Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-24
OUTRAGES In THE SOUTH.
TLs loyal Leaguers and the Ku-Rlux
sen Meade's Order Against Secret
Societies.

-szSR Meade's Order Against secret
Societies.
From the Montgomery (A1a) Mail.
A military man gets along very well
until he begins to give reasons for what he
does. He is then all at sea. If he is a
man of good sense and good heart, he is
apt to do right, but, like the backwoods
justice, he is sure to give the wrong reason
for doing right, if he ever attempts to give
a reason. Thus Gems. Meade and Shep-
herd, both clever men, they say, and both
certainly brave men, have given the wrong
reason for their orders against the publi
cation, by printing, writing and speaking,
OF language calculated to excite the people
and cause violations Of law. The general
tenor Of the letter is entirely proper, for
there is no doubt that, since the eatrapies
we're established, violent language has been
used unfortunately, and has caused much
trouble But Gems. Meade and Shepherd,
give a wrong reason for their order when
they attribute the outrages and laWlessness
prevalent in the South to a secret society
known ss the Ku-Klux Klan. No sensible
man believes 10 the existence of any such
society. No such society can be found.
1t has existed only in the local columns of
only because it made bad men uneasy, and
played upon the superstition Of the negro.
But there ID a society which has an exist
ence, and 10 which hundred outrages are
directly traceable-a society which teaches
the negro to hate his former master which
has guarded the highways with sentinels
vino fire upon passing citizens which
marches to the polls with guns and which
clamors about the gates of Jail yards, and
threatens the persona of officers Of the
law. This Loyal League society has ex-
isted three years in Gen. Meade's district
yet il is not given az the reason why out
RACES are committed. An innocent alb
surdity which has no existence is saddled
with the crimes which justly lay at the
door of the leagues and the malicious
adventurers and incendiaries who have
stirred up the whole community TO blood
shed are pointed out as the victims. Our
files are full of Loyal League outrages.
In Justice to good officers like Meade,
Hayden and Shepherd, we have no hesita-
tion in saying that after Gems. Pope and
Swayne were removed from this district,
and after the opponents of Radicalism
organized throughout the State, the lea
guers ceased to threaten and commit
violence upon the persons of those who
differed from them in politics. Yet in
other districts they continue their work.
For Gen. Meade's eaiicatiou we republish
the following extract from the Crockett
(TeXas) Sentinel, which lies upon our
table,
Saturday night, after the Loyal League
had adjourned, about 12 o'clock, a large
party Of negro fellows entered the yard of
our toWnsman, Mr. w. H. Cundiff, tied
their horses to his shade trees, entered his
parlor, and spent the night Mr.. Cuudiff
was from his home at the time, and the
house was occupied by Mrs Cnndiff, and
her little children, who passed night of
narrowing torture and suspense. knowing
not what fendish deed the ruffians would
attempt We believe, aud it is the opinion
of this community, that the negroes we're
induced to this act by the white members
OF this hell.born fraternity as a deliberate
insult to Mr.. Cundiff's family. 1t is an
outrage that demands retaliation, one that
the law is inadequate to reach, and that
will demand the attention of the com
munity. We believe that the peace and
safety Of our community demand the sup
preston of this internal institution"
Such incidents as this related by the
Sentinel were of daily occurrence in this
district before Gen. Mesde's arrival.
Under the patronage and protection Of that
puritsnicsl Joseph Surface, - Gen. SSa-
nev, Conservative negro was mobbed by
league negroes in the streets of Mont
gomery-an assault was made by league
negroes upon the Sherifis Of Antauga and
Lowndes-a wagon load Of muskets was
driven by league negroes to the polls at
Barbour-an assault was made BIZ league
negroes upon the jsil Of Mscon-and Con-
servative citizens by scores were driven by
leagues from half a dozen counties Of
North Alabama. Not a single anti-Kn-
kluI order was issued during that whole
time. Lawlessness was allowed 10 run
riot. Races were melted against each
other. Homes were made comfortless.
Women ard children were made miserable.
A thorn was planted in every mans side,
and a cup of gall placed at every mans
lips People who wished to see the laws
executed were doomed 10 see the laws fla
grantly violated at every croSs-road; and !
the violstors If negroes, were protected !
either by the Bureau officers OF by the
cowed magistrates who feared the displeas-
ure Of their masters. The results OF this
have not all passed away-bnt the results
are due to no particular political party OF
society. They are due to a bitterness en-
gendered by the accumulated wrongs in
iicted upon the State by the infamous
swanye and his political Burean for Freed
men. The killing Of bad man at Colum-
bus by set of naked men was an outrage
against Law, bat Gen. Meade has no right
10 lay it al the door Of the political party
which opposes Radicalism, and he has no
right 70 proclaim to the world BY ia9eado
that every other outrage in his department
is attributed to the Conservative party,