The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-08

out the militia, do you think there will be any
resistance offered to thei: acts ?" / asked.
the militia are simply called out, and do not
interfere with or modest any one, I do not thiuk
there will be any fight. IF, on the contrary,
they do what believe they will do, commit
outrages, or even one outrage, upon the peo-
ple, they and MIR. Brownow's government will
be swept out Of existence not radical Will be
left alive. If the militia ire called out, we can
not but look upon it as q declaration OF war,
proclamation directing them to shoot down the
Ku-Klu1 wherever they find them, and he calls
all Southern men Ku-Klut:
s.Why. General. we peoole up North have re-
garded the Ku.Klux-Klal as an organization
which existed only in the frightened imagina-
tions of few politicians"
"Well, sir, there is suchan organization, not
only in Tennessee, but all over the South, and
it's numbers have not been exaggerated.'
ssWhat are it's numbers, General p
SIN Tennessee there are over A, 600; in all
the Southern States they number about $780, 900
men," tt1. ~
"What is the character Of the organization,
may inquire" ?"
tary organization. I am Wiling to show any
man the constitution Of the society. The MEM
bars are sworn to recognize the Government of
the United States. 1t does not say ANYTHING
at ALI about the Government OF the State Of
Tennessee. It's objects originally were protec-
tion against Loyal Leaguers and the Grand
Army of the Republic, put after it became gen.
eral 1t was found that political matters and in
terests could best be promoted within it, and
il was then made o political organization, CIV
ing its supp 'rt OF course, to the Democratic
party"
out the Slater"
q captain, who, IN addition to his other
duties, is required to make out a list Of names
Of men in his precinct, giving oil the Radicals
and all tie Democrats WHO are positively
sides OF both colors. This list Of names is for
warded to the grand commander OF the State,
who is thus enabled to know who are our
friends and who are not" t'
%sCan YOU, or are you at liberty to give me
the name OF the commanding officer of this
Stute p" ,
mo it would be imp jitic."
"Ihen I suppose that there can be no doubt
of conflict if the militia interfere with the
people is that your view ?"
Eyes, sir; If they attempt to carry out Gov
ernor Brownlow's proclamation by shooting
down Ku-Klux-for he calls all Southern men
Ku-Klu1-if they go to hunting down and
shooting these men there will be war, End
bloodier one than We have ever witnessed.
have told these Radicals here what they might
expect in such an event. I have no powder to
burn in killing negroes. intend to kill the
Radicals. have told them this and more.
There is not Radical leader in thus town but
ia a marked man, and il trouble should break
ont not one oil them would be lett alive.
have told them TINT they we're trying to create
disturbance and then slip oat and leave the
consequences to fan upon the negro; but they
can't do it. Their houses are pcketsd, and
when the fight comes, not one OF them would
ever get out Of the town alive. We don't in
tend they shall ever get out Of the country.
But want it distinctly understood that am
opposed to any war, and will only fight in SELF
defence. II the militia attack us we will resist
to the last, and if necessary think l could
raise forty thousand men in FIVE days ready for
the field"
"Do you think, General, that the Ku-Klux
have besn OF any benefit to the Stste?"
..No doubt of it. Since its organization the
Leagues have quit killing and numbering peo-
pie. There are some foolish young men who
put masks on their faces and rode over the
country, frightening negroes; but orders have
been issued 10 stop that. nnd Il has ceased:
You may say urIaer a aha5 three and
shot for violations Of the orders moi to disturb
or molest people,.
ral?"
II am net; but am in sympathy and will CO.
operate with them. know that they are
charged with many crimes that they are not
guilty Of. A case in point is the killing OF Bier
field, at Franklin, a few days ago. sent man
up there specially to investigate the case and
report to me, and 1 have this letter here now,
IN which he states that they had nothing to do
with it as an Org0nlZatlon," -
s'What do you think Of negro suffrage?"
Il III opposed to it under any and all Cir
cumstances; and III our convention urged our
party not to commit themselves at all upon the
subject. If the negroes vote to enfranchise
us, + do not think would favor their dlsfran-
chlsement. We will stand by those who help
us. Aud here want you to understand dis
tlnctly lam not an enemy to the negro. We
want him here anon us; he is the only labor-
ing class we have, and, more than that, 1
would sooner trust him than the white scala
wag or carpet-bagger. When l. entered the
army took forty-seven negroes into the army
with me, and forty-fye OF them were isnrren-
dered with me. l said to them a. thestaft:
This fight is against slavery; If we lose it you
will be made tree. if We whip the fight and you
sta with me and be good boys, will set you
free. In either case you will be free.' Those
b ys STAYED with me. drove my teams, and bet
ter Confederates did not live" '---
"What do you think ID the effect OF the ams
nesty granted to your people2"
II believe that the amnesty restored all the
rights to the people. full and complete. do
not think t4at the Federal Government has
tho right to dlsfranchise any man, ut be-
lieve Tie Legislature of the States have. he
objection have to the Acknowledgement in
Tennessee is, that The Legislature which en-
acted the law had no consti utional existence,
and the law, in itself, is a nullity. Still l
would respect it until changed by law; but
there is limit beyond which mon cannot
be driven, and 1 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"