Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-23
He Says The Ku-Klux Organization
in Arkansas Numbers 10000
Members.
Rs Insists that the Kg-Klux Bill Is a
lust and Proper Legislation
and that it is Demanded by
the Present Condition
Of The S0uih.

,
The soldiers and lJrs Of the Dis
trict assembled tonight ia mass meet
ing, and at g o'clock proceeded to the
Metropolitan HOtel, where they ten
dered Governor Powell Clayton,
Senator from Arkansas, compliment
tarv serenade in honor Of his eleva-
ton to the United States Senate. The
delegation to the number Of several
hundred. was headed By the Marine
band, and, after appropriate music,
General S. A. Duncan, on behalf of
the assembled multitude, introduced
Senator Clayton, who spoke for half
an hour upon the issues before the
American people.
SPEECH OF CLAYTON.
After the cheers greeting his appear
ance had subsidized, Senator Clayton
expressed his appreciation Of the
honor, saying that he regarded it most
as a compliment to the Republicans
Of the State which he had the priv
iIege Of representing. 1t was a source
Of qualification to him that one of the
first acts Of his Senatorial career had
been 20 record his vote in favor Of eX-
tending the arm Of the Government
until it would be long enough to reach
into the most remote regions OF the
land, carrying with it protection to
the humblest citizen thereof; and not
only long enough, but strong enough
to crush out this second rebellion,
which for cruelty and maiignity was
scarcely exceeded by the first.
CCheers. ] He hoped the
FRIENDS OF THE GOVERNMENT
would not underestimate the gravity
of the impending danger which threat
ems TO destroy the free institutions of
the South, established at such an inn
/ mense sacrifice OF blood and treasure.
/ He congratulated those present that
the Republican party In its onward
march had reached another milestone
on the great highway Of progress, Of
civilization and equal rights. He de.
clered-and he was fully conscious Of
the responsibility Of the charge-that
fhe Ku-Klux organization Of the South
Uas not &c be numbered by hundreds
and thousands, but by hundreds Of
fbousqndss and be further declared
that it was military in its nature, and
practically
A CONTAMINATION or THE CONFED-
ERATE ARMY.
He would not say that ali ex-CoDfed-
crate soldiers belonged TO it, but most
emphatically did he affirm that none
! but ex-COnfederate soldiers and those
who sympathized with the " lost
cause" were its members. BE knew
whereof he spoke, for as Governor OF
i Arkansas, two years and a bali ago,
he had had occasion to grapple with
I this hydra-headed monster, and
/ thereby became familiar with its dark
and damnable practices. He believed
I that if One-half Of the outrages that
I had been perpetrated there, alone,
I were known to the law-abiding citi-
! zens Of the nstien, such q cry oi indig-
/ nation would 60 up throughout the
/ land as would bring q blush of shame
( even 10 the cheeks Of the Northern
j Democracy, and public opinion would
/ compel them to cease their miserable
! eforts to paliiate and excuse the com
mission Of the most hoErid crimes and
glaring outraRes that had ever dis
graced humanity.
From the
CONFESSION Or AN OFFICER
/ holding q position in the Ku-Klux or.