The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-04-16
THE TxVJBx.KLEJx.KLAN.

4 We are of the opinion that the Southern rebels
/ instgated by the Northern Democracy will vevel
cease their outrages until they are extermnated
( There Is now wide spread secret organization
all over the South, whose sworn object is tht
murder of Union men, white and black. II !.
said that she naInc Kuk- Klux-Klan is derived
! from the sound made in cooking and discIarging
a rife, indicating that all opponents are TO be
shot on sight.
The same party that got up the rebel lion--the
party that starved Union prisoners to death, aud
made ornaments of the bones of Union soldiers
the party that rejOiced at Union defcats-the
party that murdered the President of the United
Stote5--the same party that is now operating ex-
teusively in the South, and one Of lis last per-
fomances Is thus described in a letter in the
Washington Chronicle;
CoLUMBrs, Ga, March 81, 1868.
lion. j. W, Fo,Rey:
DEAR SIR-One Of the most brutal and iuhu-
man events ever recorded By mortal pen occurred
IN this city about o'clock this morning A large
mass meeting was held here last night in Tenn
perance Hail. for the purpose of listening to u
speech fr ON the Rev. Henry NJ. Turner, colored.
About eighteen hundred persons were crowded
into the spacious room, goodly share of whom
were whites. The speaker was accompanied on
the platform by the Hon. q. W. Ashburn, Hon j..
A. Caldwell, Rev. Z. W. Parker, aud a few lead
ing colored men.
The speaker (Mr. Turner) held his aud ence
entraneed for over two hours, and his speech was
regarded by both white and colored as one of his
best efforts. lie was frequently interrupted by
the heartiest applause from all parties, even the
bttercst rebels admitting that he made many
GOOD points in his allusiOns to the Democratic
party. At about 1l11 o'clock the assemblage
dispersed and everybody seemed in the best of
humor Ihaye never known meeting in this
place TO break up in better spirit than this did.
The after-part Of the programme, however, had
not been played. Laughter and cheering were
made TO give place to other emotions and feel
ings, and these were Of the basest and most fend-
description
Col. Ashburn left the hall in company with the
others and went to his boarding bouse. After
writing few letters to some of bis friends in re-
gard to the prospect ofratifying the Constitution
he had doue so much in helping to frame, he re-
tired to his bed. Alas! how short was his repose
Only few moments thereafter and the house
was completely surrounded with a number of
iends in human shape In every conceivable dis
guise, with black faces made TO cover the black
ness Of their deeds. They broke down the DOORS
rushed in upon him, and after lighting few par
lor matches, commenced firing balls from sever
al loaded pistols until they had riddled him almost
to pieces, and finally stabbed him several times
with their bowle-kniyes. In the meanwhile Ash
burn attempted to escape at one of the DOORS
but was met by some of the same villains, and,
in trying TO fly from their grasp, was either
knocked down or shot back until he was fearfully
bruised and literally torn to pieces with ba lis,
from the effects of which he died.
Hon. G. w. Ashburn was man Of excellent
attainments and of irreproachable character
The only fault any one could charge him with
was his loyalty TO his country, and the belief that
Congress was right in Its plan of reconstructng
the South. The rebels had threatened to kill
him on several occasions, simply because he was
allied TO Congressional reconstruction.
None of these devils have been found, and It
appears to have been a concerted thing between
the parties themselves and the police. Every
body knows, lift had been otherwise, 80 many
pistol fires, screams Of the women, &C., would
have aroused the police, The negroes are much
excited this morning, and II would take but lit
tie to avenge his death. They arel coming In
from the country, and the sober white men are
much exercised