The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-03

sir, to call In order to ask you for the results
of your recent observation in South Carolina,
and an expression of your opinion as to the
existence of the so.caled KuKlux Khan In
those counties Of that State now under martial
law.
Mr.. Akerman. Yes, sir, have no objection
TO relating my experience in this matter. and
Selieve that such an organization not only
does exist, but that it includes nearly all the
active white men in the section included in
the Presidents proclamation. / cannot tell
with precision how many there are In the Or
ganization, but I believe that most of the ac-
tive white men are either members or are con-
tro,led by it. The Ku.Klux Klan Is, however,
only the generic and popular name Of the Or
ganization, and it is known among its own
members by various names, such as 1.-THE
Invisible Empire of the South, 1.-THE Universal
White Brotherhood" &c.
Correspondent Ah this is romantic. 1.-The
correspondent settled down to an easy listen
ing attitude and resolved to write book
Mr.. Alderman. Yes, sir. Their form Of oath
is also very impressive. The Eeophyte is
forced to kneel, with his eyes bandaged, and
Is made to swear Shy the Almighty and I'm
maculate God" that he will support the consti-
tuition as 1t was framed by our fathers-ignor-
ing, Sou see, all the recsnt tamendments-that
he will resist the invasion OF the Radicals,
that he will protect widows and orphans.
Correspondent. Horrible Is there any
thing in it about preventing thefts of seed
cotton!
Mr.. Akermsh (who, perhaps did not hear
the interruption)- he invokes for himself,
if he should turn traitor, death, death, death
at the hands of the brethren"
Correspondent. Then you think the organi-
cation iswholly political one'
Mr. Akerman. Oh, tes. The political ami
mus Is evident in all their acts. While they
are whipping negroes they invite them to join
Ae Democrats; and when they are about to
dang man, they make him swear never to
vote the Radical ticket.
Correspondent. You appear to be possessed
of very circumstantial information as to their
organization. &c.
Mr.. AkermSn. Yes, sir. A great many OF
the Ku-Klu1 have voluntarily come forward
and confessed their completely in these crimes
In order, suppose, to obtain amnesty from
the government, although have in no case
invited such confessions, nor promised abso-
luti N. The oaths that they repeated to me
differ somewhat in form and phraseology; but
whether that Is because it is differently admin
istered in different Klans, or Is the fault OF
the memory of my informants, 1 do not know.
They all close, however, with the Invocation
OF death, death, death, at the hands OF the
bretbrea."
INF. Akerman paused, but the correspond
ent was too much overcome to suggest any
more questions, and he proceeded j
Why, sir, within the past year or fifteen
or eighteen months there have been ten muir
ders. twenty colored schools broken up, and
fye hundred whipplngs ard lesser outrages
committed by the Ku-Klux In York County
alone.
CRoss-EXAYINATIoN.
Correspondent. But, Mr.. Akerman, I have
heard 1t very often charged that the county
commissioners of education and other State
school officers in South Carolina have been In
the habit of appropriating to their own uses
the school funds as fast as they could be COL
lected. May not this alleged fact have Lad
something to do with the closing of the pub
lie schools?
This correspondent regrets to say that the
present attorney-geperal Of the United States
is rather nervous gentleman. He has lit
tie bell at his lett hand, and at this and some
subsequent stages Of this conversation, sort
of twitching of that hand in the direction Of
thsokable was noticeable.l
Mr. Akerman. Not at all. Even II these al
legged malversions of public funds had provok-
ed the Ku-Klux outrages, that would not JUS
tify them. Please notice. however, that do
not admit any financial hagitiousness on the
part OF the Southern State officers. consider
that that is not leading issue in this rase.
and I beg you will not misrepresent my lords.
Correspondent. assure you, sir, that will
not. could not hope by any alteration OF
mine, to make this conversation as felicitous
as the original.
rMr. Alderman Is susceptible to aattery when
it is delicately put aud he continued
1t would surely be Illogical to visit the sins
of certain ofdce-holders upon the heads Of the
innocent school-teachers.
Correspondent. Certainly, sir.
Mr.. Akerman. Some Of these schoo-teach-
ers are white, not few OF them are ex-Con-
federate soldiers, and one of them at leastisa
crippled Confederate, and yet they were all
served with Ku-Klux notices warning them
TO leave.
Correspondent Is it not possible, sir, that
some of these notices were forged? 1t is easy
to forge anonymous letters.
Mr.. Alderman. The school-teachers did not
think they were. They had known cases
where others had received similar missives,
which, being disregarded, were followed By
violence, and being on the spot and reasoning
from what they had seen, they took fright and
fed.
Correspondent. Have any Of these outrages
occurred within the past few months
Mr.. Alderman. Well, they have been less
freduent latterly. They began last fall and
continued all winter, reaching their climax In
about March or April. Since then there has
been lull. Some of the Kans have been or
dered to discontinue operations, and one hlan
has surseudered in body, chief and all. Still
there have been some outrages recently. l