The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-09

whom, aftcr the meetings we've adjourned their in
structons would be given % begin their operations
IN various parts q the State The expense OF the
movements Of these men, after they had received
their orders ard had gone 70 exeeute them, was
enormous. and was all paid BY the state. In ac-
cordance with SCOTS request the Legislature had
given him authority 70 establish paid state con
stAnulary, and 20 maintain tor their use horses. DC
in the shape Of camp equpage A. the head % this
force Scott had placed one John u. Hubbard thor
Oughly skilled detective and desperate man Nho
had formerly taken prominent part In thein0ssii-
cations conducted by the United States govern Incni
which resuited N the hanging OF Mrs su-ratf. In
into the state one Colonel Kerrigan with band
Of about twenty five desperadoes and ruughs from
Sew YORK, whose expenses nc paid, IN addition
70 large monthly wages, and whom he domicled IN
various parts OF the upcountry here with instruc-
tons to work up the outrage business and IN do all
IN their power short OF committing overt acts 70 ia
cite the democrats TO open resistance These men
did their work well and richly earned the money
they received. Most OF them were stationed ia
Union county, where there was a majority OF white
voters and the story Of the wrongs and injuries they
inflicted on the unodending people there would in
deed I'LL volume Their expense was borne out OF
an unlimited appropriation made by the Legislature
for Scott % maintain an armed force" and which
authorized him 70 expend any moneys in the Treas
ury not Otherwise appropriated.
But even this importation Of roughs from New
York was not enough 70 create the CONSERVATION
States government supported by ID. r. CoThin. then
the District Attorney for our state scott succeeded
In having an officer of the United States Army
specially detailed and ordered 20 report 70 him. 20
take fl charge Of the hunting down OF the terrible
ku klux and 20 bring them % trial and conviction
This mans name was Lewis Merrill, and he was and
Is still suppose, major Of the Seventh regiment
United States cavalry.
He was well fitted for the BtEiness for which he
had been selected. Cold blooded and heaEtless and
as keen on the scent as sleuthhound he admirably
performed his mission, and. IN conjunction with
Corbin and under orders from Scott. he succeeded
in ma king Of South Carolina perfect pandemonium
FOR two years No pen can record, no tongue can
recite the insults ne heaped upon the people ana at
the slightest show az resentment tie Victim would
be hurried TO trial on the charge OF being kn klux
and would soon be heard mo more except as an
inmate of the Albany Penitentiary. Although Mer
rill was officer of the United States Army full
pay during his KIN Klux campaign. and although
the regulations of the War Department expressly
prohibit any offieer nom receiving pay from any
State authorities still for the whole time that he
here he was regularly paid large sums by Governor
Scott lin addition 10 his travelling expenses out of
the armed force funds The vouchers for these pay
ments, as received by Merrill himself found on file
IN the State Treasury are now among the records Of
the investigating Committee, and form strong case
against him for infaction Of the regulations Of the
War Department
But this was not all. Long after the disappear.
ance Of all symptoms of Ku KiuxisEn in our State
Merrill went before the Legislature, and by dint OF
the most constant system of lobbying and by brbing
the most prominent members Of that body together
with most Of the Shareholders. succeeded IN collect
ing for himself from the revenues OF South Carolina
about 81 600 as reward for his services 10 the re-
publican politicians.
This took place after Scott had gone out Of Office
and while was Governor. and my testimony Of the
facts before the investigating committee Is in sub
stance as follows While ! was Governor, during
the legislative session OF 1872 and 1873 Major Merrill
had bill introduced in the Legislature appropriate
ing the sum Of SD as a reward in each case where
q person had been proved 10 have engaged in Ku
kluxism and had been prosecuted TO conviction.
The whole amount appropriated under the bill was
S. Goo and 1t was provided that each person who
laid claim to any part Of this sum a reward for
his services should present his proof in proper form
before the Governor, Who in eaehcase, should draw
his warrant on the Treasurer for the amount found
to be due. This bill was lobbied through the Cen
eral Assembly by Major Merrill in person. assisted
by several United States deputy marshals who had
served under him. He WAS also ably seconded in
his efforts % have the bill passed by Mr.. d. H.
