The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-03
An ORACLE OF THE SOUTH.
Interesting IntervIew with General N. r..
F0rrest-Half q Million Ku klux i'm the
South-PrOspect or a Civil War.


OF the Cincinnati CommerciaLI
To-day have enjoYed 'big talks" enough to have
been treating with General sherman for the past two
years. First met General N. b. Forrest, then Gen.
eral Gideon J. Pillow and Governor lsham .. Harris;
My first visit was to General Forrest, whom found
at his ONCE at eight O'Clock this morning. hard at
work, although complaining of an illness contracted
at the New York Convention.
After being seated in mis- ONCE said:--
General Forrest, came especially to learn your
ltica affairs in the State of Tennessee and the south
generally. desire them for publication. / do not
WISH TO misrepresent you in the slightest degree and
therefore only ask Tor such views as you wiling
should publlSh.n
~ have not now" he replied ''and never have
had any opinion on nypublic or political subject
which would object to having published. mean
what say, honestly and earnestly, and only object
TO being misrepresented. dislike to be placed be-
fore the country in u false position, especially as
have not sought the reputation which have gained"
@ posy q be Tep sss
Our people desire to know your feeling toward the
general government, the State government OF Ten
nessee the radical party, both In and out of the
State and upon the question of negro suffrage"
"Wel, sir,' said he, "when 1 surrendered my
seven thousand men In 1863 l accepted q paroe,
honestly. and have observed 1t faithfully up to to-
day. have cOunselled peace in all the speeches
have made. have advised my people to submit to
the laws OF the state, oppressive as they are and u
constitutional as believe them to be. was paro.ed
and not pardoned until the issuance OF the last pro-
clamation OF general amnesty, and h,refore, did
not think 1t prudent for 10 take any active part
until the oppression Of my people became 80 great
with them. My friends thought differently and sent
me to New York and am glad that went there.'
Then suppose, General, that you think the op.
preston has become great that your people should
'No" he answered; ait is growing worse hourly,
yet have said to he people, stand FAST let try TO
| right the wrong by legislation. few weeks ago
was called TO Nashville TO counsel with other gentle
! men who had been prominently identified with the
| cause of the confederacy. and then offered
pledges which we Thought would be satisfactory to
Mr.. Brownow and his Legislature, and we told
would agree to preserve order and see that the laws
| were enforced. The legislative committee GER
| tainly led me to believe that our proposition
| would be accepted and no militia organized.
Believing this l came home, and advised all Of
ance to any reasonable law. II Is true that never
have recognized the present government in Ten
ne5see as having any legal existence, yet was Will
ing submit to 1t for time with the hope that the
wrongs might be righted peaceaby.n
what are your feelings toward the federal gov
al loved the old government in 1861; love the
old constitution yet: think 1t The best government
In the world administered as II was before the war.
do not hate 1t; am opposing now only the radical
revolutionists who are trying to destroy it, believe
that party to be composed, as | know il Is In Ten
nessee, Of the worst men on Gods earth-lnen who
would hesitate at no crime and who have only one
| object IN view, to enrich themseives.v
ain the event Of Governor BrOwnlow's calling out
| offered to their acts ~ asked.
"Ihat Will depend upon circumstances. III the mill
tia simply called out and do interfere with
modest any one do not think there will be any
|
they will do, commit ourages, even one outrage,
| upon the people, they and Mr.. Brownlows govern
ment VIII be swept out or existence; not radical
win be left alive. If the militia are called out, we
cannot but look upon II as declaration OF war, be-
cause Mr.; Brown owl has already issued his preca
| men Ku Klux."
| "why, General, we people up North have regarded
| the Ku Kux Khan "a an organization which existed
only IN the frightened imagnations of a few poll
'Weil, sir there is such an organization, no, only
In Tennessee, but all over the South, and its numbers
have not been exaggerated"
what are Its numbers, Generaly"
Elm Tennessee there are over forty thousand; In all
the southern states they number about five hundred
.'what is the character OF the organization, may
inquire"
| tary organization I am willing TO show any
man the constitution OF the society. The mem.
the United States. It does not say sDythins at al
about the government OF the state OF Tennessee Its
leagues and the brand nd Army Of the Republic Snt
after IT became general II was found that political
matters and interests could best be promoted within
| It, and II was then made political organization
giving Its support Of course, to the democratic
"5ut is the organization connected throughout the
Slater" -
ayes tits. In each voting precinct there is q cap
tain, wllO In addition TO his other duties IL required
| to make out list OF names OF men In his precinct,
| giving all the radicals and all the democrats who
are positively known and showing also the doubtful
Is forw arded to the Grand Commander OF the state,
who b thus enabled to know who are our friends and
"Can you, or are you at liberty to give the name
ne cG% wnnS Gcsr 2, this State"
"Then suppose that there can be no doubt Of a
conflict II the militia Interfere with the people. Is
ayes, sir; II they attempt to carry out Governor
Browniow's proclamation, by shooting down Ku
Klux-for he calls all southern men kn Klux-if
there will be war, and bloodier one than we have
ever witnessed have told these radicals here what
| they might EXPECT IN such an event. have no pow.
der TO burn killing negroes. intend to kill the rad-
| calls. have told them this and more. There Is not
radical reader In tins town but b. marked man. and
be left alive. have told them that they trying
| TO create disturbance and then sp out and leave
the consequences TO fall upon the negro, but they
| cannot do it. Their houses are picketed and when
| the fight comes not one OF them would ever get out
get out OF the country. But want It distinctly
understood that ] am opposed to any war and will
we viii resist to the last and II necessary think
could raise forty thousand men In ave days ready for
""bo you think, General, that the Ku Klux have
been Of any benefit to the State ~ .lll Ell
mo doubt Of II. Since Its organization the
There were some foolish young men who put masks
on their faces and rode the country frightening
negroes, but orders have been issued 70 stop that,
and II has ceased. You may say further thai three
| members Of the Ku Klux have been court martiaied
and shot for violations Of tho orders not to disturb
"Are you q member ef the Ku Klux, General',
81 am not; but am In sympathy and Will cooperate
with them. know that they charged win many
crimes that they are not guilty or case 10 point Is
the killing Of Bier6ed ut Franklin, Few days ago.
I sent man up there especially 10 investigate the
4 case and report to me, and have his letter here
now In which he states that they had nothing 10 do
| with IL a. an Organization"
| "what do you think Of negro sunrageE' ....
| "T am opposed 10 u under any AMI oil clrcum-
stances; and In our convention urged our party not
to commit themselves at Oil upon The subject. 1f the
4 Il
| think would favor their Acknowledgement.
\ we will stand by those who help US. And here
| want you TO understand distinctly am not an
| enemy 10 the negro. We want him here among
| us; he Is the only laboring class we nave. and
| more than that, would sooner trust him than the
| white scalawag or csrpet-bagger. When entered
| the army took forty seven negroes into the army
| with me and forty.1ve OF them were surrendered
vim me said 90 them at the start:-asIhs nQht IA
j a.ai.a. alaxnrx. lose IL WILL made lrln.