National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-05-01

AAhehe &S fhsU, '''-S ~AV~'
en- up few nights since, and from
the constitution and other dOcu.
ments which were captured, some
interesting facts have been learned
respecting the order. The name of
the "Chapter," was the "Supreme
Cyclopean Council" On the centre
table appeared a human skull, used
in administering the oath to men,
bers. The constitution says: "The
object of this organization is Tor the
purpose Of protecting the people of
the South from the band of murder,
els and ROBBERS now preying upon
them, even to the last resort, assas
sinatiOn, and we pledge ourselves
one to the other that nOta ng shall
be allowed TO deviate us from this
noble Object.n when q candidate is
admitted, the constitution further
says: "TlIe members of the lodge,
all shrouded, will rise and receive
him, and conduct him to the middle
Of the room. Each member of the
order shall have a drawn dagger or
other wea. ION in his hand, pointed
toward the candidate, and each
member will be required, in the
presence of the candidate to swear
that should said candidate prove
recreant to the oath which he is
about to take, that he will kill him,
and make it his especial duty to do
so OH the first safe OPPORTUNITY
After being admitted the candidate
is compelled to subscribe so long an
oath, Of which the following is the
closing part: IL further swear that
all radicals and negroes who have
placed themselves opposite to the
interests of the owners Of the soil
of Tennessee shall forever he my
enemy, and that under no circum-
stances will l have ether connection
with them, if | can help it, than to
welcome them with bloody hands
to hospitable graves That my
family aud the family of a radical
shall never interchange visits. Aud
further pray that the God of the
Southland, whom l now invoke,
shall strike me dead should l ever,
either in letter or in spirit, infringe
upon the things set forth in this
oath. To all of which | swear in
honesty of heart and sincerity OF
purpose. So help me God" The
grip, pass words, sign, &c, were
likewise ferretcd out by the author
tiles The klan was organized a,
New York, by Tennessee conserva
tives, and first put into operation in
the town OF Pulaski, in the latter
State.
The New York Herald has wha,
processes to be an official cOmmuni
cation from some dignitary of the
Ku Klux klan, setting forth the Or
igin and purpose of the Klan, from
which it would appear that the or.
ganization numbers over seven hun
dred thousand members, and tina i,
is spread over the whole country
from Maine to the Gulf Of Mexico
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
OUly white citizens of the Unitet
States can become members, ant
, radicals, negroes and infdels cannot
The meaning given to the term Kl
Klux Klan is a "circle OF friends,
which first organized in Gileseoun
ty, Tenn, in August, 1866, and wa
an absOlu, ecessity, result ng frOn
, the tyranny, domination and ag
!. eressiOn Of the Brownlow Legisla
.ure."
/. The communication closes thus:
|, Until recently, however, the on
emies of the Ku Klux klan pos
c sessed the Government and wielde'
4 its mighty powers. They possess j
itO.day, but only in name not il
reality. Let the tyrants of mon
? grel and UNANIMOUSLY corrupt part.
!. beware! Your party is but a shell
The castle Of radicalis,n has bee
e permeated and undermined by th
white ant of the Ku klux.
r The Ku KlHx klan is, therefore
s a secret political organization, tn
r result Of necessity, the sole Objec
Of which is to thwart radicallsm. ri
n rest negro domination in the Soutf
negro equality in the North, perpcl
e uate the Federal Union, and pre-
serve the Constitution as the father
= made it; and whoever asserts
4. the contrary utters falsehood. Th'
le the Ku klux Klan have secrets III
ID known to the initiated is not dcnie'
SO have the ancient order OF Ere
g. Masonry, Odd Fellowship, and ot|
z. er secret orders and societies bh
A like Free Masonry and Odd FellO,
it ship, the objects and purposes OF Il
c. Ku Klux Khan have thus, for Il
first time, been officially pr0mnlga
$. ed. The incredulous and guilt
~ may carp and mlsrepresent; bl
the wicked, the ungodly, and u
periurcd, will soou feel the keen edi
m of the sickle and the invisible be
az ing Of the white ant"
~ The frightful prospect held out
20 these sentences must make the ri
~ iaals in Congress, and their su
=" porters at home, shake in their boo,
tc In the words OF another, "as Belt
a. heczcr did when Paul said to Moss
Iv thou art the man!''
l,s -
TO II fnrtune has PLAYED false wi