Chamberlain. who was acting as his legal counsel,
and who a. that time was law partner of the Hon.
:. W. Melton. then Attorney General OF the State
IL openly charged at the time that brides were
being used 10 secure the passage OF the bill the pro-
greSs OF which was opposed very strongly by the
democratic members. James y. B0wley. a colored
man, then chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mlIIee o. lhe House Of representatives, received
nom Merrill an oruer on the iunu amounting %
$500 for favorable report on the bill from his
committee Other members. both Of the Senate and
House, received smaller sums for their votes in favor
Of the bill After the bill had passed approved Il
and Il became law. Mr.. ID. II. Chamberlain then
came to me as the counsel OF Major Merrill and
stated 20 me that he was authorized By Major Mer-
rill 10 make the proposition TO me that ii would
award the whole amount appropriated (Ss5.0O0) To
Of the fund 50 Coo for my own use and benefit. /
answered Mr.. Chamberlain that could not accept
his proposition; told him that the General Assem-
bly, although they had really passed the bin for the
especial emoument of Merrill. had nevertheless 50
wored il as TO allow other parties TO present their
claims before me for examination. and thattt would
not be just 10 them 10 award the whole sum 10 Mer-
rill without even an examination OF their claims
therefore declined his proposal Mr.. Chamberlain
then suggested that should appoint a commission
of lawyers, whose duty il should be 20 examine all
the claims presented 10 decide their merits and
20 certify the result to me. He said that if would
appoint such commission, and would appoint him
(Chnmberlainl as a member of IL, with two or three
others whom he named, he tChamberlainl woVld
see 70 Il that report would be made by them
awarding the whole amount 10 Merrill and that
could then adopt their report and pay him all the
money and myself escape all blame responsibility
in the premises He also said thai the s. 900 offered
me by Merrill would be paid IL ! would take the
course he suggested. al length consented to his
proposition and appointed on the commission
Messrs &. D. Melton and J. D. Pope very respectable
democratic lawyers OF Columbia, and, at Chamber
Dunbar q former law partner of his MIR Chamber
lain's) and Hon ~ B. Elliott referred 10 his COM
mission all the claims which had been forwarded TO
me, included among which were claims from Major
Merrill sufficient 10 more than double the sum that
had been appropriated After the commission had
deliberated for some time and had refused TO enter
award the whole sum 70 Mr.. Merrilll Mr. Chamber
lain came to me and asked me 10 use whatever in
iuenee possessed over Major G d. Melton, one of
the democratic commissioners. positively refused
even TO attempt such thing. as knew and 50 told
Mr.. Chamberlain, that not for a moment would Ma
jor Melton listen 10 II proposed TO him anything
that wrong. In this interview Chamberlain told
me ina #11nbaf and Elliott were TO receive each
81 30 from Merrill for casting their votes in his IA
vor before the commission. Finally after an inter
val Of one or two months, perhaps the commission
reported 10 me flor would not act ON the simple
report OF majority of them in favor Of paying Mer-
rill SIS 600 out of tire fund and to apportion the re-
mainder among the other claimants / adopted the
report of the commission, and IN accordance there
with drew the warrants for the payment of the
moneys. After had delivered 10 Merrill his war
rants he handed me back two warrants amounting
10 5000 as also another for s. 500 TO be handed by
me 20 Bowiey, chairman Of the Ways and Means
Committee He then told me how much il had cost
him 10 have the bill passed and 10 secure the votes
OF members OF the Senate and House and also OF
some OF the members Of the legal commission who
made the awards.
remember that some years ago there was move
ment in the United States Senate on motion OF SEN
atOr Randolph, OF New jersey 20 nave investiga-
ton made into the charge that Merrill had received
money for his services officer from the State OF
South Carolina. but the whole m after fell through
on account of the difficulty Of obtaining sufficient
testimony 10 prove the facts charged and the pay
ment Of the money was finally regarded a simple
gratuity voted by the State F.J MOSES