The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-28

|
Ecening Post furnishes that paper with
what he calls copy Of the original consti-
tuition and obligation of the ku-klux-klan,
which, he mysteriously adds, an officer of
the United States army was enabled to
trace through the hands of various chiefs
of the order directly to the "Grand Chief
of the Seventy" in whose handwriting it
is. The document is us follows:
OBLIGATION TAKEN BY THEKU.KLUX.
~ (name), before the immaculate Judge
of Heaven and Earth, and upon the Holy
Evangelists of Almighty God, do, of my
own free will and accord, subscribe to the
following sacrediy-5inding obligations
"First-We are on the side Of justice,
humanity and constitutional liberty as be-
qneatbed to as in its purity by our fore
fathers.
"Second-We oppose and reject the
principles OF the radical party.
"Third-Wc pledge mutual aid to each
other in sickness, distress and pecuniary
embarrassment.
"Fourth-Females, friends widows and
their households shall ever be special OBJ
jscts of our regard and protection.
"Fifth-Any member divulging or caus-
ing to DO divulged any of the foregoing
obligations shall meet the fearful penalty
and traitors doom, which is. death, death,
death.
| CONSTITUTION.
"ART. This organization shall be
known as the--Order, No., Of the Ku-
| Klux Khan of the state of South Carolina
| ART. 1.-THE officers shall consist OF u
cyclops and scribe, both of whom shall be
elected by q majority vote Of the order and
TO hold their office during good behavior.
"ART. III. Sec. lit shall be the duty
of the &. to preside in the order, enforce a
due observance of the Constitution and By
Laws and an exact compliance to the rules
and usages of the order; to see that all the
members perform their respective duties;
appoint all committees before the order lin
| sDect the arm I'd dress of each member
on special occasions; to CO meetings when
necessary; draw upon members for all
sums needed to carry on the order.
"Sec. 1.-The S. shall keep record OF
the proceedings of the order; write COM
muncations; notify other Klans when
their assistance is needed; give notice
when any member has to suffer the
penalty for violating his oath see that all
books, papers or other p operty belong
ing to his Office are placed beyond the
reach of any one but members Of the order.
He shall perform such other duties as may
be required of him by the G.
"ART. ", Sec. mo person shall be
initiated into this order under eighteen
years of age.
"Sec. 2-No person of color shall be
admitted iuto this order.
.'Sec. 3.-No person shall be admitted in
| to the order who does not sustain good
moral character, and who Is any way in
capacitated to discharge the duties Of a XII
| Klux.
| "Sec. 4.--The name OF q person offered
for membership must be proposed by the
committe appointed by the chief verbally,
| stating age residence, and occupation,
| state, If he was q soldier in the late war,
his rank whether in the federal or Con.
! federate service, and his command.
| "ARr. V. Sec. Amy member who
shall offend against these articles or the
bylaws, shall be subject TO be lined and
reprimandod by the e., as two-thirds of
the members present at any regular meet
ing may determine.
"Sec. 2.-Every member shall be entitled
to a fair trial for any offence involving
reprmand or criminal punishment.
| "BY-LAws.
| CART. l. Sec. This order shall meet
At.
| "Sec 2-Five members shall constitute
a quorum provided the q. or s. be pre-
sent.
"Sec. 3.-The G. shall have power to ap.
point such members Of the order TO attend
to the sckly, the needy and those dis
tressed, and those suffering from radical
msrule, as the case may require.
"Sec. 4.-No person shall be appointed
on committee unless the person is pres-
ent at the time Of appointment. Mem
bers of committees neglectng to report
shall be fined 80 cents.
"ART. ii. Sec. livery member on
being admitted shall sign the constitution
and bylaws and pay the initiation fee.
Sec. "A brother Of the Khan wish
ing TO become member of this order