The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-03

by shooting down Ku-klux-for ne
calls all Southern men Ku-Klux--1t
these men, there will be war, and
bloodier one than we have ever wit
messed. I have told these Radicals here
what the might expect in such an event.
hare no ponder to burn Killing negroes.
| Z intend to XII The Radicals. IhdUe tod
them this and more; there Is not a RGdt.
cal leader in this t0tDn but Is q married.
man, and If a trouble should break out.
not one of them ID0utd be left dttUe. i
have told them that they were trying
to create disturbance and then slip
out and leave the consequences to tall
upon the negro, but they can't do 1t.
Their houses are DicEeted, and GDile11 the
fight comes, not one of them Mould eveT
get ont of this tom alive. We don't In
tend they shall ever get out of the
country. But want 1t distinctly un-
derstood, that I am opposed to any war,
and will only fight in self-detense. IL
the militia attack us, we viii resist 70
the last, and If necessary. Think 1cotLLd
raise forty thousand men, IN jtUe days,
ready for the field.
"Do You think, General, that the
Ku-Rux have been of any benefit TO
the State ?"
mo doubt of it. Since its organiza-
numbering our people. Ihere are some
foolish young men who put masks on
their faces and ride over the country,
| frightening negroes but orders have
been issued to stop that, and 1t has
ceased. You may say further, that
three members of the htt-htst1 mare oeea1
court mdrtidLed and shot for violations
Sts tSS orders not 70 a's''''0 o. D'9'ssl re-
q Are you member of the Ku-Klux,
II am not; but am in sympathy and
will cooperate with them. / know
that they are charged with many crimes
that they are not guilty of. A case in
point is the killing of Bterteld, at
franklin, a few days ago. sent a man
up there especially to investigate the
case, and report to me, and have his
letter here now, in which he states that
they had nothing to do with it as an or
ganization."
"What do you think of negro suf-
frage2" - IS
Il am opposed TO it under any and
all circumstances; and in our conven-
| ton urged our party not to commit
themselves at all upon the subject. If
/ the negroes vote to enfranchise us, do
not think I would favor their distran-
/ chisement, We will stand by those
| who help us. And here wantyou to
understand distinctly, am not an enc
my 10 the negro; we want him mere
among us; he is the only laboring class
sooner trust him than the white scala
wag or carpet-bagger. When enter
ed the army, 1 took forty seven negroes
| into the army with me, and forty-hVe
OF them were surrendered with me.
said to them at the start: This fight
is against slavery; if we lose it you will
be made free, If we whip the fight, and
you stay with me and be good boys,
will set you free. In either case you
will be free.' Those boys stayed with
me, drove my, teams, and better Con-
federates did not live"
"Do YOU think the Ku-Klux will try
10 intimidnte the negroes ut tho cleo
iion?"
~ do not think they will. Why 1
made speech at Brownsville the other
day, and while there, u lieutenant, who
served with me. came and Informed me
that band of Radicals had been going
through the country, claiming to be ku
Klux, and disarming the negroes, and
then selling their arms. Itold him TO
have the matter Investigated, and II
true, to have the parties arrested"
"What do you think is the effect of
amnesty granted to your people.
81 believe that the amnesty restored
all the rights to the people. full and
complete. do not think the Radical
Government has the right to disfran-
chise any man, but 1 believe the Legis-
latures of the States have. The objection
L have to the Acknowledgement in Ten
nessee is, that the Legislature which
enacted the law had no constitutional
existence, and the law, in itself, Is Il
nullity. Still 1 would respect it until
changed by law but there is limit be-
yond which men cannot bedriven, ana
/ am ready TO die sooner than sacrifice
my honor. This thing must have an
end, and it is now about time for that
end to come"
"What do you think of General
Grant? ?" asked.
81 regard him as IA great military
commander, good man, honest and
liberal, and if elected will, hope and
believe, execute the laws honestly and
faithfully. Aud by the way, a report
has been published in some OF The pa
pers, stating that while General Grant
and lady were mt Corinth, in 1862, they
took, and carried off, furniture and
other property. here brand the au.
thor as liar. 1 was at Corinth only
short time ago, andI personally in
vestigated the whole matter, talked
with the people with whom he and his
lady lived while there, and they say
that their conduct was everything that
could have been expected of gentle
man and lady, and deserving the high
est praise. i am opposed to General
Grant in everything, but would do
him justice"
The foregoing is the principal part OF
my conversation with the General.
give the Conversation, and leave the
reader to form his own opinion as to
what General Forrest means to do. 1
think that he has been SO plainin his
talk that it can not be understood.