Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-10-20

Hon. Wade Hampton, care Aug. Schell,
Esq, New York-Sir: Your note of the
18th inst. is received. I used the Ian
guage attributed to me as follows: .And
now yol are asked to surrender all you
have done into the hands of Wade
Hampton and the kl-klux and the little
segment in the north that is called the
democratic party" In reply l have to
advise you that while l do not remember
the precise language, I presume the re-
porter correctly stated in condensed
way his idea Of what / said. no
doubt spoke of you as aleading represen-
tatlve of the democratic party in the
southland referred to the ku klux khan as
q representati We of the barbarous agen-
cies by which the democracy have sub
verted the civil and political rights of the
republicans of the south. I did not per-
sonally connect you with the ku klux
klan, Indeed, knew you had in one or
two important instances resisted and de-
feated its worst impulses. l appreciate
the sense of honor which makes you
shrink from being named in connection
with it. Still you and your associates,
leading men in the south, now enjoying
the benefits of political power derived
from the atrocities of the ku klux klan,in
which phrase include all the numerous
aliases by which it has from time to time
been known in the south. Your power
Ill the southern states rests upon actual
crimes OF every grade in the code OF
crimes, from murder to the meanest form
of ballot box stuiiiing committed by the
ku klux khan and its kindred associates.
and as you know some Of the worst of
them committed since 1877, when you
and they gave most solemn assurances
of protection to the freedmen of the
south. These crimes are all aimed at
he civil and political rights of the repub-
licans of the south, andI believe that but
for these agencies the very state that
you represent, as well as many other
states i'll the south, would be represented
both in the senate and house by republi-
cans, But for these crimes the boast at
tributed to you that one hundred and
thirty.eight solid southern votes would
be cast for the democratic ticket, would
be but idle vaporing. But now we feel
reason to believe that you or your north
ern associates personally participated in
the otfenses have named, yet while you
and they enjoy the fruits of these crimes,
you may in logic and morals be classed
as joint copartners with the ku klux khan
in the policy which thus far has been
successful in Selling political power in
the south and which it is hoped by the
aid of the small segment of tile democra-
tic party in the north may be extended
to all the departments OF the govern
ment. 1t is in this sense spoke of YOU,
the ku klux khan and northern democratic
party. Permit me, in conclusion, while
frankly answering YOUR question, to say
the most fatal policy for the south would
be by such agencies as 1 have mentioned
to secure again political ascendency in
this country, for l assure you that the
manhood and independence of the north
will certainly continue to struggle until
every republican in the south shall have
free and unrestricted enjoyment of equal
civil and political privileges including a
fair vote, a count, free speech and free
press, and the agitation made necessary
to secure such results may greatly affect
injuliously the interests of the people of
the south.
Very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, JOHN SHERMAN.
Charlottesville, Va, Oct. l, 1SS0.-Sir:
Your letter has been received, and as
you do not disclaim the language to
which called your attention I have
only to say that in using it you uttered
what was absolutely false, and what you
knew to be false. My address will be
Columbia, South Carolina.
am your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON,
J To Hon. John Sherman.
, Treasury Department, Washington, D
c., Oct. 1SSO-To Hon. Wade Hampton
> Columbia, S. c.: have to acknowledg,
the receipt of your note of the 1st inst
i handed me unopened by Mr.C Mckinney
: a few moments ago, after my return iron
!. the west. had this morning read wha
/ purported to be an extract Of speecl
made by you, published in the Charleston
News and Courier, and upon yourl ger
eral reputation as gentlemen had dc
MED that you had made such speech Q
y written such letter as is attributed t
il you in that paper. What I stated t
: you i'll my letter Of the 21st believe t
t. be true, Notwithstanding your denial an
:, it can be shown to be true by the publ
e records as matter of history. You ha
e long before your letter was delivered t
4, me seen proper to make public state
e ment of your views of the correspol
II dence. will give it to the press will
% out note or comment and let the pul
)f lie decide between us.
TnrJN