Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-27
RATHER TO THE POINT.
Freeman onthe KukIux.


The Tennessee Tribune of the 18th pub
fishes in full a very able and vigorous
speech of Hon. A. A. Freeman, on the ku
klux resolutions of Mr.. Chester, introduc
ed in the House of Representatives al
Nashville on the 8th inst. te
The resolutions denied the existence oil
kuklux in Middle aud West Tennessee
During the course of his remaks Mr.. Free
man said
When did the organization commonly
known az Kuklux cease TO exist? a nv
Mr.. Harris.-The supposed Kukux or
CARNATIONS ceased when the Radical par
ty ceased drilling negroes in our midst for
insurrectionary purposes.
Mr.. Fireman. am glad to hear from a
gentleman who seems to speak from the
card, but allow me tosay to the gentleman
from Shelby, that while it may he true
that the organization as such NAV have
ceased TO exist, as he says, tits nevertheless
true that squads and numbers of that or
ganization did not and have not vet ceas-
ed to commit their outrages in Tennessee
1t is, therefore, distinction without diff
ference to say, that the organization does
not exist, the BdiUidUdks exist, and if Won
will hang them and stop their depredations
the country cares but little what becomes
Of the organization.
| know, and every other member on
this floor knows that such an organization
y
since the war. These resolutions assert in
the most positive terms that no such or
ganization exists at present. ] would like
to know, and the country would like to
know, if the gentleman speaks from the
card, " where does he get his informa-
ton? Let him produce to this House the
order .disbanding this army of midnight
assassins.
Mr.. Enloe.-The gentleman from Hay
wood speaks so positively, l would like to
know by which natural sense he has been
able to determine their existence. Wheth-
er by seeing feeling or smelling.
Mr.. Freeman.-By all three. They look
like fiends, feel like toads and smell like
dogs.
How do knoU that such an orpaniza-
ton has existed l know it, because /
have seen them in their unearthly garb.
mustered in war-like array; led on like
blood-hounds in search of their victim.
knOO it bee use have heard the still quiet
of the night Weakened by the din of their
death dealing "Navies." l k1totO it, be-
cause / have seen.the blood flowing from n
dozen wounds in their lifeless victimI
knoaO 1T from the testimony of hundreds of
unlmpeachable witnesses of their crimes.
Mr.. Cheatham.-If these kuklux are
what they are represented to be by the
gentleman from Haywood, / wonder that
he has been allowed to come here.
MIR. Freeman.-I understand the allu-
sion OF the gentleman from Robertson and
will say to him that / have denounced
these scoundrels in their strongholds, lust
as have denounced them to-day. Ihave
said to them as still say to them, that my
blood is at their disposal whenever they
think that they have a sufficient amount
OF their own to give in exchange for it.
Let me say here once for all, that the peo-
pie of Tennessee have suffered from these
outrages until forbearance has ceased to be
virtue. They do not intend any longer to
stand silently by and see their friends shot
down in cold blood for no other reason
than because they do not vote to suit these
masked assassins. And from this time
forth blood for blood will be demanded at
their.hands.