New-York tribune., 1868-03-24
rrPPnRLSM IN TENN ESSEE.

no little pure invention in the reports sent TO
us from Tennessee, we are still compelled to
give attention to trustworthy relations of the
anarchy and lawlessness that prevail in many
portions of the State, and especially in the ex-
tremes-the eastern mountain regions, and the
City of Memphis Within few weeks mys-
terious organization has spread over the whole
State, and its strange operations have creatcd
no little alarm. This is the Kuklux Klan,
secret organization, whose purposes are uh-
known, but whose acts have, in many instances
become matter of record. 1t is barely possible
that this order, whose members prowl at nlght
in close disguise, and issue orders, couched III
gibberish of the most incoherent, yet start
ling phrase, is only some huge
Joke; but by certain well-ascertained
facts we are led to the conclusion that there is
far more serious matter in it.. That the order,
whatever else it may be, is intensely Rebel
cannot be doubted. The truth is that, SO far
from the old spirit of prescription having died
out in the hearts of the reconstructed, it has
remained as a latent fire. ever ready to burst
forth in all its native violence. Northern
man. who believes that change of residence
does not invalidate the right or duty of taking
an interest in the politics of the day, finds
that timid, quiet Republican, who takes
no active part in the affairs of his party, Is
simply one of the common herd branded
as Radicals but let him, from talent or
energy in the cause, become candidate for
Office or a recognized leader in the Radical ranks
and at once all the vituperatOn and abuse which
might be supposed to emanate from the pur-
lieus of fishmonger's stand is hurled upon
his devoted head by the "loyal reconstructed
"press.r If a Conservative meeting is to be
held, it is almost invariably presided over and
controlled by men whose loyalty dates from
that of their parole, but who prate OF
their unfinching devotion to that Constitution
which, if rigidly adhered to, would have placed
rope about their necks. If a Conservative
convention is called to make party nominations,
and ticket made, as was the case in the late
election in Memphis, ticket that should dis
grace any party carrying the same, containing
even the names of murderers, keepers of keno
rooms, and professional gamblers, the model
press of our Tennessee model UniOnsts ex-
horts all to stand firm, extols these same can
didates to the skies as true types of COnserya-
tism, and seeks to break down the character of
every man on the Radical ticket by language
an epthets foreign to all generally conceived
ideas of respectable journalism. Even though
such journal keeps as one of its staff a man no.
tOrously reported to be deserter from the
Rebel army, a dealer in mules bearing the
mark &C. S. A." and disciple of such classic
institution as the Missouri Penitentiary for hav-
ing more wives than the laws of that State
generally allowed, still, despite all this, loyal
man of hitherto unblemished reputation must
not, dare not be an active Radical, for fear OF
having such moral guardian of the people at
tack and break down his character through the
press under his control. To such an extent
have the loyal masses been held in subsection
by such q vicious press that business man dare
not take any part with his party for fear OF
having "small-pOx branded above his door"
1t was this fell spirit of prescription that
originated the famous Ardlanche contempt
cases, in which, luckily for the loyal men IN
Memphis, the Judge of the criminal bench got
by far the best of it, though as 1t now seems,
at the imminent risk of assassination. From the
several judgments which involved penalty of
$40 fine and ten days imprisonment in each con-
tempt the Judge granted an appeal, conditioned
that one case go to the Supreme Court the rest
to be held as security for the cessation of all fur
ther attacks on the bench pending the decision.
For violation of this agreement, the editors
were incarcerated in Jail on one of tie sus-
pended judgments. A writ of habeas corpus
brought them before another Judge for hear
ing, pending decision in which the parties
were released on personal recognizance The
spirit of prescription showed itself throughout
the whole proceedings in utter contempt of all
respect for law. Violence was openly talked of
on every hand, and the daily editorials of the
press were such as were calculated to create
the most intense hatred in the breasts of all
ex- Rebels and sympathizers. A great hue and
cry has been made of soldiers being called in,
and yet there are few Union men who will |
not say that a just fear of personal violence
made their presence necessary. This is now
proved beyond doubt by most audacous
attempt at assassination of the Judge, on the
night of the 18th, in his own house. For some
days, vague whisperings leaked out here and
there of the organization of a branch of the
Kuklux Klan in Memphis, to be on the look
out for leading Radicals. Many supposed it but
designed to ntimidate blacks at the late election;
but we now see that rumors pointing to assas-
sinatiOn had some foundation. On the after
noon of the 18th Judge Hunter was told by a
colored man that he had overheard plot to
take his life that night at his house. but did
not know the parties. The Judge repaired to
the house of friend, and gave the alarm. Some
time after 10 o'clock hack drove up at his
house, the door bell was rung, and the Judge
was called for His wife answering the call, |
saw lman at the door with his hand on a
weapon while two or three comrades were still
in the hack Not finding the Judge, the party |
drove off, rcmarking with an oath, "We'll find