Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-08-05

| kU-kLUX lNVEsTIGATION-The summing
UP of the evidence taken by congressional
committee for investigating these outrages in
the South, show a most deplorable state of
affairs, and causes humanity 10 blush that the
adhcrants of any party IN this coutry can
deliberately plot and perpetrate such barbar-
ism and crulety, and the history of these out
RACES from day to day be read with composure
and indifference by those in political affilia-
ton, who would take it amiss if the questions
were to be raised that they were not friends
of morality and virtue. The committee con-
sisting Of Senator SCOTT, and Representatives
STEVENS and VAN TRUMP, returned to Wash
ington on the Goth ult., after "A four weeks
sojourn in various portions Of South Carolina,
and the same time in other sections. The fol-
lowing is n digest Of facts as established by
these investigations, and submitted by the
committee:
l. That in all the late Tnsurrectionary
States, and generally diffused, though
not found in every County, is an oath
bound, secret organization, working only
ut night, and its members always in dis
guise, with officers, signs, Signals, pass
words, grips, and all the necessary para
phernalia, with the pledged and sworn
purpose of putting dozen the Rcpu6tican
and putting mp the Democratic Party,
known in different localities among the
initiated by different names, but every
where recognized by the general cogno-
men "Ku.Klux."
2. That the organization came into
being few months previous TO the last
Presidential election, during which can
vass IL was in its most vigorous condi-
ticn, but is now through all the South,
with more efficient discipline and cffec-
tive direction than ever, reviving in
preparation for the next Presidential
campaign, when, as they told one OF
their victims in Tennessee, a few days
since, "no Id Radical voting il to be
allowed in any southern state, by black or
white"
8. That this Ku Klux organization is
the premeditated and determined scheme
for carrying the South Mt the next clcc-
tion OF President, and 30, by securing
the entire electoral vote Of that section,
make sure the election OF the Democratic
nominee.
4. That the officers and establishers of
these "Dcns" (as they appropriately call
their separate bands) are the leading
and active Democratic politicians OF the
South!.
5. That the scheme has the hearty
goodwill OF lurge section of the Demo
cratic party in all those States, and the
acquiescence of nearly the entire party.
u. That the direct and chief purpose
OF the organization, as sworn by all the
victims, is the assertion uniformly made
to them by these midnight assassins, and
corroborated by the 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.
T. That while the Democratic and Ku
kluN witnesses on their direct examina-
usually deny the political purpose of the
order, asserting that the Ku Klux are
social necessity, growing out OF the
abolition of the old patrol that they
have to ride the country TO "keep the
niggars M their place y that under the
influence of Radical Legislation and
Methodist preaching the niggers are
liable to become saWcy," and without
the occasional Ku Klux visit would
"begin to think themselves as good rs
white folks = and that these frequent
tioggings, and an occasional murder, are
necessary TO maintain such state Of
morals among the bhck rs will permit
the vice-hating whites to live in their
neighborhood yet, on the cross.exam.
nation, these witnesses also very gen
orally, as we'll as very Reluctantly, con-
icss that the intimidation of Republican
voters is a prominent and not 10 be- re-
GREETED result.
8. That TO secure this purpose, the
putting down of the Republican aud the
putting up of the Democratic party, in.
timldaton is the grand measure--the in
timidation Of Republican voters, black
and whher but especially the humble
and deteDdless, by midnight raids by
burning houses aud stores, and the de-
s''1clion OF crops; by whippings of
such extreme cruelty as often TO end in
death by most indeeent and, psinfuL
manning > by assassination and murder
in sucli cowardly manner aud with such
hellish device as may strike terror into
whole countless and bring down the Re.
publican vote from 2,oee on 3,O0e to less
titan q single dozen.
0. "That school teachers and preachers
of the Methodist Church North seem 10
be the especial adherence of these Demo
cratic assassins and hundreds OF school.
houses and Methodist churches have
been given to the flames ) and Christen.
dom win stand aghast when il is made
known the SCORES of school teachers and
Methodist preachers, who, by this Demo
cratic agency, within these three years,
have been whipped [! shot 7 hung ! and,
in some instances, IL is believed, burned
at the stake
10. That in nearly one-half the States
OF this Union this work of hell is now
going on, night by hight-every month
extending tie range Of rs bioodS otefa.
:ion', and fearfully multiplying the mum.
Der of its victims
u, That il is solely and immediately