Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-21
KU.KLUX ARRESTED.

The Murfreesboro Nesos states that
two negroes from the Smyrna district in
Rutherford county, were committed to
the jail at Murfreesboro on the 18th inst,
charged with being KuKlux and commit
ting depredations under mask. The
Ne1cs says: "This makes the second ar
rest of negroes in our county charged
with ku-kluxing, showing plainly who the
parties are that commit these acts" Ev-
cry development so far shows that the
Ku-K lux or masked marauders, who have
been committing depredations in certain
localities in this State, are either negroes
or Radical sympathisers. A great deal
has been eaid by Radicals and their SYM
pathisers about the operations of the Ku-
Klux in Rutherford county. The civil
authorities there have been vigilant in
their efforts to ferret out and arrest these
marauders, and they have now got some
of them and they are all negroes;
the very class of population that have
professed the greatest fear of the
terrible Ku-Klux. 1t is even probable
that the very negroes who have been ar
rested were among the foremost in direct
ing suspicion against quiet, law abiding
citizens as being participants in the Ku-
Klux outrsges reported to have been COM
mitted in the country. These negroes
and their confederates, black and white,
have been running 10 Nashville and re-
presenting to the Federal authorities that
life and property, especially of ''Union
men," are insecure in Rutherford county.
Are not the developments that have been
made in regard TO the matter enough to
stagger by Radicals in the stories that are
so often brought to them If they are
not anxious to believe all manner Oe EVIL
of the people, these developments would
certainly have that effect. 1t is time
that the Radicals ceased their efforts to
make political capital out of the law
lessness which unfortunately afflicts
this State. They know that this
lawlessness has no other political sig
nificancs than is given 10 it by them
selves. They should now address them
selves TO other purposes. The people OF
Tennessee have repudiated them and
their political faith, and as sensible men
they should make up their minds to &C,
cept the situation, and turn their atten.
ton to the development of the material
interests of the State. If they were to
secure power again in this State through
Congressional Intervention if the State
should be reconstructed and disfranchise
ment prevail to such an extent that they
could hold the State in all its branches
for as many years as they have already
held it. it could not possibly better theil
social condition. The history of Radical
rule in Tennessee clearly demonstrates
that they cannot, if they would,
execute the laws more faithfully
and effectively than they are now
executed. There is more lawlessnes:
to-day in some of the Western ant
Northern States than there is il
Tennessee, which shows conclus lively tina
Democratic ascendancy has nothing to d.
the violations of the law that sfflict thi!
State. Instead of seeking to regain lest
power through Congressional Intervention
the leaders Of the Radical party in this
State should give the weight of their in
fiuence to the support of the civil au
thorities in their efforts TO execute the
laws and preserve the peace. They mus
learn to do this if they desire that VI
shall be one people.