The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-18
The South.

The Select Committee appointed by Con.
gress to examine the state of affairs exist
ing in the Southern States, have made two
reports-a majority and minority report.
The minority report was made by two
Democratic members of the committee,
and represents "everything is lovely and
the goose hangs high in Dixie. The
majority of the committee, composed OF
John Scott, FAC. Chandler, Henry Wilson,
Benz. F. Rice and James W. Nyc, do not
think so, and state their reasons why.
Ffty-two witnesses were summoned before
the Committee, twenty-nine of whom were
members of the Republican party, and
twenty-one of the Democrat party, six OF
the latter being members of the Ku Klux
Khan. The condition of affairs of North
Carolina occupied the time of the Com
mittee.
The Union League was introduced in
North Carolina in the latter part of 1867.
There is no doubt it was secret political
organization in the interests of the Repub-
lican party, but it is equally clear that its
purposes were publicly avowed. There
was also another organization known as
the ''Heroes of America or cred Strings, =
formed at the close of the war; its only
purpose being to secure adherence to the
Constitution of the United States and the
| restoration of the Union. Referring to the
Union League, the Committee says: That
no violence was either directed or counte-
nanced, is manifested throughout all the
testimony.
The kuklux Klan was instituted in North
Carolina in 1868. The testimony of James
4. Boyd, respectable citizen of Alamance
county, is given at length. He joined the
Khan in November, 1868. He testified as
to the character of the oath, the signs, the
disguise, &c. No raids were made unless
1t had been unanimously agreed to at a
regular meeting of the Klan. He Joined
| the White Brotherhood in Graham, Ala
nance county, November, 1868; the oath,
the substance Of which was given by Mr..
Boyd, is as follows:
You solemnly swear in the presence of
Almighty God that you will never reveal
the name of the person who initiated you:
and that you will never reveal what is now
about to come to your knowledge; and
that you are not now a member of the Red
String Order, Union League, Heroes OF
America, Grand Army of the Republic, OF
any other organization whose aim and
intention is to destroy the rights of the
South. or of the States or of the people, OF
to elevate the negro to political equality
with yourself; and that you are opposed to
all such principles: So help you God.
''You furtherswear before Almighty God
that you will be true to the principles OF
this brotherhood and the members thereof
and that you will never reveal any of the
secrets, orders, acts, OF edicts. and that
you will never make known to any person,
not known member of this brotherhood
that you are member yourself, or who are
members; and that you will never insist
in initiating, or allow to be initiated, if you
can prevent it, any one belonging. to the
Red Spring Order, Union League, Heroes
of America, Grand Army of the Republic,
or any one holding radical views or opin.
ions; and should any member of this
brotherhood, or their families, be in danger
you will inform them Of their danger, and,
if necessary, you will so to their assistance:
and that you will oppose all Radicals ana
negroes in all of their political designs
and that should any Radical or negro
impose on, abuse, or injure any member OF
this brotherhood, you will assist in punish
ing him in any manner the camp may
direct.
You further swear that you will obey
all calls and summonses of the chief Of
your camp or brotherhood should it be in
your power SO to do.
Given upon this, your obligation, that
you will never give the word of distress
unless you are in great need of assistance;
and should you hear it given by any brother,
you will go to his OF their assistance; and
should any member reveal any of the
secrets, acts, orders, or edicts Of the broth.
|
any way the camp may direct or approve
of: So help you Cod
Witness proceeded. The disguise pre-
scribed by the order was a long white
gown and mask over the face; counties
were divided into districts and each district
was camp, under the command of a cap.
tain; the whole county constituted khan,
under the command of a chief, No raid
was to be made or person punished unless
unanimously agreed to- The sign of recog.
milton was by sliding the right hand down
along the opposite lappell of the coat; the
word of distress was "Shiloh;" there were
other signs. In raid the plan was for a
distant camp, in order the better to avoid
detection; one person was allowed to SPEAK
on raid; life would be taken when ordered
the punishment for disregarding the oatl
was death; members were bound to protec
each other at any risk in the jury box o.
elsewhere. Witness knew of the hanging
of Il coored man named Oulland in Ala
nance; he was good citizen, and his onl,
OilcllCc WIS Illtl VI iulOllS
his race; there are between 600 and 70
members Of the organization in Alamance
the voting population is about 1900; wit
ness was Il Democrat candidate for tn
Legislature, and was the second maj
arrested by Colonel Kirk. Since the ap
pearance of Colonel Kirk the spirit of tn
organization is broken in Alamance.
Question. What is your knowledge O
tie object and extent of this organization
throughout the State?
Answer. can only state from heresa
what have heard from members of tn
organization. The number of the member
of the organization is supposed to be 40, OO(
Their object was the overthrow of til
reconstruction policy of Congress and tn
Acknowledgement of the negro. There al
two other organizations besides that of til
White Brotherhood, as ! said before.
, was Il full member of one of them, an
partly a member of the other. l cannt
: say that / considered myself really men