The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-06-01

The Kuklux Organization-Its Pur-
poses and its Numerous Deeds of Vio-
lence-AdditionaI Testimony from Va
rious Sources.
We present to-day for the candid consid-
Grafton of our readers additional facts con-
corning this organization, but We will pre-
mise this article by few reflections upon
the murder of the late Senator Stephens.
It will be seen in another column that
there has been held meeting in Caswell
County to denounce the unknown perpetra-
tors of this last outrage-unknown because
up to the last hour, no clue to the muir
derers had been discovered. And notwith-
standing that correspondent of yesterday
afternoons Sentinel says the crime was not
committed by the Kuklux, this fact is suffi.
cient to satisfy us that it was done by them
For they are sworn to clear each other a:
jurors or as witnesses.
The meeting in Caswell was well enough
We have much confidence in the Hon. Bed
ford Brown. And we believe that Hon
John Kerr would scorn to countenance the
Kuklux. As to the Others we are not ready
to say as much at present, but we hope that
it is true of them likewise.
The resolutions are well enough, but they
come too late. We endorse them, but there
is no vitality in them, we fear, for the future
and no indemnity for the past From the
preamble we read that the murderers of Sen
ator Stephens are unknown, and from the
body of the resolutions we draw the con.
clusion that fear of retaliation has impeled
to a great extent their adoption We say
this in all candor, for while we believe that
Mr.. Brown and few Others are in earnest, We
do not believe that the great majority of the
white people of Caswell, TO whom Mr.. Ste
rhcns was Hotiious' on accounto of his pol
itics, are ready to lament his death, any
more than the Sentinel with its editor here
at Raleigh is ready to do the same thing.
We hope, however, that such men as Mr..
Brown may be able to accomplish good.
Their efforts should be unceasing, until the
poison of party passion is rendered harm.
less, and any man, however "odious" he
may be on account of politics, may be able
to dwell in safety anywhere in the State eff
North Carolina. Moderate men of infu-
ence whether for or against US, deserve all
encouragement in their labors for peace, law
and order.
The Kuklux organization is one which
has its ramifcations in every section of the
State. We learn that there have been Or
ganized two councils at Raleigh, one of
which used to, and did meet, in the old Sey-
mour and Blair shanty, opposite the grave
yard on Hargett street. Further, from evil
dence, which we present to-day, and evil
dence hitherto elected, it is shown that the
operations of the councils are not confined
to particular localities. 1t was the inten-
ton Of the Lenoir comfy gang to assassinate
Gov. Holden. We present proof to-day that
the same intention was held by the Moore
county gang of murderers. Why then should
not the strangers from other counties, who
were in Yanceyville, "as usual" to attend a
mere county convention have not been the
persons detailed from Alamance, Orange, or
Virginia, as the Sentinel has suggested, for the
purpose of assassinating Mr.. Stephens But
whether they were from Texas or HI, they
were Kuklux, and they were aided in their
diabolical schemes by the Kuklux of Caswell,
who are equally guilty and equally deserv-
ing of the halter.
Still it is no use, in our opinion, to go
out of Caswell to find Mr.. Stephens MUIR
derers. They are there doubtless, and though
an alibi can and will be proven, if necessary,
yet the fact stands that they helped to muir
der him, as they were sworn to do if order
ed by the commanders at Raleigh or else
where, and that up to the last hour no clue
has been found as to who they were or
whence they came.
From every Judicial District of the State,
save one, from Judge and Solicitor, comes
up the testimony that it is useless to indict a
q Kuklux. Notwithstanding the plainest
evidence of guilt, the most INSCRIPTIONS
scoundrels are acquitted by one or another
shift, and the law is laughed to scorn. The
Banditti of Greece and Italy, the Assassins
of the East or the secret murderers of the
Middle ages never enjoyed the same immu-
nifty from punishment, which it is the spe-
alprivilege of these Williams to have under a
free Constitution, which has thus far failed
to protect its friends or bring its enemies to
merited justice for their crimes
From letter of distinguished gentle
man, concerning the ontrages of the Kuklux
in his judicial circuit, we are now permitted
to make the following extract. The letter
was addressed to Gov Holden, under date
of May Goth:
Il certainly feel much embarrassment as
to the mode of reaching the criminals, mas
much as have made repeated efforts in this
and other counties of this Judicial District,
without success, through the action of the
grand jurys-the only way can take cogni-
zance of these offences.
Numerous complaints are made to me of
these outrages, now of frequent, very frequent
occurrence, many of the victims bearing on
their bodies visible evidences of the truth of
their complaints.
lam satisfied that the evil is great and
increasing
The difficulty has been to identify the
parties with that legal certainty which
would make it possible or even safe to con-
Yict.