Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-12
MENrHIs. september Z, Issl

IJrUI 81 AOAA AdNb1 . tue = inst uhh
been received. 1 wrote to you on yesterday,
stating the Facts IN regard 10 the letter in the
Cincinnati Commercial, and 1 VIII send you a
copy OF a HOte OF the correspondent Wood
ward, in wbich he admits that he may have
misunderstood what / said 20 him, and prom
ises 10 correct the misstatements OF his letter.
His letter purpOrts to have reen written in
my presence, AND p:eteuds to give q detailed
repOrtU of a long conversation with me-but the
IacU is that neiLner o. these propositions is true.
The letter was not written in my presence, anu
although he pTOEi>eit TO show II to me, SO that
I might have an opportunity to correct any err
rors before Il was sent OF, he utterly failed TO
40 SO, ami l hG5 no knowledge what the letter
contained until l saw iii IN print. As 2 report OF
what ! reauy said TO him, II IS tncorIecB In
many important particulars. 1t puts state
ments in my mouth which never mads-and
IL cOiors others so as TO change their meaning
entirely.
Ku-KluX Kan, tnsJ l knew nothing positively
OF its organization, strength or objects, but
that AS was informed that its purpose was The
protection of the people from injury and inso-
Isnre, and that was, 50 lar at least in syTnpa-
thy with II. All the other assertions in regard
TO this organization which he puts into my
mouth were derived fioIn some other person.
or ID The Iauricauon vi his own brain.
sand 10 him lurJner, that l did not think
that tue single fact OF calling out the militia
vided that the militia acted in accordance with
the existing laws of the Ssate and the dictates
Of reason and humanity but that II they az
tempted 70 carry out ihe views of the Cover
nor. as / I understood them, by shooting down
AL meu whom GneN mlBQL CuOOSe 10 suspect OF
belonging 70 the ku-kIuX klan, or any other
organization, and IL the Governor should pro-
claim martial law in any part Of the State and
attempt - enforce il, Inea, that in such a
state Of affairs CIVIL war would be inevitable.
and that the people would rise up TO put an end
10 sucn outrages and usu' patiOns. And Lhatin
This event, / thought that 4O,GUO or 5000 neni in
this stats would rise 10 deieuse OF their rights.
did not.hJwever, mention the X -Klux Klan
IN This cOunection-in fact, was very cautious
in what I said TO Woodward on this or other
suDisets, as / suspec ed inst he would not
report me fahIy. am satisfied
now that he wassent here for the purpose OF
drawing me into a conversation, 20 that he
might m,srepresent what l said, and thus make
some political capital out oft. roget that !
allowed him to talk to me at all, but / cannot
feel that l am responsible for this misrepre
sentatlon, OF when he has been guilty. II all
that ] have said on political questions was re-
ported correctly, / think there wound be not1-
ing found in II which would inJure the Demo-
cratic parry, or tue Interests OF the South. 4
have, however, in all cases attempted u speak
only for myself, ana no party or person Is re-
spons!b.e Tor what 1 may have said. While 1
think tina many of the present laws OF this
State ale uncOnsituutnal, / am, and have ever
been, ready 10 uPpOIt and obey them, beIiev-
ing as 1 do that 1t will be batter TO submit to
them for a time than to attempt to Iel ist them
unuI they can be rejected by legitimate legis-
lation.
1 am, very truly, yours.
y. "a. FORREST.