The New York herald., 1871-03-11

One Witness minister did not state what were ~.
party relations, and another stated he had formed
no party connection. In the twenty-one ranked AZ
members of the democratic or conservative party
are
SIX MEMBERS OF THE KU KLux KHAN
four OF whom were summoned because of the belief
from previous developments that they could and
ganization. The other two were summoned at the
instance OF the minority OF the committee TO show
state militia, and upon their examination acknow-
ledged that they were members OF the order.
me ilrst subject or inquiry, then, is-Iiave the
been committed by organized political bands OF dis
loyal or evil disposed persons In the state OF North
We first direct attention TO the evidence showing
the existence In that State Of secretly organized
bodies OF political character as the existence
apd operation OF what is now termed the Ku Kiux
Khan ere excused-by those who d excuse them
on ,he ground OF prior existence OF other secres
poillcal organizations, we refer to ali tLat have
Deen mentioned az having any bearing upon tho
question since the close OF the rebellion. The first
Heroes Of America or the "Red Strings"
About the time the reconstruction acts proposed to
conner polltlcai rights upon the cOOred citizens
THE UNION LEAGUE
was introduced into North Carolina; the exact time
seem to lx it about the latter part OF 1861 Wit
nesses were examined, who were members OF that
organization both IN the Northern and southern
States, and many Others have given their opinions
abour It's purposes understood by general reports
There Is no doubt thatit was q political oreaniza
ana that they were bound BY an oath. II Il
I 1t rs nes pao meenas pnS
and ana pr processon,s n,sr in ~, which the members
II. The colored population generally became men,
bcrs OF that organlzation and, to show their estl-
mate of 1t, the committee insert an extract from the
memper OF tho League. That violence was
either directed or countenanced by this League Is
cumberng this report with extracts we VIII only
Teier 10 pages 3l a. s7 80, lle l3a. III LAT, $780,
this 81 VI" aessd asd soms xsnyas
arc quoted as sustaining the charge, that
the members OF the League seek to deter the
That the sentiment OF the League and It's coiored
members is against that party Is entirely clear rom
testimony and and ,he coored man who votes it runs
Gqunter to the dominant opinion OF his race in the
With this preliminary reference to the "Heroes OF
AMERICA and to the Union League, now come 10
the establishments of what Is termed the Ku klux
a hee e he rea We ae o. mS ~ Us stages
tlonal Union Guards" and "The Invisible En-
plrc'--the name "Ku Klux Klan" having been
lie and to enable them to deny connection
with 1t when asked upon the witness stand
This order was instituted in North Carolina
some time IN 1893, certainly before the Presidential
cations as early as 1867. AS an exposition OF this
organization, OF the obligations imposed upon its
members the penalty for revealing Its secrets, It's
modes OF proceeding, Its purposes, members con-
nectons and extent, the committee insert here at
length The testimony of one or rs members, Q man
acknowledged by all who have spoken Of him TO
have borne good character as lawyer and a citl-
Zen
Settle anu District Solicitor Bynum.l
The committee continue:-iaving thus spoken
OF the secret political societies the other branch OF
Outrages have been committed by theml Nothing
is alleged against the "heroes OF America" or ''Red
String' orders, except
TREASON AGAINST THE SOUTHERN CoNFEDERAcY.
Although the intrusion OF members OF Tie "Grand
Army Of The Republic" into the "Whte Brotherhood"
is guarded aealnst there Is no evidence 10 snow
that the organization OF the ''Grand Army OF the
Carolina, nor does any evidence appear that it rs 9
political organization, nor has any other complaint
appeared against It than It's alleged interference
which may be inferred from the terms VI the
oath Of the "Whtc BROTHERHOOD, q band OF outlaws
organizing for plumber and with no polltical pur-
pose, consisting OF q few muattoes, III a settlement
called 'scuineton,, Is shown to have existed IN
Robeson county. That individual members OF the
league have violated the laws there Is no doubt.
THAT they were arrested dentified, tried, convicted
and punished by the regular administration Of the
law In the courts is testified TO by men OF all par.
ties Grimes are alleged TO have been committed In
pursuance OF an organized movement among the
colored people recently In Chatham county ana also
in Walker county, where barns and perhaps other
buildings were burned. In those cases the Offenders
trial. W. s. Bradshaw, a most unwilling wit.
ness, ana member OF the Kn Klux organization.
for the establishment OF the Ku Klux order, upon
cross-examination, testified that there no rea-
IS
civil law could always Sc executed In his county at
any time for the offences charged against the ku
Klux aud we use tnat term to cover the three asso
cations where the purposes and modes OF operation
are show II TO have been the same and concealed
under this name they are numerous.
The message OF the President contains documents
tending to shsw the existence OF this organization
in Stokes county as early as the fail OF 1851 1T being
alleged that tobacco dealers ana distillers who
eyaed the revenue laws were the first to introduce
1t there, and that the
WHIPPING OF NEGROES
onlth thrnn m N n
their political opinions soon after commenced. Up
to the 27th october 1870, twcntyone cases OF whip
ping and shooting are reported as having occurred
in Lincoln county From the LIST December, 1865 to
the 22d December 1S70 list OF thrtyelght cases Is
furnished having occurred In Alanance county
embracing two murders, one OF mutilat.on. many Of
whipping, threats OF violence, nc. The same mes
sas SH peere es" Rs .a ns nr a
tct, at Newbern, in the cases OF the Leuor county
prisoners CHARGED with conspiracy. me testimony
OF the Ku Klux organization In Lenoir anu Greene
counties in April, 1869; that the death Of Sheriff
Colgrove was voted in one OF their meetings because
he assisted 10 arrest one Hines, member OF that
/ order that he was murdered In pursuance OF that
decree in April. 1859; tnat Hines, with auutner
ber OF the ORDER who was conned in jail with him.
were Iorcibly released from the Jail at Knston BY
Tnc committee continues:-With this testimor'
and terms OF this oath before them, no reasOnab
man can doubt that the purpose OF this organzatio
was political, and any attempt on the part OF thl
witnesses to Rive It the character of league simply
for the protection OF person and property can be
to which Its demorazing effect ana influence have
been carried of their ignorance OF Its real charac
ter 1t is TO be noticed thar after enJonnQ secrecy,
the first requisite 10 membership Is that the 'nsyi-
tiate" Is NOT member OF the "Red String" order or
OF tho "IerOes OF America" Bearing III mind that
this order-"Heroes OF Amerca"-was opposed TO
the rebellion, that its members were charged with
treason against the Confederacy, and that t had for
Its object adherence TO the constitution OF the
United States and the restoration Of the Union" it
follows that the spirit OF the organization into which
men are admitted under this oath Is that o.. TT Q
rebellion, and that IL refuses fellowship to those
who were true to the United States. The secofa
requisite is that applicants not members OF the
Union league. Taxing the objects Of the league,
Der OF 1t would be admitted into this order, and
that an obligation to be true to the constitution Of
the United states and to the constitution OF North
fled the man who had taken II for membership In
the "Whlte Brotherhood The third requisite H.
that the candidate Is not u member OF tue "Grand
Army OF the Potomac" so that the soldier or the
la tfal Int.