New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-11
THE KU-KLUX OUTRAGES.

ouotno the resolution under which they appointed
and the documents referred 10 them, they say:
From the tenor OF the documents referred TO the Com
mittee and the language OF the resolution under which
a. as Amounted IL will be that the purpose OF rails
ing II was TO ascertain by investigation: fSt Whether
the crimes Of the character alleged to have been CON-
mitted by organized bands OF political characer ailu
Second Whether persons and property arc secure III he
Southern States
The language Of the resolution authorizing the ap-
pontment of committee embraces all tne =,
States North Carolina having been made the SUBJECT o
snecial communication from the President, the ooh-
mtttee nj once entered upon investigation OF the con-
dition OF affairs in that State.
THE WITNESSES EXAMINED.
In prosecuting their inquiries they desired to nave oe
fore them the representatives Of all shades OF pouca
opinion so that not only in the report of the Committee
but especially in the testimony OF the witnesses, INC
public would have the Of Judging as TO the rue
condition OF things existing in the State, the causes
which have led to it, and who are reponslDc tor rs eA
up to this time have examined, State and Federal
Judges prosecuting officers political editors, mnSe ,
members OF what il popularity known az the ku-k ux-
Klan," magistrates, cOnstables, members OF te naI;
men who have been scourged and abused by banns Oh
men Disguise and indeed all classes Of persons from
whom It was reasonable to expect sue. testGng G0S G
ment upon the subject Of inquiry.
In sending for such Witnesses we had OF necessary 10
be guided by the local knowledge of those better ae
quainted with the than the members Of the
Committee and the inquiry In the very terms OF the
it was due TO candor and Justice that witnesses should DO
summoned who were designated by the minority OF the
jority, and so far all such have been sum
InOned, and as far as time permitted, ineG
it viii found that 30 members Of the Republican or
Radical party and p are members OF the I nor OF
what his party relations, and another stated
he mad formed no party CT are
six members OF the Ku-Klux Khan, four or whom were
summoned because OF the belief from previous develop
ments that they could and would reveal the existence
and objects Of the organization The other Two were
summoned at the instance Of the minority OF the Com
mttee. to show their ireatment lille prisoners IN Gus
tody OF the State militia, and upon their examination ac
knowledged that they were members OF the Au-hlu&
Order.
ARE THE oUTRAGEs OF A POLITICAL cHARAcrERi
The first subject Of inquiry then is-IIave the crimes
and outrages Of character complained Of been com
mted by organized political bands Of disoyal or evil
disposed persons In the State Of North Caroinaf We
first direct attention TO the evidence showing the exist
in that State Of secretly organized bodies OF po
cal character the existence and operation OF what
is now termed the "Ku-Klux Khan" are excused, by
those who do Them on the ground OF prior exist
OF other secret political organizations we refer 10
all that have been mentioned as haDlng any bearing upon
the que stion since the close OF the Rebellion
ORIGIN OF THE SECRET POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
The first in point OF time is the order known as the
Heroes Of America" or the "Red Strings" About
the time the Reconstruction acts proposed to confer
political rights upon the colored citizens, the Union
time is not given, but the weight Of testimony would
seem fix II about the latter part OF 1861 Witnesses
examined, who were members Of that organization
both in the Northern and Southern States, and many
others have given their opinions about s purposes az
~ IN be 8 Of the
Republican party, that its members were admitted IN
s sGGre OATH II Is equally clear that its purposes
were publicly avowed, that IL held public meet
ss a9d and their with
colored population generally become ne M o. t
mttee insert extract from the testimony Of Samuel
Allen coored man, and member Of the League, that
no violence was either directed counenauced by this
League is manifest throughout all the testimony In
stead OF numbering this report with extracts we VIII
only refer to pages 80 49, 1872 IA, l47 $780, &c.
in which will be found testimony verifying this state
ment 1t alleged and some instances are a9ted @
seek deter the colored voters from voting the Demo
eoIored members ia against that party Is entirely cl, ar
from testimony and the colored man who votes IL runs
counter to the dominant opinion or his race IN the STATE
| THE KU-KLUX KHAN STARTED IN NORTH CAROLINA.
With this preliminary reference to the Heroes OF
America" and to the Union League, we now come to
| the establishment Of what is termed the "Ku.hlux
Kan" the real name Of which IN its several stages has
been-"The White Brotherhood" "The Constitutional
| Union Guards" and "The Invisible Empire" The
| name ''Ku-Klux Klan" have been suggested by its
members to deceive the public and to enable them to
deny connection with IL when asked upon the witness
This order instituted in North Carolina some time
IN 1863 certainly before tue Presidential campaign In
that year. and, according to allegations, early
1861 AS an exposition OF this organization OF The
obligation imposed upon its members, the penalty for
revealing its secrets its modes of proceeding, its pur
poses, members, connections, and extent The Com
mee insert here at length the testimony OF one OF lts
members man acknowlged by all who have spoken OF
| hm to have borne good character as lawyer ana
iThen follows the testimony of Judge Battle Judge
Settle and District Solicitor Bynum.I The Committee
PROVISIONS OF THE KU-KLUx OATH.
The Committee continues with this testimony, and the
terms of this oath before him, reasonable man can
doubt that the purpose Of this organzatonwa political
and any attempt the part the witnesses to give it
the character Of eague," simply for the protection OF
person and property, can be received only "a an add
tional evidence OF the extent to which its demorazng
effect and influence have been carried or OF their igno
rance OF its real character IL is TO be noticed that after
enioning secresy the first requisite TO membership Is
that the novicate' is not member OF the Red String
Order or OF the Heroes Of America" Bearing In mind
that this Order Heroes Of America was opposed to the
| Rebellion that its members were charged with treason
AGAINST the Confederacy, and that IL had for its object
dherence the Constitution OF the United States it
follows that the spirit OF the organization into which
| men are admitted under this oath, Is that OF the
Rebellion and refuses fellowship to those who were
true to the United states Inc second regnste Is that
Tkn the objects Of the League given in the testi-
into this Order and that an obligation to be true 10 the
Constitution Of the United States and To the Constitution
of North Carolina and to support and defend them, dis
qualified the man who had taken ~ Tor membership in
the "whe Brotherhood" The third requisite is that
the candidate is not member OF the Grand Army Of
the Republic that the soldier Of the Union army
not be admitted into it, In the light OF this requirement.
ali singular that the revelation should be made
that the majority of it's members had been soldiers In
Rebel army The next assertion guarding against any
other possible organizations similar TO those named is
| that they, the Heroes Of America" the Union
League" and the Grand Army OF the Republic" have
] the aim and intention to destroy the rights OF
| the South, OF the States or OF the people.
To elevate the negro to political equality with the
white man." Asserting this, the initiated is sworn
that he is opposed To all such principles. AS IL this
were not enough the obligation is MADE express that
member OF these organizations, any person holding
Radical views or opinions shall be allowed 10 be in
itiated. The further obligation is TO oppose all Rad
ioals and negroes in all OF their political designs
Some members Of the Order stated that they did not
remember the further Obligation Ito oppose all Rad
icals and negroes in all OF their political designs" But,
whether II part OF the obligation not the eCo
OF the preceding obligation leads to that result IL is
not TO pursue the argument further TO cite