Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-11

have met US hall way let Us meet
them the other; from our race,
our habits and system of labor, we can
not live any other place than in the South
We must be on friendly terms with the
whites. Let US accept the proposition"
This martial law has cast doubt over our
people. Men have said TO me with tears
in their eyes, that they felt worse now than
they did when the war was going on to de-
termine whether this should be a separate
government or united government. As
your Excellency knows, men of families
generally cultivate their cotton with me-
groes. The system of labor is such
that they get part of the crop.
The colored people desire to enter into
this years crop with new energy. In the
last two or three weeks there has not been
one half the work done preparatory TO
making a crop. The terror among the
people at present is produced by the mill
tia and martial law. The people know
what martial law is. They have read the
accounts of the atrocious deeds committed
in Arkansas. There is a marked de-
termination upon the part of the
people to see the laws executed. As
long as l have lived in Giles county
| have never in my life seeen Giles
county as free from fights, broils and
drunkenness as it now is. Men have come
to me and said that they had been insulted
but would not resent il; they say that they
are determined to be law-sbiding citizens.
| do not believe that the Ku.Klux Khan ia
founded upon politics, nor do ] believe
there is any more harm in it than the
order of Masons or Odd Fellows, Red
Men or Pale Faces. When they were
seen parading it was supposed to have
been for mere show. Some people sup.
posed it was society brought from some
foreign country. After the Loyal League
was established there in Pulaski, the col
ored people got into the way of coming
into town armed, and would sometimes re-
fuse to give way for ladies on the pave
ment. About this time, these masked
men, represented to be the ghosts of Con.
federate soldiers in order to alarm the ne,
groes to keep them from bringing theiI
arms into town at night and also to make
them stay at home, sprueg into existence
1t had the desired effect. The negroes quit
travelling about at night. think some
went into it for novelty. But whether the
order had anything to do with the violent
deeds committed in that county he was mol
prepared to say. hope the good people
of the county will not be held responsible
for the indiscretion of few, while ma
iority ere at home attending TO their bust
ness.
Gov. Senter then asked this question
When did this organization known as the
Ku-Klux Khan make its first appearance
in Giles county?
Ans. think about the year of '65 oil
'66. | have nothing to fasten my re-
collection upon.
Mr.. Ballentine, ex-Msyor of Pulaski
followed. He said that the first he had
heard of such an organization was in the
latter part of 1867. l heard it from 6
Doctor who had seen some Of them on one
Of his Visits at night. had believed
there was nothing in it; that it was simply
a newspaper sensation until the Fourth o
July last, when saw them in a public
procession.
Gov. Senter: How many we're there?
Ans: Between two and three hundred
perhaps more.
Gov. Senter: Were you of the opinion
that they were citizens of Giles county
Ans: Yes, sir; thought they were by
appearance and nothing else.
Gov. Senter: You know the genera
form and appearance of the citizens o.
you town pretty well, do you not
Ans; Yes, sir, know them quite well
having been Mayor of the town for some
time.
Gov. Senter just ask you this in or
der to arrive at the question whether they
were citizens of Giles county or not. Wa:
the Jail ever broken open before the war
Ans: Yea, cir, both before and after.
John Tinnon, Esq said the resolutions
adopted at The various meetings in the
county expressed a determination on the
part Of the people to quiet all disturbances
and prevent any more violence from being
committed, and to protect every man in
the exercise of his rights
Gov. Senter then asked him if any
threats had been made or means devised to
keep the colored citizens from attending
the polls?
To which question, Mr.. Tinnon replied
that such had been reported. There was
one colored man who had asked him if he
would be allowed to vote. Some one had
told him he had better not vote.
Gov. Senter Was there an impression
made upon your mind that the colored
citizens of the county were intimidated to
any extent from voting, that they were
fearful to exercise the privilege of the
franchise?
Ans; Ny impression was that through
the county there were some instances Of
the kind. My impression is that timid
colored men might have been prevented
from voting.
Gov. Senter Do you think that intimi-
dation has been removed from that portion
of the citizens Of Giles county?
Ans: think it has. They have at
tended our meetings and heard this matter
discussed, and are now fully assured and
feel secure in their rights and privileges.
think this is the impression among the
colored peoples majority of them, any
way.
Mr.. A. Cox followed. He said to Gov.
Senter: When you examine those resolu-
tons you will learn the feelings of the
people Of Giles county. The Ku Klux
Khan have inundated voters and have
committed murders. / think the whole
influence of the organization has been bad,
but while this is so, ! think as you
now, perhaps, think, that there were diff
ferent degrees in that organization. There
were some bad men in it who had COM
mitted murders; others had Joined it for
but when it assumed such
IArge proportions they withdrew from it
md had men entered liz ranks. | am sat-