Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-06

Memphis, Tenn, and for which. yor
:ave 5een summo ned to answer before
the Outrage Committee.
General. Yes, believe l am SC
charged. The charge, however, is SC
absurd that often wonder who could
have furnished such information, OF
whose idle brain could have conceived
it. I am constructing a road from
Selma to Memphis, and employ large
number Of laborers. Upon assuming
the work I gave special instructions
to all under me in authority, charged
with obtaining mechanics, workmen,
&C., under no consideration to allow
politics to be barrier to the employ
Inent of any man. On the contrary,
to secure good workment be they
white or black. As to the forming of
bands Of Ku-Klux among them, it is
too ridiculous to entertain moment.
Why, I verify believe that were a
vote taken to-day among those work
ing under me in the construction Of
that enterprise, there would be found
three Republican votes to one Demo
cratic.
Reporter. The people Of the South
have generally accepted the situation,
have they not?
General. (emplatically.) Yes, sir;
and are as orderly and law-abidiug
people as can be found in any section
of the country. Under the recon
struction acts outrages were commit
ted, not by Ku-Klux; but since 1858,
other than individual troubles arising
between man and man, liable to arise
in any place, they have demeaned
themselves with becoming propriety,
and yield a hearty obedience to the
law.
Reporter. You state, then unquali-
Gedly, that your facilities for observa-
ton are such that, if the Ku-Klux
existed, you would know Of it, and
that it does not exist as an organiza-
tion, having head and subordinate
officers controlling it !
General. I do. My facilities for
observation particularly lead me to
speak knowingly of Alabama and
Tennessee. Ihave visited every town
along the line Of the projected road,
from Memphis to Selma. making
speeches in the interest of the road
I have endoavored, among the peo-
pie, to arrive at the truth as to its
organization, and have as yet failed
to find an individual who knew Of
such an organization and haye no
hesitancy in asserting that did it ex-
ist, the inhabitants with whom [ came
in contact would have apprised me Of
that fact, I have also travelled ex-
tensNely through all portions of the
South, and as far as my judgment and
personal observation lead me to be-
lieve I can safely assert that no such
band has an existoaoe in anv'of the
Southern States. Il have myself been
personally abused as being the leader
afsthe Klan. I-haue. willingly, borne
this vituperation, heaped upon me,
because l did not desire to appear
prominently before thopublic in print,
and knowi!rg that mg denial would
entangle me in !. controversy, which
I did not Govt. Hence, | remained
silent, II ,ose to continue on with
my work in TIL South, building rail
roads and machine shops, and if
thereby 1 can give employment to the
many who nee,l it, l shall consider
I have done a good work, in reliev-
ing the distresses of tho widows and
orphans the yic,saitaes Oh war have
made aAd hransht to misery. Ihave
no ambition for political houors, and
choose rather 10 pursue my calling
asa civil engineer, and do what lean
to relieve the Southern people in an
way.
General Forrest left Washington
last night for New York. He expects
to appear before the committee next
Monday.