Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1871 — The Ku-Klux Investigation. [ARTICLE]

The Ku-Klux Investigation.

Washington, July 29. The Sub Ku-Klux Committee, consisting of Senator Scott and Representatives Stevenson and Van Tramp, reached Washington to-day, returning from a sojourn of four weeks in various parts of South Carolina, where they have been investigating Ku-Klux outrages on the spots where they occurred. They first visited the capital, Columbia. More than 100 refugees, who had fled from violence in various counties, where there; but after examining witnesses for two days, the committee determined to go closer to the scenes of alleged violence, and went to Spartensburg. They expected to remain there three or four days, but stayed eleven. When word got out through Spartansburg [Spartensburg] County that they were there, whites and negroes, vica file of the South Carolina Spartan, a Democratic newspaper, forty-two such cards were found recently published. At Unionville the committee remained two days. Not an avowed white Republican was found in the place, though members of the committee were privately assured by a few that they would avow themselves if protected. The terror of the negroes here is complete. The last election was carried by a Republican majority, but the Republican county officers received Ku-

Klux notices, and all resigned or fled. The policy there had been more toward murder, and less toward whipping. The killing of ten negroes, taken from jail by several hundred Ku-Klux, acting under a military organization, was investigated. A prominent lawyer of the place, Mr. Shard, Democrat, on cross-examination, startled the committee by stating that he believed almost every respectable unmarried man in the community belonged to the KuKlux, and he believed 1,000 Ku Klux were within a day’s march of that village. A negro Methodist preacher, named Louis Thompson, who had an appointment on June 11th at Goshen Hill Church, in Union Countv, received a Ku-Klux notice, in the usual form, not to preach. He preached, notwithstanding, to a very few, most of the congregation fleeing when they saw the notice. In the evening a Klan of twenty mounted Ku-Klux came, tied him and whipped him, led him off several miles, dragging him part of the way tied to horses, whipped him again until death relieved him, mutilated him in a way that cannot with propriety be described, hung time of violence, came in by scores, every day, from all directions. Murders and cruel whipping by Ku-Klux bands had so terrified them that in many neighborhoods nearly every negro man and Republican white man had slept in the woods every night for months. They showed scarified backs, gun-shot wounds, maimed ears, and other proofs of violence they had suffered. In Limestone Springs township 118 cases of whipping were proved. The committee awoke every morning to find in the yard by the hotel a new crowd of victims of Ku-Klux, some including whites, who had suffered outrages which cannot be described with decency. After being whipped, the victims, well-known persons, were often commanded, under pain of death, to publish a card renouncing the Republican party. In him, and threw his body into the Tiger River, leaving a notice forbidding any one to bury him. Before the committee returned Senator Scott sent Thompson’s brother, now a refugee from Columbia to Union County, with a letter to ensure him a strong guard of United Stales cavalry to go to bury the body, which is reported to be still lying, half decomposed on the water’s edge. Two more days were spent in examining witnesses in Columbia, on returning from Spartansborg. One day was occupied in hearing statements and general views of General Wade Hampton and General Butler, Democratic candidate for Governor last fall. The committee then visited York County, where they remained nearly a week. They discovered at Yorkville a bitter spirit among the white citizens. At supper at the hotel on the evening of their arrival, Major James Berry threw a pitcher of milk over Hon. A. S. Wallace the Representative of the District, and Hon. J. E. Stevenson, of the committee. They were just seating themselves at the table, and not a word had been spoken. Mr. Wallace jerked out a revolver and raised it to shoot Berry. Ladies were screaming, but the landlord threw himself before Berry, and Mr. Stevenson coolly caught Wallace’s hand, and ordered the landlord to take that man out of the room. Half a dozen friends gathered around Berry, and he went out. In the course of an hour several citizens of prominence called to apologize, in the amplest manner, on behalf or Berry, who was willing to go on his knees, if required, for what he alleged was an unintentional affront to Mr. Stevenson. It was subsequently ascertained that the business had been discussed by Berry and his friends during the afternoon. It was to be carried out, and Berry had proposed to use hot coffee, but finally concluded on milk. A colored band serenaded the committee. Later in the evening a crowd of young white men filled the porch of the hotel, and were about the band, frequently cursing the negroes and Yankees. As the band went away the crowd followed, and nearly filled the sidewalks. The band and those with it who were negroes were kept by two village policemen from the sidewalk. One negro was thrust off by a policeman, who says the negro resisted and struck him. A negro and two white men, who were close by, say the negro struggled to get away from the grip of the policeman who seized, cursed, and struck him, The policeman fired at the negro, and continued firing until he had inflicted five wounds. The man was still living when the committee left The testimony taken showed that both of the policemen and the Mayor were members of the Ku-Klux. No one was arrested. The community in York County was found in almost utter social and political demoralization, the civil authorities being a useless farce and mockery. Col. Merrill, in command of a small force stationed there, an officer of high character and great energy, laid before the committee the details of sixtyeight cases of outrage which he had investigated, some of them most revolting and horrible. It was found impossible for the committe to examine more than a small part of the crowds of whipped, maimed, or terror-stricken wretches that flocked in upon hearing of their coming. When the committee adjourned the building in which they had sat was filled—stairs, halls, and porches—with those waiting to be heard. The usual course pursued on arriving at a place was to divide the time they expected to remain between the majority and minority of the committee. Judge Van Tramp usually called two or three of the most prominent lawyers, who each occupied several hours, setting forth the Democratic views of affairs, giving their opinions on the relations of the two races, the inefficiency and corruption of the State Government, and the feeling of the white people toward the General Government. They always said they had heard of KuKlux, but never saw one. Generally, they seemed to regard them as a kind of vigilance committee or irregular local police. They did not consider them under general organization, but simply to repress outbreaks. The majority then called for those who had seen and felt Ku-Klux, The oaths, forms, proceedings in Klan councils, and modes of operation when on raids, were fully developed. Scores of men whom the proof showed to be KuKlux were examined, all of whom except a few whose disclosures were full and important, denied any knowledge whatever of Ku-Klux. One, who was shown to have been in several outrages, swore that he had never heard of the existence of Ku-Klux in his life. Judge Van Tramp subjected all witnesses called by the majority to the most searching crow-examina-tion. The committee to-day adopted a resolution for the appointment of a sub-committee of three members, to hear the testimony of a few witnesses now on their way to Washington, when an adjournment will take place until September 10. . ———♦-●-♦——— A Chicago merchant offers for sale apples and peaches, “every one warranted to contain a prize."

