The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-08-24
oTTUmwA COUNTY THURSDAY AUGUST "a 1871.

OTTUMWA, WAPELL|
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P0NDHR -EU.ELux O1A00L1014.
Eleven Pregnant Facts Brought 8
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ty Purpeso. ggs
The Congressional Committee in
vestigating the Ku-Klux3 villainy-a
subcommittee in Washington, and
another sub committee IN South Car.
olina--bave now been in daily session
more than two months, and have
had before them many SCORES Of wit
nesses from all sections OF the late
Insurrectionary Statesmen of both
high and humble station-P Presiding
Elders, Preachers, OK. Members Of the
Federal Congress and ex- Members OF
the Confederate Congress, ex-Gener-
ais Of both armies, Governors and ex
Governors, Judges, Solicitors, Sher-
ifs, Revenue Officers, Officers Of the
army, Postmasters, School Teachers,
Repentant and Non-repentant mem-
bers Of Ku-K Klux Klans, and dozens of
their MANNED and suffering victims,
black and white.
And what has this psticnt and
thorough Investigation establishcd- -
and established beyond Sll future
cavil and question ? These atrocious
facts:
l. That in all the late Insurrec-
tionary States, and generally diffused,
though not found in every county, is
an oath bound Secret Organization,
working only at night, and its mem-
bers. always in disguise, with Ofi-
GERS, Signs, Signals, Pass words,
Grips, and all the necessary para
phernalia, with the pledged and
sworn purpose of putting down the
Republican and putting up the DEM
ocratic: party; known in different
localities among the initiated by diff
ferent names, but every where recog-
nlzod by the general cogomen "Ku-
Klux."
3. That tho organization came in
to being y few months previous to
the last presidential election, during
which canv ass it was in its most
vigorous condition, but is now
through all the South, with more
efficient discipline and effective direc-
tion than ever, reviving, in prepara-
ton for the next Presidential cam
paign, when, as they told one oftheir
victims in Tennessee few weeks
since, "no id Radical voting is
to be allowed in any Southern State,
by black or white"
3. That this Ku-klux organization
is the premeditated and determined
scheme for carrying the South at the
next election Of President, and so, by
securing the entire electoral vote of
that section, make sure the election
of the Democratic nominee.
4. That tho officers and establish
ers of these "dens Gas they appro.
priately cali their separate bands),
are the leading and active Demo
cratic politicians of the South.
5. That the scheme has the hearty
goodwill OF large section of the
Democratic party in all those States,
aud the acquiescence of nearly the
entire party.
8. That the direct and chief pur-
pose of the organization, as sworn
by all the victims, as the assertion
uniformly made to them by these
midnight assassins, and corroborated
by tho universal testimony of the
repentant and divulging, members of
the ORDER. is this: The putting down
of the Republican and the putting up
of the Democratic party.
z. That while the Democratic and
Ku-Klux witnesses on their direct
examination usually deny the polit-
ical purpose of the order, asserting
ihat the Ku Klux are social neces-
sity growing out of the abolition of
the old Patrol; that they have to
ride the country to "keep the niggers
in their places" that under the in
fluence Of Radical Legislation and
Methodist preaching the niggers are
liable to become ssucy," and without
an occasional Ku. Klux visit would
" begin to think themselves as good
white folks" and that these frequent
aoggings, and on occasional murder,
are necessary to maintain such state
of morals among the blacks as will
permit the vice-hating whites to live
in their neighbcrhood yet, on the
cross examination, these witnesses
also very generally, as well as very
reluctsntlv, confess that the lntimi-
dation Of Republican voters is q
prominent and not TO be regretted
result.
8. That to secure this purpose, the
putting down of the Republican and
the putting-up Of tho Democratic
Party, Intimidation is the grand meas
ure-the intimidation of Republican
voters, black and white, but especial
ly the humble and defenoeless, by
Midnight Raids by Burning Houses
and Stores, and the Destruction Of
Crops; by Whippings of suoh extreme
cruelty as often to end in Death by
most indecent and painful Manning /;
by Assassination and Murder in such
cowardly manner and with such
hellish device as may strike terror
into whole counties, and bring down
the Republican vote from two OF
three thousand to less than single
dozen.
| 8. That "School- teachers" and
preachers of the Methodist Church
North" seem to be the especial alb
horrence of these Democratic Assas
sins and hundreds of School houses
and Methodist Churches have beer
given to tho flames; and Christendon
will stand aghast whom it is mad
known the scores of SchoQltcacher
and Methodist Preachers, who, b.
this Democratic agency, within thes
three years, have been Whipped
Shot Hung and, in some instances
it is believed, Burned at tho Stake
10. That in nearly one-half th
States OF this Union this work q
hell is now going on, night by nigh
: every month extending the rang
ofits bloody operations, and fearfull
n N