5000
that year. Not only the regular costs Of hs OF
ice were mado available, but some outside
speculations IN witness tickets look very queer,
except upon the basis Of making all he could.
AttorneY-Gsneral Cham oeriain did not at all
resent. tins encroachment either upon the rights
OF the citizens OF hts " beloved state" or the
prero9aiiyes OF his own office in irving the
criminals. On the other hand. ne yielded grace
fully. Tho state had provided for no extra
compensation. tnere were no costs for the At
water haul to him. But whom United States
District Attorney Corbin proposed large feo
work he las paid to do as State Attorney Gem
eral, he accepted, aud took his share Of the
plunder and Of the disgrace.
the white people 81 the State bee tme so glaring
that the Circuit JUICE presiding at lorK deter
Of the county, with Instructions to md a pre-
sentiment against these parties for conspiracy II
was the terror which Mcrrlll's raid had made
upon the ci liens that the best citizens advised
against the action, and the matter was deferred.
ONLY ONE CONVICTED.
During the Investigation OF the Ku-Klux mat
tiers before the packed juries Of the United
States courts, none Of "the recent ouirages"
which induced the suspension OF the habeas
corpus were ever brought TO the attention OF
the court. Several Of the Grand Jury in
dicted by Merrill "a ku-klux, but only one-a
poor white "Reminiscences convicted.
Merrill was not satisfied with the money he
made out OF the Government "a the almoner Of
the detective funds. To be sure this enabled
him To live in royal style at YORK. but after his
disgraceul war was over he applied To the Leg
stature Of the state for remuneration. hev
appropriated $4,000 generally to the ku-Klux
catchers. Merrill received 5000 Of the whole
amount: but II was reported that he had to paw
as his share OF the bribery fund to pass the bill
some 5000.
The notorious Judge Mackey received e. OF
this State fund through his brother-in-law,
Lloyd, with which they purchased "a 1ne resi-
dence In Chester village, ia this State. Ho used
TO declare that Merrill was one Of the greatest
towards he had ever met; that during the war
they bad met on different sides in Missouri, and
that Merrill was always In fun retreat. When,
however, he was detached, as he was in this hu-
hlux affair, 10 command OF post at which he
could live in luxury, he was brave enough then
in rldtng uefence.ess men and women.