Prod Geo. \% Hosts of tho Stale University Vas accepted tlie appointment of President of tlic Kansas Slalo Normal School and Si-ill start to that State neat week to enter upon the discharge of Ills duties. The elections in Kentucky last Monday resulted, as was expected, in a Democratic victory, by a majority of from 20,000 to 30,000. A Democratic loss since the last Gu- ( born a tori .il election of from 40,000 to 00,000. The editor of the Loganeport Democratic Pharos recently took a * bath and then tells all about it in the next issue of his paper. We’ll bet that if he cleaned himself the water out of the bath would kill potato bags. An Indianapolis photographer named Fisher Doherty is now in the Spirit photograph business and offers to bet from one to five and dollars that they can't catch him at it, and will pay one lmndred dollars expenses to tho artist who detects the trick. The Knox Ledger is informed that the grading on tho Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific railroad is progressing at the rate of a mile a day and Knox is full of strangers, ninny of them looking for locations to go into some kind of business. “in hoc sigtio vincit'l says the Iventland Democrat and again places us on its exchange list. Hope there is no harm meant in the Irish quotation. You certainly wouldn’t betray confiding innocence and blast the reputation of an unprotected orphan! * -nr* The Ligonier Banner thinks that the next Governor of Indiana will be named DePauw. After the reccnt exploits of the State Printer one would naturally suppose that the people of this. State would be careful about depaws of Democracy ■o close to the public treasury. The Cincinnati Enquirer contends that there is no stuck thing as everlasting punishment and that the death of the sinner is complete—utter extinction. To Dick Bright, Ekey and other Democratic lights, this doctrine will be peculiarly acceptable and soothing, and we expect that the circulation of the Enquirer will be largely increased while it continues to encourage its friends with tjiis doctrine.

Stolz, he of the huge posters, sallow complexion and store clothes, is, as we see by a letter from him to one of our citizens, fearfully and wonderfully angry about our playful allusions to him in our last issue. The letter w'c published last week was sent us by a friend who thought it his duty to have it published and In some degree protect this community against a man that he considered a dangerous quack sailing under false colors. The Indianapolis Journal offers a reward of one thousand dollars for a copy of any speech made by Mr. Hendricks during the rebellion in which he took decided ground in favor of suppressing tbe rebellion by force of arms. The Journal is safe in the offer. If Mr. Hendricks had aiade any such speeches the Democracy of Indiana would not cordially endorse him as they did at the last meeting of their State Central Committee unless he had, like Frank Blair, repented it, for without repentance of words spoken in favor of the Union and against rebellion, the Democratic grave was so deep that not even the ladder of the “new departure” could raise him out. No one will claim tbe reward. Last issne of the Kentland Dtmocrat contained a half column leader exalting over the report that Kkey, the absconded Democratic Auditor of Newton county, had succeeded in victimizing Mr. Alfred Thompson, of this place, with SBOO of spurious couuty orders. When it is remembered that the editor of the Democrat by his vote and influence helped place Ekey in a position where he could swindle people without much trouble, and when it is further remembered that the same editor advertised himself as a partner with the scoundrel even after be had left tbe country and his operations were publicly known, *peh articles appear in very bad taste even if* people are charitable enough not to suspect their author a party benefited by the rascality lie applauds.

The Ashland (Nebraska) Times is for sale. A good cliauco for some printer who wishes to purchase an office in that State. The Kankakee Valley Draining Company has published a 38-page pamphlet, giving a description of the country through which their proposed work is to ho made, a copy of the mortgage of tho assessed benefits and a copy of their bonds. Mr. Glidden kindly sent us two copies of this pamphlet whioh any person interested can see by calling at this office. Wc have received a circularJrom the “Victoria League” which proposes to unite the progressive portion of the American people into a political party of equal rights, consisting of both Rexes. The “Victoria League” nominates as the next President of the United States and, expects to elect Mrs. Victoria C. Woodhull, of New York. We dont think we could go the candidate. Vic. is probably a very nice woman and quick as chain lightning, but then wouldn’t her two husbands be rather in the way of her discharging tho duties of tho office. Iu our opinion the Woodhulls, Claflino, Bloods and other suckers* that surround and support this ticket would be worse leeches than the Democratic papers have made out that the Grant and Dent families are to the present administration.