The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-10-22

segment In inc NOrtn tlldt is Cullcu tuo
Democratic party. MAY l ask ifyou used
these words, and if you did so did you
mean to connect me directly or Indirect
ly with what was known as the Kuklux
Khan? Requesting an early reply ad-
dressed to me care OF Augustus Schell,
New York, l am very respectfully your
obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
FRANK REPLY.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 21-To the Hon.
Wade Hampton-Sir: Your note of
the 18th is received. In reply have
to advise you that, while do not re-
member the precise language, Ipcrsume
the reporter correctly stated in con-
denscd way his idea of what | said.
no doubt spoke of the Democratic party
in the South and referred to the Kuklux
Khan as q representative of the barbar-
GUS agencies by which the Democrats
have subverted the civil and political
rights of the Republicans of the South.
l did not connect you personally with
the Kuklux Khan. Indeed 1 knew you
had in one or two important instances
resisted and defeated its worst impulses.
| appreciate the sense of honor which
makes You shrink from being named in
associates, leading men of the South,
now enjoy the benefits OF political pow
err derived from the advocates of the
Kuklux Khan, in which phrase include
all the numerous aliases by which it
has been known in the South. Your
power in the Southern states rests upon
actual crimes of every grade in the code
of crimes, from murder to the meanest
form of ballot-box stufiing committed
by the Kuklux Khan and its kindredas-
sociates, as you know, some of the worst
of them committed since 1877, when
you and they gave tie most solemn as
surances of protection to all the freed
men in the South. These crimes are all
aimed at the civil and political rights of
Republicans in the South, and, as be-
lieve, but for these agencies the very
state that you represent, as well as
many other states in the South, would
be represented both in the Senate and
Honse by Republicans. But for these
crimes the boast attributed to you that
1873 solid southern votes would be cast
tor the Democratic ticket would be but
idle vaporing. But now we feel that it
is sober truth. While have no rea-
son to believe that you or your northern
associates personally participate in the
offenses have named, yet while you
and they enjoy the fruit of these crimes
you may in logic and morals be classed
as classed you, as joint copartners with
the Kuklux Khan in the policy which has
thus far been successful in seizing the
political power of the South, and which
it is hoped by the aid of small segment
of the Democratic party of the North |
may be extended to all departments of
the government. 1t Is in this sense that |
| spoke of you, the kuKlux and the
northern Democratic party.
Permit me in conclusion, while frank
ly answering your questions, to say that
the most fatal policy would be by such
agencies as have mentioned TO secure |
again political ascendcncy in this coun-
try, for 1 assure you that the manhood
and the independence of the North will
continue the struggle until
every Republican in the South has free
nnres .ricted enjoyment of equal civil
and political privileges, including fair
vote, fair count, free speech and fr 0
press, and the agitation made necessaI
% secure such results may greatly affect
the interests Of the people of
he South. Very respectfully, your
)bedient servant, JOHN SHERMAN.