New-York tribune., 1868-04-23
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
TENNESSEE.

THE KU-KLUX EXPOSURE IN MEMPHIS.
MEMPHIS, April IA, 1868.
The political field here is most decidedly
troubled ard excited the most startling expose OF
highhanded crime banded ndnigh conclaye Of sworn
assassins ever heard Of in civilized community The
breaking up Of a den Of KuKlux, and the publication Of
the startling documents found upon the person OF the
Grand Cycops when captured produced something OF
sensation nothing that Of the expose Of this even
Ing. The Democratic papers, feeling the publication OF
the papers found t5 be a heavy blow upon the recon-
steed work at 20 endeavor to counteract
their effect by making them appear as harmless as posi-
sibe. 1t given out auhofttauyely that the whole
thing farce made ont OF the papers OF the old Sons
Of Malta changed sut the amusements Of the south
ern Pride Base Ball Club" Gen. Pike, the modern
love OF Tennessee Democracy pitched into Chief Of
Police i'm a style calculated TO make him
quake In his boots, and " shield IN the eyes
~ e v, nent @ s,1 sa few per;ans were fooed hut
so,tgeT Pride Club not reshing the idea of conclave
OF sworn asassins In connection with his Pride" boted
the o the Democracy, and swore his club were
genteme and not assasns aud had nothing TO do with
the Clan cleaned out by the police Old officers Of the
Sons OF Malta also stepped m and TOOK the wlnd out OF
the story Of the Documents published being ever made
by any modification of ritual Of that order, and the
trumpcdup explanation published as OF the EDITORS own
knowledge by mbid Democratic sheet had 10 go under.
Next card called Explanation" signed by IS OF
the young arrested showing the earmarks OF EN-.
orsanxSd into Cleo Cub"-a set OF innoceIts hose
yeIdancy refre shing Innocent OF improper
thought they admitted as a member 81. VI. Camp
bell" who local editor Of TIE Memphis Ardlanche was
looked up 10 with confidence. Campbell endeayored 10
convert this club of musical boys into political organ
zation. hut they Indignantly refused 10 be scduced and
spurrcd the oath and ritual e Campbel had drawn mp
and proposed lmdpg he could not persuade them into
such mad freak, Campbell for brbe rs they are In
cned 10 suppose paid by the police chief for purpose Of
making capital for him, exposed and caused their cap
ture. the papers rs published being found Campbell
All this might do for effect abroad but here az home
of Southern birth and Southern principles" calm TO
believe the yarn The Chief OF Police said IL 60
and Campbell, not showing disposition to be made
seapegot Of was understood as proposing to have some
thing TO say In the explanation" line himself.
This evenings Ledger presents 81 Card" signed
Jack Campbell" which for cool, deliberate, and impu
dent acknowledgement Of completely In assassination is
far ahead Of anything published unless II be the
confessions OF some OF the captured Thugs 1t H. how
crueher the young OF southern biz IA and
Southern synpathes who, forgetting the rule of honor
among thieves" deliberately attempted TO damn the
character OF their chief for the purpose f exoncratng
themselves Campbell claims being introduced by one
OF tho young men and sworn In by another both OF whose
drew up the oath as published aud all swore it that
eoon after committee of which he was chairman, was
appointed on assassination. and claims was owing
his delay that somewhat notorious county official is
not now sleeping with his fathers" He daros the young
men TO deny his statements lac says ho the records
of the meetings In his possession and Is prepared with
proof says they wish e VIII give the names Of tho
those elected be dssdssrnaed" and is prepared
selfdefense to lay bare 10 the public facts and 1g
the length ard breadth OF this land"
That this remarkable document has caused
element, you may well believe. How our Conservative
press get their friends ont OF the scape hard
be seen especially Chief OF Police is understood 10
bo In possession Of facts to substant 70 the horrible state
ment Of Campbell In all essential pOluts. 1t seems,
ported that detective got hold OF the passwords aud
grips. and went INTO the den where he the initiation
Of member aud heard tho names OF the parteseected
10 be dssasaed which time the police have been
on their trsck aud also keeping an eye over the elected
they did not come to grief The first be
put out OF the way was Judge Hunter, which
luckily failed though the Information came
too late n that case for the police to be ON
hand In time The second on tho list was he who Camp
bell speaks of as the somewhat notorious County of
fical," Judge Barbour Levi Of the Board OF County
Commissioners, who to be attacked, IL possible
his way his farm, four miles out the rst fitting
opportunity The judge has not gone home for three
weeks without being escorted. unknown 10 himself, by
couple Of mounted police Among the OF several
others understood 10 be that OF State Senator Smith
and the State Representative Hanton who were to be
disposed OF IN their turn with others, including couple
OF prominent coOred So much as far as heard from
for the KuKlux OF MemphiS though further develop
man IN eNuectal