The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-08-07
REPU BLIC AN
KH-KIUX KI,AN.

This Southern Democratic organ
ization, composed of rebel soldiers
and which is general over the South
has been committing so many out
RACES in Tennessee against Union
men, white and colored, that the
Governor of that State called a spe
clal meeting ofthe Legislature to con
slider what should be done. Previous
to calling the Legislature together
Gov. Brownlow had received letters
from prominent citizens in different
parts of the State, asking for protec
ton from the outrages of the X. K
X. He had asked Gen. Thomas fol
troops for these localities and had
furnished them for portion OF
the rebellious places, but he could
not spare sufficient for all.
In his message to the Legislature,
he gives the general character of the
Ku. Klux Khan organization and some
of its, acts and calls upon the Legis-
lature to take some measure to blot
out these organizations and make it
safe for citizens to reside in any part
of the State. He also says that he
has been appealed to by prominent
men of both parties to urge upon the
Legislature the propriety OF Iemov-
ing political disabilities formerly i'm
posed upon q large class Of rebels.
But he says "the conduct of this class
Of people has been and is such that ]
donot feel justified in making this
recommendation. They have a mil
itary organization in this State, whose
avowed object is to trample the laws
under foot and force the party in
power to enfranchise themselves and
their sympathisers. 1 cannot stultify
myself by yielding to this request. ac-
companied by threats of violence
If the members of the General As
sembly are alarmed for their safety
and feel disposed to sue for peace
upon the terms proposed by an armed
mob, they will, of course take a diff
ferent view of the subject. ANY
of this kind, if made
at all. should be at a regular, and
not at a called session of your body.
And whether such recommendation
and corresponding action thereupon
shall be deemed wise at your ad-
journed meeting in November next,
can be then more safely determined,
by strictly observing the conduct of
these unreconstructed Ku- -Klux rebels
and their sympathizing supporters
between this time and that" The
seemed inclined to act
from the suggestions OF the Gov
ernor's message and il need be call
out the militia to suppress outrages,
and certain leading rebels appeared
before the Legislature to try to set
lie the matter in another way. Con-
Generals Cheatham, Quarles,
Forrest, Smith, johnson,
,tc., etc, held a long conference with
he House Committee in regard to
he affairs of the State. They
pledged themselves to use their per.
'onal influence to sustain the State
enforce laws as they ,
we're, and to put down lawlessness.
They also asked that the legislature
emove the political disabilities rest
ng upon 3 certain class Of people.
They were infOrned by the Commit
ee if these citizens conducted them |,
elves as they should, there would I
e undoubtedly an early removal of
be disability.
Thus rests the matter in Tennes- :
ee. How it will finally result. the a
lture must decide. One thing is 4
ertain, however-rebels will not =
,rce themselves into power by Ku- 7
lux outragss. Neither will they lv