The New York herald., 1868-09-12
rnE rrxNEssfE YiRoupLEs.
Address to the President by the Tennessee
Committee.

Address to the President by the Tennessee
Committee.
This morning the Tennessee Legislative Commit
tee had an interview with the President by formal
appointment. IL continued for more than one hour.
As the reporters OF the press were excluded few
particulars of the interview could be ascertained,
except the following address, which was read to the
President by Mr. wiseman, chairman of the CON-
mittee:-
To His Excellency ANDREW JOHNSON, President OF
the United States:-
We have been appointed O committee by the Le-
gislature Of Tennessee 10 wait upon you and place
fully before you the present condition OF anairs IN
that state and urge upon you 10 take steps TO give
protection to the aw-abiding citizens OF the state,
United States. We now address you in the discharge
of the duty imposed upon US by the action OF the
TO be done by us is to place before you fully the
present condition OF affairs in Tennessee. TO do
this, Mr. President would take more time
and space than consistent with writ
ten communication prepared as this necessa-
riy has been. We can only touch upon the
more prominent affairs OF our state. FIRST
Mr.. President you are aware that the Legislature OF
Tennessee has been called together in extra session
and has not yet adjourned. The main object In call.
Ing u together by the Governor, "a indicated In
ms message, was that IL might pass laws calling out
secret organization known as the Ru Klux Klan,
which were deemed necessary by his Exceency 10
suppress such illegal associations. That necessity
exists for military protection IN some portions OF
That state the Legislature and committee fully con-
cur. mat there ~ sucn an organization as the Ku
klux Klan Is now beyond question 10y recent public
auestatOn, made by authority or with the assent OF
distnguished general Oflcer Lieutenant General
H. N Forrest, OF the sO-called Confederate states.
has stated there forty thousand members OF this
association IN Tennessee. As TO the objects and pur.
poses of the organization they eau only be known
ny their acts and sayings while in their masks and
fho-tiy uniforms they take ont citizens and Mil
theul-some 10y hanging some by shooting and
some by INC sternet and more certain plan OF whip
ping while some are whipped, not until death but
severely aud uisgraceiuly. I'm some parts OF the
State they are travelling at night a. often as twice
week, and visiting the houses OF Union men and fed.
erals some OF whom they Kill Others they whip and
order from the country pain OF being Killed N
they do not leave, while others are ordered away
under promise OF violence II they remain after tins
being ordered TO depart. This IL carried ON by
greater or less numbers, according as the objects 10
be effeced on the particular night are OF greater or
1ese magnitude. They rarely appear In their masks
nnd uniforms IN daylight. It IL IN the night when
they mostly travel aud perpetrate their Of vlo
IcuCe and bloodshed. The most peaceabe, orderly,
qulet, and we may say even the exemplary
members Of the church are not exempt from
their midnight visits and are objects OF their
personal violence. Instances are known vnere the
most orderly and pious men OF negliborhOod nave
been waked from their sumbers and been beaten 10y
them Tor no other than their political senti
ments Murders are common, particularly among
the coorcd people, against whom the klan seem to
80 have peculiar and mortal hatred. Many coiored
people have been whipped. some of them badly and
roue until they have died from Its effects, and many