The New York herald., 1871-04-19
SERENADE TO SENATOR CLAYTON.
The Ex-Governor of Arkansas Serenaded- What
He Knows Of Southern 0utrages-The Ku
Klux a Military Organization 80, 900
Members in Arkansas-The Right
Way Of Dealing With Outlaws
Terrible Condition Of the
South-lhe Mission of the
Republican Party.

The soldiers and sailors OF the District assembled
tonight In mass meeting, and at nine o'clock pro-
ceeded to the Metropolitan Hotel, where they ten
dered Ex-Governor Powell Clayton, Senator from
Arkansas, complimentary serenade in honor OF his
elevation to the United States senate. The delega-
tion TO the number OF several hundred, were headed
by the Marine bind, 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 Ameri.
can people
SPEECH OF SENATOR CLAYTON.
After the cheers greeting his appearance mad sub
sided Senator Clayton expressed his appreciation OF
the honor, saying that he regarded 1t most as q
compliment to the Republicans OF the state which
he had the privilege OF representing. II was a
source OF qualification to him that one Of the first
acts Of his Senatorial career had been to
record his vote In favor OF extending
OF the government would be long enough TO reach
into the most remote regions OF the land carrying
with it protection to the humblest citizen thereof;
and net only long enough, but strong enough TO
crush out this second rebellion which for cruelty
(Cheers.) lie hoped the friends Of the govern
ment would not underestimate the gravity
the national protection every citizen of the re-
public. He congratulated those present that the re-
another milestone on the great highway OF pro-
gress, OF civilization and equal rights The action
mated, gave ample assurance that henceforth the
10 destroy the Zee institutions OF the South estab-
iished al such @ an immense sacrifice Of blood ana
OF the responsibility OF the charge-that the Ku
Klux organization Of the South was not to be num-
cered by hundreds and thousands, but by hun.
dreds OF thousands; and he further declared
that II was military IN its nature and
army. He would not say that all e ex-ConIederate
soldiers belonged to II, but most emphaticaly did
he affirm that none but ex-Confederate soldiers and
those who sympathized with the .lost cause' were
It's members. He knew whereof he spoke, for as
Governor OF Arkansas, two years and haIf ago, he
had had occasion TO grapple with this AIDED
monster and thereby became familiar with Its
n onehalf OF the outrages that mad been perpetrated
there, alone were known TO the awabiding citizens
OF the nation, such a cry OF indignation would go
up throughout the land would bring blush OF
shame even TO the cheeks Of the Northern de-
mocracy and public opinion weuid compel them to
cease their miserable Efforts to paliate and excuse
the commission OF the most horrid crimes and garing
outrages that had ever disgraced humanity.
From the confession OF an officer holding posi-
tion In the Ku Klux organization corresponding TO
that OF an adJ Jutant general under department com.
men who belonged to the Ku Klux, but who after
ward left II, and from various other sources, he had
as Governor ascertalnea 70 positive certainty that
members, and the democracy OF Arkansas to-day dare
not deny that so powerful was this organization
that the civil authority IN both counties or the state
had been utterly paraized, and in every portion
II very much impaired Nor was II until he adopted
the last desperate resort OF martial law and had
paced IN the field a standing force OF over two
thousand men, and caused the arrest and trial by
military commission OF several members OF the plan
afterwards conyIcfed and executed. that tins treas
enable organization was suppressed In Arkansas.
tCheers.l lie had no hesitation in saying that
the adoption OF the lukewarm and temporizing
course that nad characterized the administration OF
some OF the other. southern States would have re-
suited the utter destruction OF the State govern
hent the sacrifice OF hundreds Of innocent lives and
would eventually demand the intervention OF the
federal authorities. He regretted that most rigid
ana summary measures had not been adopted In
every southern slate TO crush out IN It's incipiency
this wicked organization. But because through q
mistaken place or In some instances want OF moral
courage to brave the vtuperation, perhaps because
in some cases OF sympathy by the authorities with
the organization Itself such a decided policy had
not been adopted, did II follow tnat our arms were
to be folded, tnat We were 10 stand compiacently
by while the citizens OF the republic It's defenders
and allies In the hour or It's greatest peril were daily
offered as human sacl1UctS TO appease the
cravings OF this insaiiarc Ku Klux monster.
Cheers) from the exercise OF plain and imperative
du,y because for both The Northern democracy,
sympathiZlng they do with their southern allies
saw lit 10 resort TO their old subierfuge OF raising
constitutional oblecuonsf To have followed the
constitution as the democracy Interpreted 1t would
have left no national existence 10 have preserved,
no constitution TO have obeyed. From the com.
constitution and for It's deslructIon nm 'fo io
,he present hour tue republican party
opposition OF the democracy, who had from une
stump, the pulpit, In legislative halls and by the
press thundered III our ears, "The constitution
The constitutlonri ~ daughter and cheers.) And
one would suppose to hear those democratic ora
tors deciaim that the constitution had been torn
into millions Of Infnitisslma fragments and scat
tered by radical hands 10 the four winds
OF heaven, out upon examination It was
found That that venerable document was
IN iolcraby fair 50 tate or preservation, and In his
opinion very much improved 10y the new provisions
that had been cngrafted on II. The astonishing
stitutIon preyisely as the Evii One is said to
aIiude 10 the Holy Scriptnres-icheersJ- only
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