Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-22
A VIGOROUS LETTER.

SECRETARY SHERMAN TELLS WADE HAMPTON
SOME PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT THE WAY HE AND
HIS FOLLOWERS HAVE TREATED THE SOUTH
ERIN REPUBIIcANs-A FATAL POLICY FoR TIE
SOUTH.
In a speech at New York some time ago
Secretary Sherman associated Wade Hamp-
toms name with that Of the Ku-Klu1, where
upon Hampton sent the Secretary a letter
demanding to know II he was correctly re-
ported To this letter Mr.. Sherman respond
cd as follows
WASHINGTON, September q.
Hon. Wade Hampton, Sir. Your note Of
the 18th inst is received in which you in
quire whether at a conference held by the
National Republican Committee at Fifth Ave
nue. hotel, New York, ] used the language at
tributed to me as follows "And now you
are asked TO surrender all you have done into
the hands Of Wade Hampton and the Ku-Klux
and the little segment in the North that is
called the Democratic party" In reply,
have TO advise you that, while do not re-
member the precise language, presume the
reporter correctly stated in a condensed way
his idea Of what said. ] no doubt spoke Of
you as a leading representative Of the Demo
cratic party in the South, aud referred to the
Ku-klu1 Khan as a representative Of the bar
barous agencies by which the Democrats have
subverted the civil and political rights Of the
Republicans Of the South. did not connect
you personally with the Ku-Klux Khan In
deed, know that you had in one or two i'm
pOrtant instances resisted and defeated its
worst impulses / appreciate the sense Of
honor which makes you shrink from being
named in connection with it. Still you and
your associates, the leading men in the South,
apiOy the hnnaGtn Of nniitinol Ia
rived from the atrocities of the Ku-Klux Khan,
in which phrase l include all the numerous
aliases by which il has from time 10 time
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 meRnest form of ballot box
stufing committed by the Ku-Klux and il
kindred associations, and, as you know,
some Of the worst Of them committed since
1877, when you and they gave the most sol
emn assurances Of protection TO the freedmen
Of the South; These crimes are all aimed at
the civil and political rights of Republicans
in the South and, as believe, but for these
agencies the very State you represent ~
well as many other States in the South
would be represented both in the Senate and
House by Republicans. But for these crimes
the boast attributed TO you that the 1875 solid
Southern votes would be cast for the Demo
cratic ticket would be but idle vAporing, but
now we feel that it il sober truth. While
have no reason to believe that you or your
| Northern associates personally participated
| in the offenses have named, yet, while you
and they enjoy the fruits of these crimes, you
may in logic and morals be chased As joint
| copartners with the Ku-KluI Khan in q policy
! which thus far has been successful in seizing
| political power in the South, and which it is
hoped by the aid Of q small segment Of the
! Democratic party in the North may be e1-
tended to all departments of the government
1t is in this sense that spoke of you, the
! ku-KluX Khan and Northern Democratic par
! ty. Permit me in conclusion, while frankly
| answ ering your question. TO say that the most
fatal policy for the South would be by such
| agencies as hear mentioned to secure again
the political ascendency Of this country, for
assure you that the manhood and indepen-
/ dence Of the North will certainly continue the
struggle until every Republican in the South
shall have the free and unrestricted enjoy
ment Of equal civil and political privileges,
including fair vote, fair count free speech
and free press, and the agitation made
necessary to secure such results may greatly
affect injuriously the interests Of the people OF
| the South.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
john SHERMAN
| ~ ehas boAehinB HIfhi6nHeht hhmPeoh to
piled, in true Southern style, with a letter
which WAS, in effect, a challenge, charging
the Secretary with using language which was
false and which he knew to be false, and
closing, in true fre-eAters style. with, MY
address will be Columbia, S. c." Mr.. Sher-
man quietly rejoins that he will submit the
correspondence TO the public and accept the
| verdict and the Letters were accordip ply civ.
en- to the press on Tuesday.