Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-10-28
ssMy Address" Sab.

WASHINGTON, October, 1s.-Secretary
Sherman has furnished for publication
the following correspondence:
DoaGERs' SPRINGS, September II, 1880.
To Hon. John Sherman, Secretary Of
: the Treasury:
SIa-Some days ago saw n report of
your speech at a conference held by the
National Republican Committee, at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, and
you were quoted as having used the fol-
lewing language: Sand 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" May ask II you used these
words, and if you did so, did you mean
to connect me directly or Indirectly
with what was known as the Ku-Klux
Khan?
Requesting an early reply. addressed to
me, care of Augustus Schell. Esq, New
York, l am, very respec fully, your
obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
sHERMAN's REPLY.
WASHINGTON, d. c., September 81, 80.
Hon. Wade Hampton, care of Augustus
Scheli, Esq, New York.
SIR-Your note of the 18th inst. is
received, in which you inquire whether
at the Conference held by the National
Republican Committee at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel, New York, used the lam
guage attributed 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" Inreply
have to advise you that while do not
remember the precise language, pre-
sumo the reporter correctly stated, In a
condensed way, his idea of what said.
I no doubt spoke of you as the lead
ing representative of the Democratic
party in the South, and referred to the
Ku-Klux Klan as the representative Of
the barberous agencies by which the
Democrats have subverted the civil and
political rights of the Republicans of
the South. 1 did not connect you per-
sonally with the Ku-klux Khan. In
deed, 1 knew that you had in one or
two important instances resisted and
defeated its worst impulses. 1 appre-
ciate the sense Of honor which makes
you shrink from being named In con-
nection with it. Still, you and your
associates, leading men in the South,
now enjoy benefits of political power
derived from 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 in the Southern States
rests upon the actual crimes of every
grade in the code of crimes-frOm muir
der to the meanest form Of ballot-bOx
stuffing committed by the Ku-Klux-
klan and its kindred associates, and, as
you know, some of the worst of them
were committed since 1877, when you
and your associates gave the most SOL
emn assurance of protection to the
freedmen of the South. These crimes
are all aimed at the civil political rights
of Republicans in the South, and as l
believe, 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
House by Republicans. But for these
crimes the boast attributed 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 that it is
sober truth. While have no reason to
believe that you or your Northern asso-
ciates personally participated In the
oftenses | have named, yet, while you
and they enjoy the fruits of these
crimes, you may, in logic and morals,
be classed as l classed you, as joint CO.
partners with the Ku-Klux-Klan In the
policy which thus far has been success
full in seizing political power in the
South, and which it is hoped by the aid
OF the small segment of the Democratic
party in the North, may be extended to
all the departments of the Government.
1t is in this sense that spoke of you,
the Ku-Klux-Klan and the Northern
Democratic party.
Permit me, in conclusion, while frank
ly answering your question, to say the
most fatal policy for the South would
be by such agencies as have mentioned
to secure again political ascendeney 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 enjoy
ment of equal civil and political priv
ileges, including a fair vote, fair
count, free speech and free press, and
agitation made necessary to secure such
results may greatly affect injuriously
the interests Of the people of the South.
Very respectfully, your obcdient SER
want, JOHN SHERMAN.
SOUTHERN CHIvALRY.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va, October l, 1880.
To Hon. John Sherman.
SIR-YOur letter has been received.
As you do not disclaim the language to
which l called your attention, 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, S. C. am, your obedient
servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
THE MATTER DISPOSED OF.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D. c., October Is, 1880.
To Hon. Wade Hampton, Columbia,
sc.
/ have to acknowledge the receipt of
tOuT uOtc vi TIC uTSt ilst., Ed1utu ult
unopened by Mr.. G. Mckinley, few
ago, after my return from the
West. had this morning read what
to be an extract of a speech
made by you. published in the Charles
ton News and Courier, and upon your
general reputation as a gentleman had
denied that you had made such q speech
or written such letter as ia attributed
to you in that paper. What l stated to
you In my letter of September 81 I be-
lieve to be true, Notwithstanding your
denial, and 1t can be shown to be true
by public records and as matter of
history. As you had, long before your
letter was delivered to me, seen proper
to make public statement of your views
Of the correspondence, will give it to
the press without note or comment, and
let the public decide between us. Very
respectfully, JOHN SHERMAN.