New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-25
rptvK RIayR AyD THE KU-KLUK.

FRANK BLAIR And THE hO-hLOA'
A correspondent of The Cincinnati CONNER
ciaI, writing from Nashville on the 18th, gives
lis history of the organization, doings ana
designs of the Ku-Klux Khan, which he says
is compiled from sworn afiidavits now IN the
hands of prominent State officials. In this let
ter he makes the following remarkable DIS
closure
of Knoxville Tenn states that the first propo:
sIton which he ever heard looking to the overthrow OF
the State Government of Tennessee, and undong any
thing that might be done under the Reconstruction laws
Of Congress- was made in the room OF Gen; FRANK 4.
Blair, in the Lamar House. IN Knoxville. Tenn on ono, OF
about the night OF the last day OF July 1851 soon ater
Gen Blair had concluded his speech from the balcony OF
that hotel. Blair had been drinking quite freely ana
talked very freely He said that The Sdte GorernnehW
Tennessee trds unconstitutional and must be ouerdFOrh
that people must organize quietly nntil they nau
streuRth and their rights That the )enoc-
racy would certainly carry the next Presidential eecton
aud then Radicals could get no aid from the General
Government. Mr. says the conversation then
turned upon the pan and IL was agreed that Whatever
was done should be done very quietly. Gen Blair saa
he had already aud talked with many Promlnene
men and they all thought lust he did, and that ne IN
tended extending his travels furthof SoutWa,u, anu nv
would consult with other men about It, IL may n0e 10
anss 10 state here little OF history OF Frank Balrs
family relations which Will connect 0ner portous Vi '
testimony Preston Blair senior Is the son OF
Gen Francis Preston, who lived and died at ADngton,
Washington County. Virginia. Gen. Wade halnptvsnps
wife is daughter o Gen Preston and hall sister OF
y. Blair senior Gen Preston OF Kentucky Is nePneT
OF Gen. Preston OF Virginia, and consequently COUSIN VI
F. In.
what prominently in the convention which nominated
Blair il will be that they knew their man. lhs IN
formation was given by one OF the gentlemen "ho
gave me the other facts contained in this letter.
The Commercials correspondent next says that
the evidence shows that the Tennessee dele
gates to the Democratic National Convention
were in reality selected by the members OF the
X. X. X. He continues as follows:
The next proposition which came through tho klans
the line OF policy which should govern the ia otse
the election OF Seymour aud BAR III was TINS, AII
the favorable results OF the election should DC maue
known some the prominent men were 10 issue eat
10 the people elect delegates to convention 10 aneh
the state constitution, under that portion OF the Dh Oh
rights which declares that the power Is inherent III le
peOpe" The klans throughout the state were 10 see
that delegates sent up from every county IN te
state and i'm those counties where public election coud
not be held, the Kans were 70 elect them Wheh THESE
delegates assembled, II IL was found tnat tine eAsIIhs
State Government would oppose their election win Oroe
they would assemble the Kentucky line, and
i'm ease any attempt should be made to ,dlspeise
them, they would step over into kehtuchy unt
they had framed their amendments or new
constitution which they would then submit to the whole
pcope for raoaOn and at the same time provide lor
the election u officers under this constitution WHO
would Ice elected at the same time that IL woulu DC ra
ment refused abdicate the Kuklux army was 10 De
called service and induct the new Government INTO
authority and maintain there He then inserts IN ne
abatement a letter from the Hon. Edwin III. Ewing OF
printed there on the tn or last july Dut
state intimate that Mr. Living Is menDer
OF tho order That portion OF the letter which ne epha
sizes is In these words:
When ia uOrd me tchOle STATE has got into
a groove in treh rhdtercr the consequences must run
come m hich the people must reIiere Themselves by direct
and immediate action under The tTs clause OF ne Constr
tuition Of ne State II SUCH ACTION SHOULD BE RESISTED
BY FORCE, THAT FORCE SHOULD BE REFUSED.