The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-11-11
THE SOUTHERN KU-KLUX.
Important Information Obtained by
the Congressional Committee -
TreasOnable Designs Of the Order
of the Invisible Empire.
From the New York Herald. I

this city on the seventh pr0XlmO, bnt a SUBJ
committee, charged with making digest Of
the financial condition of the Southern
States, of which Senator Poole is chairman,
will meet on the first proximo. This sub
committee have arranged a plan under
which, if the State authorities respond, the
public will be able 70 obtain full exhibit
of the several State debts, etc.
Mr. Pooles circular makes the following
! inquiries as to State Indebtedness in July,
1861 at the surrender in 1865, when the
present governments were lnaugurated, and
on the first of January, 1871
For how much was the State responsible,
as indorser or otherwise, in 1861? For
what was it then prospectively liable Also,
what part of the increase of the indebted
ness since 1865 arose from the collateral
responsibility of 1861 What from the con.
tingcnt Ct prospective liability of 1851 !?
What from accrued interest unpaid upon the
old debt? What from the necessities created
by the oss during the rebellion of public
funds dedicated to specific purposes, and of
| which the State or its authorized agents
had the management? ~
The committee ask that items be given
separately with the laws under which they
were incurred and the political composition
of the Legislature passing the same; also,
as to what specific pubic funds, if any,
were lost to the State through the rebellion
and how. Whether any considerable losses
have been incurred since 1865 by defalca
tions, frauds and otherwise Also, what
was the county taxation in 1860 and in
1870? What the State expenses were in
1858, 1859 and 1860, and in 1863, 1869,
1870, and if any increase, what are the
| reasons therefor
Other questions are propounded relative
to the manner of holding elections at the
several periods named, the object being to
ascertain the condition in 1S60-61 the con-
Cition at the surrender in 1865 the condi.
ton at the inauguration Of the pre- ent gov
eminent under the reconstruction acts, and
to compare each with the other and with the
condition at present The answers are being
sent to the several members Of the sub
committee, and in general are quite full on
the points suggested. This digest will be
one of the most valuable documents in the
voluminous report to be made to Congress-
At the meeting of the full committee the
necessary steps will be authorized for the
presentation to the Senate of a number of
contumacious witnesses, among them being
General Forrest, of Tennessee, and W. A.
Saunder, of North Carolina, the latter
being well known to be chief of the invisible
empire Of that State There are dozen Of
those witnesses in ALL most Of them having
absented themselves from the city after being
summoned and reporting here. One of the
runaways is reported to be living at ST.
GATHERINGS, Canada.
The testimony already taken by the Ku.
klux committee is in general of the most
startling character. This evidently alone
will fill about fifteen hundred octave pages,
| and covers the testimony of more than four
hundred witnesses, chiefly from the States
of North and South Carolinas, Mississippi
and Alabama, with few from Georgia and
Tennessee. A sub committee is now at work
in the Caroinas, Georgia and Florida, while
a second is investigating Tennessee, Ala
bama and Mississippi. Probably these two
subcommittee will examine at least three
hundred witnesses, whose evidence. when
printed, will cover one thousand more
printed pages.
The evidence taken before the United
States Circuit Court at Raleigh in the recent
trials there is now being Transcribed from
photographic notes for the department of
justice. There is very little doubt but that
Congress will call for this and print 1T with
the report TO be made by the investigating
committee. Those who are familiar with the
nature Of the testimony taken by the ku-
klux committee, declare that much ss has
been said by the press on that subject, the
country will not realize the horrible condi-
ton of the South, and the terrible nature Of
the Ku-klux or invisible empire until this
report is spread before it.
All sorts of persons have been examined,
and abundant proof afforded by the open
acknowledgment of its members as we'll as
by the eyaSions and even perjuries Of those
who are among its leaders to prove that it is
formidable, widespread organization, ex-
isting in every Southern State, from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande, though most
active in the States of North and South
Carolina. The central parts of Georgia,
Alabama, the middle and northern portions
of Mississippi. and the central and western
counties of Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas
and Louisiana are comparatively free from
its active operations. though proof is in the
hands of the executive to show that it only
needs an occasion to put in active appear
ance in the States named. Florida has oe-
casional manifestations, while Texas shows
many proofs of its activity.
The testimony taken by the invt stigating
committee is, much of Il, Of 6 horrible
character. The cruel outrages perpetrated
by these bands are diversified by acts which
would shame the Apache Indians. Instances
by the hundred Of manning and mutilating
before and after death are sworn to. Special
hostility is shown by the Ku-Kiux toward
Northern Methodist ministers, to school
teachers and school houses In South Caro-
lima their efforts have been specially against
the officials, mostly colored, and in all
places the large majority Of outrages have
been inflicted on colored people.
The percentage of direct murder can not
be less than ten in a hundred, while as many
die afterward from the abuse received. 1t
was seldom that the whippings were unac-
companied by some bestial act or manning
of the assaied persons. All the evidence
taken establishes the political character Of
the conspiracy, aud it is made clear that its
purpose is to destroy the reconstructed State
governments, and crush out the political
party which sustains them.
This is the result of the congressional in
vestigation, but the facts in possession of
the executive departments prove more
dangerous design than this as being pur-
sued by the as yet unknown supreme chiefs
and councils of this order 1t is established
beyond doubt, according to this evidence
hat VA ono xrbo coryad r., 4J,n falara1 orvr, ii,