308 



GEORGIA. 



of the wisest provisions in the constitution, as 

 it excludes from the halls of the Legislature a 

 question which was likely to produce more un- 

 profitable agitation, wrangling, and conten- 

 tion, than any other subject within the whole 

 range of their authority." The section of the 

 code prohibiting intermarriages between the 

 races, he said, "is neither inconsistent with, 

 nor is it repealed by, the section of the Con- 

 stitution now under consideration. It there- 

 fore stands upon the statute-book of the State 

 forever prohibiting all such marriages, and de- 

 claring them to be null and void." 



On the general policy of the law interdicting 

 marriages between blacks and whites, Judge 

 Brown said : "For myself, I do not hesitate to 

 say that it is dictated by wise statesmanship, 

 and has a broad and solid foundation in en- 

 lightened policy, sustained by sound reason 

 and common-sense. The amalgamation of the 

 races is not only unnatural, but is always 

 productive of deplorable results. Our daily 

 observation shows us that the offspring of 

 these unnatural connections are generally sick- 

 ly and effeminate, and that they are inferior 

 in physical development and strength to the 

 full blood of either race. It is sometimes 

 urged that such marriages should be encouraged 

 for the purpose of elevating the inferior race. 

 The reply is, that such connections never ele- 

 vate the inferior race to the position of the 

 superior, but they bring down the superior to 

 that of the inferior. They are productive of 

 evil and evil only, without any corresponding 

 good." 



With regard to the state of society in Geor- 

 gia during the year, and the alleged outrages 

 and political assassinations within its limits, it 

 is difficult to arrive at the actual facts in con- 

 sequence of the conflicting statements which 

 have been made and the absence of well au- 

 thenticated instances. Outrages and disorders 

 have been continually alleged by those who 

 desired to have further congressional action 

 for the reconstruction of the State, and as per- 

 sistently denied by those who were opposed 

 to this movement. At all events they formed 

 a considerable part of the ground on which 

 Governor Bullock urged the reopening of the 

 subject by the Federal Government, and on 

 which the Forty-first Congress based its meas- 

 ures for the " completion of reconstruction." 



The following letter was addressed to the 

 President by a well-known Northern Senator: 

 NATICK, MASS., May 14, 1869. ; 

 DEAR SIB : Can nothing be done to stop the out- 

 rages in Georgia? These political murders should 

 cease. Nothing animated the people more in the 

 canvass than the idea that the rebel outrages should 

 be stopped. They were checked much by your elec- 

 ;ion ; still they go on, and many of our best friends 

 say that we do nothing to stop them, and that we 

 rather say nothing about them. I fear that unless 

 something is done many of our most devoted friends 

 ill grow dissatisfied. Cannot a proclamation in 

 regard to Georgia be issued? Cannot these criminals 

 >e caught by the army and punished? I am sure 

 something should be attempted. Martial law is this 



day needed in that, the worst of all tlie States, for the 

 security of the friends of the country. 

 Yours truly, 



HENEY WILSON. 



This letter was referred to General Sherman, 

 and by him sent to General Terry, at that time 

 commanding the Department of the South, for 

 a " thorough investigation and report." After 

 making the necessary investigations, General 

 Terry submitted a report to the Lientenant- 

 General on the 14th of August. He had, he 

 stated, "reluctantly come to the cpnclu'sion 

 that the situation here demands the interposi- 

 tion of the national Government, in order 

 that life and property may be protected, the 

 freedom of speech and political action secured, 

 and the rights and liberties of freedmen main- 

 tained." This opinion, he said, was based 

 upon complaints made to him, "reports of 

 officers detached to investigate the alleged 

 outrages, and upon the statements of many 

 persons of respectability and high position 

 from different parts of the State." The follow- 

 ing paragraphs contain the substance of his 

 statements on the subject, but no instances 

 are given of the outrages and abuses alleged : 



In many parts of the State there is practically no 

 government ; the worst of crimes are committed, and 

 no attempt is made to punish those who commit them. 

 Murders have been and are frequent, and the abuse 

 in various ways of blacks is too common to excite 

 notice. There can be no doubt of the existence of 

 numerous insurrectionary organizations known as the 

 " Ku-klux Klans," who, shielded by their disguise, 

 by the secrecy of their movements, and by the terror 

 which they inspire, perpetrate crimes with impunity. 

 There is a great reason to believe that in some cases 

 local magistrates are in sympathy with members of 

 these organizations. In many places they are over- 

 awed by them, and dare not attempt to punish them. 

 To punish such offenders by civil proceedings would 

 be a difficult task, even were magistrates in all cases 

 disposed, and had they courage to do their duty, for 

 the same influences which govern them equally affect 

 juries and witnesses. * * * That very many 

 of the crimes which have been committed have no 

 political bearing, I believe ; that some of them were 

 prompted by political animosity, and that most of the 

 numerous outrages upon freedmen result from hos- 

 tility to the race, induced by their enfranchisement, I 

 think cannot be controverted. 



The same difficulties which beset the prosecution 

 of criminals are encountered by the negroes, who 

 seek redress for civil injuries in local courts. Magis- 

 trates dare not do their duty toward them, and in- 

 stances are not wanting where it has even been be- 

 yond the power of a magistrate to protect a negro 

 plaintiff from violence in his own presence, while en- 

 gaged in the trial of his case. 



After stating that the majority of the peo- 

 ple did not approve of these proceedings, and 

 that the Governor and judges of the Superior 3 

 Courts were ready to do all that came within 

 their power to secure good order and the 

 thorough execution of the laws, the general 

 gave his views regarding the remedy to be 

 adopted in the following terms : 



In conclusion, I desire to express my conviction 

 that the only way to restore good order in the State 

 is to resume military control over it for the time be- 

 ing, and ultimately to provide by law that the Legis- 

 lature shall reassemble as a provisional Legislature, 



