The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-10-28

EOo SOiAAAOSo JoN1 pC1oolIhiIS "i"il
the Ku-klux Klan. Indeed, | knew
that 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 connection with
it. Still, you and your associates, the
leading men in the South, now enjoy
the benefits Of political power derived
from the atrocities Of the Ku-Klux
Klan, in which phrase I inclue all the
numerous aliases by which it has from
time to time been known in the South.
d. Your power in the Southern States
rests upon actual crimes of every
grade in the code OF crimes, from muir
der to the meanest form of ballot-boX
stuffilg, committed by the Ku-Klux-
Klan and its kindred associates; and,
as you know, some of the worst of
them committed since 1877, when you
and they gave the most solemn assur
ances Of protection to the freedmen OF
the South. These crimes are all aimed
at the civil and political rights of Re-
publicans in the South, and, as | be-
ieve, but for these agencies the very
State that you represent, as we'll 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 1873 solid Southern votes would be
cast for the Democratic ticket would
be but idle vaporing; but now we feel
that it is a sober truth. While [ have
no reason to believe that you or your
Northern associates personally partic-
ipated in the offences [ have named,
yet while you and they enjoy the
fruits Of their crimes, you may in log
ic and morals be classed as [ classed
you, as joint copartners with the Ku-
Klux Klan in policy which thus far
has been successful 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 departments OF
the Government. It is in this sense
that [ spoke of you, the Ku-Klux
Klan and the Northern Democratic
party.
Permit me in conclusion, while
frankly answering your question, to
say that the most fatal policy for the
South would be by such agencies as |
have mentioned to secure again pollt-
ical ascendency in this country, for |
assure you that the manhood and in
dependence of the North will certain
ly continue the struggle until every
Republican in the South shall have
free and unrestricted enjoyment of
equal civil and political privileges, in
cluding free ballot, free count, free
speech and free press; and the agita-
ton made necessary to secure such re-
suits may greatly affect, injuriously,
the interests of the people of the
South. Very respectfully, your obe-
bient servant, JOHN SHERMAN.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Oct. 1, 80.
SIR: Your letter has been received,
and as you do not disclaim the Ian
guage to which [ called your atten-
tion, | have only t. say that in using
it you uttered what was absolutely
false, and what you know to be false.
My address will be Columbia, South
Carolina. / am your obedent servant.
WADE HAMPTON.
The John Sherman.
".
WASHINGTON, Oct. is, 1880.
The Hon. Wade Hampton, Columbia, s. c..
SIR: [ have to acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of your note of the LIST inst,
handed me unopened by Mr.. g. Nc
Kinley, a few moments ago, after my
return from the West.
| had this morning read what pur-
ported 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 a
speech or written such letter as is
attributed to you in that paper
What [ stated to you in my letter
Of September 81 I believe to be true,
notwithstanding your denial; and it
can be shown TO be true by the 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.
The extract referred to was publish
ed in The Tribune Of October 9. It
was taken from The Charleston News
and Courier's report Of the speech
which Wade Hampton made at Mari
on, S. c., and was as follows:
Mr.. John Sherman, the Secretary
of the Treasury, said some time ago
that the people were called upon to
surrender all they possessed to Wade
Hampton and the Ku-Klux and the
small segment of the Democratic par
ty in the North. Iwrote, asking him
if he used this language. His answer
was sorewh-t equivocal, and he did
not deny associeting my name with
the Ku-Klux; and ! say now in pub
lie. as I wrote him in private, that
when he made that statement he said
what was false. It has come to a
pretty pass, my countrymen, when a
man elected to Congress and honestly
striving to do his duty under the Con-
stitution can have these base and
eroundless assaults made on him.
When MIN strikes at South Carolina
through me I shall only say to him,
as I did to Sherman, that he tells lie.
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