Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-18
The Secretary Charged with
Falsehood.
And Notified That the Senator's
Address will be Columbia, sc.
The "PiStOlS and Coffee" Inyi-
tati0n Declined.
The following correspon dence EXPLAINS Itself

SENATOR HAMPTON To SECRETARY SHERMAN
DAGGsRs SIPS, Sept. l1th, 1850.
Hon. John Sherman, .SAc'vor me TYeqS,try:
SIR:-Some days ago saw n report OF your
speech at The conference held by the National
Republican Committee, at the Fir'a Avenue
Hotel. y. Y, and you were quoted as having
used the following language: and now You
are asked to surrender ali you have done into
the hands OF Wade Hampton and tn ku kluN
and the littleseginent In tie north that is called
the democratic party" May ask e yoa ustd
these words and II you did so, did YOU mean 20
connect me. directly or Indirectly with what
Is known as the ku kiuX khan? Requesting an
early reply, addressed TO, care OF Augustus
Scheu. esq, New York. am.
Very respectfully, your obedlent servant.
WADE HAMPTON.
THE sECRETsRY's REILLY.
WASHINGTON. ID. g, september q. 1850.
Hon. Wade Hampton, care augustus S3,9U
Esq. Mac TorE.
SIR:-Your note OF the 18th instant is re-
ceived in which you inquire whether at the
conference Led by the National Republican
Committee at the Fifth Avenue E3tl, New
York used the language attrioufei 70 me, as
land now YOU are asked 10 surrender all YOU
have done into the hands OF Wade Hampton
ard the kukiuN, ami the little SggmeHJ Ia the
north that Is called the democratic party"
In reply have to advise you that. white do
not remember the precise language, presume
the reporter correctly stated, Ia a condensed
way, his idea or what said.
10 doubt spoke OF you as q leading repre-
sentative Of the democratic parry Ia tue south,
and referred 0 the ku-kluX-klau as a repr- sen
tatiye OF the barbarous agencies by which the
democrats have Subyerted the civil and political
lights OF the republicans or the south. ala
not connect YOU personally with the lu-kluX-
| KAN. Indeed, L knew that you had IN one or
two important Instances resisted and defeated
IT'S worst impulses. 1 appreciate the sense OF
honor which makes You shrink from being
named In connection with IT, Srill, you and yOur
associates, the leading men In tae south nov
enjoy the benefits OF political power derived
from the atrocities OF the ku klGZ klaa, In
which phrase Include all the numerous aliases
by which it has from time 10 time been known
la the south. Your power IA the
southern states rests upon actual
crimes OF every grade In the cole
OF crimes, from murder 10 the meanest
forms OF ballot-boX shutting, committed 10y the
ku-kluX khan and its kindred associates; aud,
as you know. some or the worst OF them com.
United since 1871, when you ana they gave the
freedmen OF the south. These crimes are all
aimed at the civil and political rights
OF republicans In the south, and, as 7
believe. but FOR these agencies the very
state that you represent, as we'll as many other
states IN the south, would be represented both
Ia the Senate and House By republicans Bat
for these crimes the boast attributed TO you
that the i3S solid southern votes would be
cast for the democratic ticket would be but
idle yaporing; but now We feel that it
Is a sober truth While / have no rea-
associates personally participated In the
ofences have named, yet while you and they
ENJOY lfuitS OF lleSe crimes. YOU may, In
logic and morals be classed as claSsed you, as
joint copartners with The kukluX khan la a
policy which thus far has been successful IN
SEEING political power I'm the south and which.
IL is hoped by the aid OF the small segment OF
the democratic party in the north, may BE- eg-
tended TO all departments OF the government.
Ii is In this sense that spoke OF you, the ku-
kluX khan. and the northern democratic party.
Permit me, IN conclusion, while frankly an
Swer1ng your question, to say that the most
fatal policy OF the south would be By such
agencies as / have mentioned TO secure again
political asceDGa lcy in this country for assure
you that the manhood and independence OF the
north will certainly continue the struggle
until every republican In the south shall have
free and Unrestricted enjoyment OF equal civil
and political privileges. including fair vote. a
fair count, free speech, and a free press: and
the agitation made necessary TO secure SUCH re-
suits may greatly affect iDJuriously the inter-
ests Of the people OF the south.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
JOIN SHERMAN.
THE SENATOR'S RESPONSE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Oct. l. 1850.
SIR-GouT letter has Deen received, and as you
do not Gisclaim the language 10 which called
your attention, have only TO say that in using
IL You uttered What was absolutely raise aud
what you knew 10 be false. Ny address viii
be Columbia. ). c.
lam your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
SECRETARY SHERMAN's CLOSING LETTER.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, October Is, 1850.
Hon. Wade Hampton. Columbia, SC:
SIR have to acknowledge the receipt OF
your note OF the lSt inst, handed me unopened
by Mr.. {. Mckinley few moments ago, after
my return nom the west. / mad this morning
read what purpOrted TO be an extract OF
speech made by you published In the Charles
ton NetcS ana Courier, and upon yoir general
reputation a. gentleman, had dented tnat you
had made such speech, or written such a let
ter as Is attributed 10 you in that paper. WHAT
] stated 10 you In my letter OF september 2lst
believe 10 be true notwithstanding your denial,
and IL can be shown TO be true by the public
records aid as a matter OF history. AS you had
long before your letter was delivered 10 me seen
proper TO make a public statement or your
views or the correspondence, / VIII give it 70
the press without note or comment, ana let the
pubic decide between Us Very, respectfully,
JOHN SHERMAN.
KxPL. NAToRY.
tThe extract referred to was published in
the New York Tribune OF October 9th. taken
from the Charleston Ne,cs ana Courier OF an
earlier date, purporting 70 be az extract from a
speech OF Wade Hampton as follows:
Mr.. John sherman, the Secretary OF the
were called upon to surrender ali they
possessed to Wade Hampton and the
ku-Klux and the small segment OF
| the democratic party 10 the north. wrote
swer was somewhat equivocal, and he did not
| deny aSsociating my name with the ku klux;
| and say now In public, as wrote him la prl-
| waite, that when he made that state.
| what he knew at the time was false.
1t has come TO pretty pass, my countrymen.
when man elected to Congress and honestly
striving to do his duty under the Constitution
can have these base and groundlesS assaults
made On him. When a man strikes at South
Carolina through me- shall only say 10 him,
Is did to Sherman. that he tells te'1
Trr.