The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-10

United States, dehouncing such crimes
as it was alleged those who were brought
before me, under warrants duly issued,
had committed, or in bailing or COM
mitting those for trial who came before
me voluntarily confessing the violation
of those statutes. Ny commission as
United States Commissioner bears date
the 10th day of June, 1870. I made ap-
plicat;on for the Office on the third day
of June, 1870, and my appointment was
"cteerfully recommended" by the gen.
tlemen who then composed the Walhalla
bar, Judge Orr and others. At that time
had Just located at Walhalla with q
view to practice my profession, and had
not the slightest knowledge or suspicion
of the existence of the Ku KluI order.
My official duties rendered it necessary
for me to attend the August term, 1871,
of the United States District Court, sit
ting at Greenville, South Carolina.
During the progress of the term I was
called upon to investigate some alleged
violations of the internal revenue laws,
and went 10 the upper portion of Green
Vile County for this purpose. very
soon disposed of the business left un-
finished by Commissioner who had
preceded me there, aud came back to
Greenville.
If 1 am right in my recollection, there
were some cases tried at this august,
1871, term of court called "Ku Klux"
cases, but the character of the man ac-
cused and the evidence adduced to sup
port the charges did not awaken behalf
in the existence of such m order. Just
before or about the close of the term,
however, an affidavit was presented to
ME purporting to be signed by one AS
berry Peck, who claimed to be a citi-
zen of Spartanburg County, S. c., dated
the 18th day of September, 1871, alleg-
ing the existence of the Ku Klux or
der, declaring its objects, and in it he
confessed his acts as Ku Klux and
gave the names of the members of the
klan to which he belonged.
The officers of the court took this
statement of Peck's under advisement,
and it was decided that 1 should go to
Spartanburg, accompanied by the Assist
ant United States Attorney, the United
States Marshal, with one or two of his
deputies, and Peck, and should proceed
to Investigate the matter. As to the de-
tails of what did occur, I would gladly
tell you as far as 1 can recollect, or
papers in my possession will show; but
I take it this is beyond the scope of your
inquiry. The country has been general
ly informed, through the medium of the
press and the courts, of the result. !
have testimonials from citizens of the
highest character who, as attorneys and
spectators, attended my examinations,
assuring me of the fair, patient and i'm
partial manner in which cases were con-
Quoted by me. See if the letters I have
with me do not bear me outin this state
ment. At this time I scarcely knew any
of the officers of the State government,
and had no official or social relations
with them. Indeed, except the United
States officials I had met at court and the
military officers stationed at Spartan
burg, l knew none of them, and J. can
never forget the anxiety my position
occasioned me. I was simply bent upon
performing my sworn duty, as I inter-
preted the law, with fairness to the citi-
zens and with fidelity to the government.
I had no other object i'll view. If had
ever seen the proclamation of Governor
Scott, of date 2Sth July, 1871, offering a
reward of two hundred dollars each for
the apprehension and conviction of Ku
Klux, l do not remember it; certainly !
was not actuated by any motive in the
performance of my official duties save
that which should characterize faithful
officer. And now as to your question as
to the amount of money l received from
the State for this service, ! have to an
swer that 1 received Comptroller's war
rants for seven thousand dollars, which
were disposed of at price less than
their face value. 1 wish to explain how
and why 1 submitted the papers 1 did
upon which this allowance was made.
The General Assembly of South Carroll
ma, on the 26th day of February, 1873,
passed an act appropriating $4,000 for
the payment of claims arising under the
proclamation of Governor Scott before
referred to. l was advised that under
the proclamation and the provisions Of
the act making this appropriation 1
ought 20 submit a statement OF my work
to the commission appointed by the Gov
ernor to examine and report upon the
legal sufficiency Of claims arising under
the proclamation. The commission ap.
pointed by the Governor consisted of the
following named gentlemen, to wit {:
Major G. D. Melton, Colonel J. D. Pope,
Hon. R. B. Elliott, Hon. D. H. Cham
berlain and James A. Dunbar, Esq,
three of whom certainly ranked as the
ablest lawyers at the Columbia bar. 1
determined that 1 would only submit to
the commission thirty five voluntary con-
fessions made before me at Spartanburg.
These confessions were duly subscribed
and transmitted to the court. Upon
them indictments were found, and the
parties themselves afterwards, in open
court, made confessions, which are to be
found in the published proceedings Of
the November term, 1871, of the United
States Circuit Court. 1 refer you to
pages no to 7S7 inclusive of the "Ku
Klux Trials" In their report the COM
mittee says: "The committee further re-
port, after very patient and careful
consideration of the claims of the sever
al claimants, that they have made the