The Portland daily press., 1871-08-14

The Washington correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Gazette writes of two witnesses be-
fore the Ku-Klux committe:
"An excellent illustration OF the diffiulties
the committee sitting here have had to con-
tend with in obtaining truthful evidence, as
well as valuable information in regard to the
subject matter of investigation, will be found
in the following account of conversation
between two prominent witnesses. 1t occurred
in the room of one OF them, and the windows
being wide open, gentlemen sitting near them
in their own apartments were made unseen
auditors OF all that passed. 1t is hardly fair
to name these witnesses or to indicate the
state they were from, but the version of the
conversation can be relied upon; and the
standing of both parties is such as to give
much significance to what was said.
One was general, and ex-confederate, and
now prominent politician at home. The
other was also an ex-cOnfederate, colonel,
and is well known as a leading man in his
section. The general had called upon the
colonel. After passing friendly compliments,
the conversation ran on, in substance as fol-
lows:
General-Well, colonel, was examined by
the committee to-day, and hear they are to
call you to morrow. As we are from the
same section, thonght would call around
so that we could compare notes, and agree,
you know.
Colonel-Well, general, have concluded
to answer all questions am asked, to the OF
my knowledge. Of course, don't intend to
volunteer any testimony; but, so far as am
asked, shall tell all know.
General-But you see, colonel, that it 10 We
ry important very indeed, considering our po-
sitiOns at home, and our political relations
that our testimony should agree.
COlonel-Yes, the testimony certainly ought
to agree, since we are both tolerably posted
about affairs at home. Perhaps we shall
agree. What did you testify to?
General-Of course swore that there was
no Ku-Klux organization in our section oil
anything of the kind, so far as know. /
swOre the whole thing down.
ColOuel-Well, then, our testimony won!
agree, for know that the Klan does exist
there, and that it is active, too. And you
| must know it, general.
General-Well, you do talk strangely; do
you knO1 any Ku-Klnx?
Colonel-Yes, know, as you must, that
nearly everybody of our way of thinking is in
| it, in Que neighborhood. l have list of six
ty l can swear to. Hear the colonel read
his list.
General-You are not going to inform OF
all those fellows, are you?
SoiohOi GO, IL diu dohcu. Hat SET XIII
| ed A, and intend to pursue them for it
and have some of them hung, too. These
outrages are destroying our own country, and
it's time all decent men united to put then
down.
| General-But, colonel don't kno,o tha
these neighbors of ours are Ku- Klux. dom
knoac that they killed poor A.
Colonel-Well, sir, they met on your plan
tation the night they rode, and killed him.
General-That might be, and yet no
knOap it. You see can only swear to what ,
knOac. Now,I was not there, and l can
knO,p it, OF course, between you anu me,
have my suspicious about all things, put thei
can,t iell them and live at home. And, col
onel. your own prospects would be first-rate
politically if you would go in with us an(
work along smoothly against the radicals.
Mingled with the above there was considera
BILE excited talk on both sides, but the sui
stance SO far as 1t was material is preserved.
From the point indicated the conyersatio
ran on good naturedly, and covered the Who'll
ground OF the Ku-Klux organization, takin
Tor granted throughout the very state of fact
claimed to exist by the most radical. Tn,
klan existed; it was composed of the major
ty OF whites among their neighbors; its pu
poses were political, and involved the owe
throw of the radicals, and eventually of a
state laws passed to enforce the reconstru'
tion amendments; it was now organize