Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-09-09
Wharf.-The rebel Forrest thinks
Ofthe situation.

to learn your views IN regard to thu
condition of your civil and p~olitics
affairs in the state of Tennessee, anC
the south generally. l desire them
for publication in the Cincinnati Com
msrciaL. l do not wish to misrepresent
you in the slightest degree, and there
fore only ask for such views as you are
willing l should publish"
81 have not now" he replied, "snd
never have had any opinion on any
public or political subject which ]
would object to having published.
mean what 1 say, honestly and earnest.
iy, and only object TO being misrepre.
scented. 1 dislike to be placed before
the country in a false position,
especially as l have not sought the
reputation which l have gained"
replied: "Sir, l will publish only
what you say, and then you csnnot
possibly be misrepresented. Our people
desire to know your feelings toward
the general government, the state
government of Tennessee, the radical
party. both in and out of the state,
and upon the question of negro suf-
frage."
well. sir" said he, "when 1 sur
rendered my seven thousand men in
1865 ] accepted a parole, honestly, and
have observed it faithfully up to to-day.
[ have ~counseled peace in all the
speeches l have made. Ihave advised
my people to submit to the laws of the
state, oppressive as they are, ~unconsti-
tutionai as / believe them to be. l
was paroled and not psrdoned until
the issuance of the last proclamation
of general amnesty, and therefore did
not think it prudent for me to take
any active part until the oppression of
my people became so great that they
could not endure it, and then l would
be with them. Ny friends thought
differently, and sent me to New York,
and | am glad that l went there"
Then, l suppose, General, that you
think the oppression has become so
great that your people should not long
er bear it?"
NO." he answered, SIT is growing
worse hourly, yet l have said to the
people, stand fast, let US try to right
the wrong by legislation. few weeks
ago l was called to Nashville to counsel
with other gentlemen who had been
prominently identified with the cause
of the Confederacy, and we then offer
ed pledges which we thought would be
satisfactory to Mr.. Brownlow and the
legislature, and we told them that, if
they would not call out the militia we
would agree to preserve order and see
that the laws were enforced. The
legislative committee certainly led me
to believe that our proposition would
be accepted, and no militia organized.
Believing this, l came home and adj
vised all of my people TO remain peace
full, and offer no resistance to any
reasonable law. It'll true that l never
have recognized the present govern
ment of Tennessee as having any legal
existence, yet l was willing to submit
TO it for a time, with the hope that the
wrongs might be righted peacefully"
What are your feelings toward the
federal government, General?"
81 loved the old government in 1861,
[ love the old constitution still. |
think it is the best government in the
world if administered as it was before
the war. l do not hate it; l an op-
now the Radical revolutionists
VINO are seeking to destroy it. l be-
lleve that party to be composed, as l
know il is in Tennessee, of the worst
on Gods earth-men who would
hesitate at no crime, and who have
only n object in view-to enrich
themselves"
"In the event of Governor Brownlow
Il the militia, do you think
there will be any resistance offered to
acts ?" | asked.
That will depend upon circumstan-
ces. If the militia are simply called
out, and do not interfere with or modest
any one, 1 do not think there will be
any fight. II, on the contrary, they do
what | believe they will do, commit
outrsges or even n outrage upon the
people, they and Mr.. BreUHLoU's govern
meHt l0H Be S10spt out Of existence; not a
Radical DiH be left aHve. If the militia
are called out, we cannot but look upon
it as a declaration of war. because Mr..
Brownlow has already issued his proc
lamation directing them to shoot down
the Ku-Klux wherever they find them,
and he calls all southern men Ku-
Rlux."
why, General, we people up north
have regarded the Ku-Klux Khan as
organization which existed only in
the frightened imaginalions of a few
politicians"
lion, not only in Tennessee, but ali
over the south and its numbers have
not been exaggerated"
what are the numbers, General ?"
an Tennessee there arc oUer forty hous-
and; in all the southern states they number
about foe hundred and fifty thousand men,"
what is the character of the organ
%ization, may l inquirer"
Eyes, sir. 1t is a protective, politi-
cal, military organization. l am willing
to show any man the constitution of
the society. The members are sworn
to recognize the government of the
United States. It does not say any
ching at all about the government of
the state of Tennessee. Its objects
originally were protection against loyal
leagues and the grand army of the Re-
public, but after it became general it
was found that political matters and
interests could best be promoted with
in it, and it was then made a political
organization, giving its support, of
course, to the Democratic party"
"But is the organization connected
throughout the slate?"
Yes, it is. In each voting precinct
there is a captain, who, in addition TO
his other duties, is required to make
out a list Of names of men in this pre-
ciDct, giving all the radicals and all the
Democrats who are positively known,
and showing also the doubtful on both
sides and OF both colors. This list of
names is forwarded to the grand com
mander Of the state, who is thus ens-
bled to know who are our friends and
who are not"
"Can yoI, or are you at liberty 10
give me the name of the commanding
officer of this statei"
"No, it would be impolitic."
"Then l suppose there can be no
doubt of a conflict if the militia inter-
fere with the people; is this your
viewi"
ayes, sir, if they attempt to carry
out Governor Brownlow's proclamation,
by shooting down Ku-Klux-for he
calls all southern men Ku-Klux-for
they go hunting down and shooting
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