The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-08
Ku.Klux DiabOlism.

ELEVEN PREGNANT FACTS BRouonT TO
LIoHT BY THE CONGRESSIONAL lNvEsTI-
eating COMMITTEE.
The Congressional Committee investi-
eating the ku-klux villainy---a sub-com-
mittce in Washingt on, and another sub
committee in South Carolina-have now
been in daily session more than two months
and have had before them many scores of
witnesses from all sections Of the late in
statesmen of both high
and humble station-Presiding Elders,
preachers, ex-members of the Federal
Congress and ex.members of the Confed-
crate Congress, ex-generals of both arm
les, Governors and ex Governors, Judges,
solicitors, sheriffs, revenue officers
officers of the army, postmasters, school
teachers, repentant and unrepentant
members of ku.klux klans, and dozens
of their manned and suffering victims,
black and white.
And what has this patient and thorough
investigation established-aud establish
ed beyond all future cavil and question ?
These atrocious facts
l That in all the late insurrectionary
states, and are generally diffused, Though
not found in every County, is an oath
bount secret organization, working only
at 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 dorm the Republican
and Duttino mn the Democratic Partv;
known in different localities among the
initiated by different names, but every
where recognized by the general cognomen
"kU-k LUX"
2. That the organization came into be-
ing a few months previous to the last
presidential election, during which can
vass it was in its most vigorous condition,
but is now through all the south, with
more efficient discipline and effec.
tive direction than lever, reviving, in
preparation for the next presidential
campaign, when, as they told one of their
victims in Tennessee few weeks since,
"no ID Radical voting is to be allow.
ed 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 elec-
tion of President, and so, by securing the
entire electoral vote of that section, make
sure the election Of the Democratic nomi-
nee
t. That the officers and establishers of
these "dens" (as they appropriately call
their separate bands) are the leading and
active Democratic politicians of the
SOUTH
3. That the scheme has the heart )
goodwill of large section of the Demo
cratic party in all these states, and the
acquiescence of nearly the entire party.
6. That the direct and chief purpose
of the organization as sworn by the vic.
Tins, as the assertion uniformly made te
them by these midnight assassinns and
corroborated by the universal testimony
of the rcpentant and divulging members
Of the order, is this The putting down
of the Republican and the putting up o.
the Democratic party.
7. That while the Democratic and ku
klux witnesses on their direct examina
ton usually deny the political purpose o
the order, asserting that the ku.klux arc
a social necessity growing out of the alb
olition of the old patrol that they have
to ride the country to "keep the nigger,
in their place y that under the influence
Of radical legislation and Methods
preaching the niggers are liable to be
come saucy," and without an occasiona
ku-klux visit would "begin to think them
selves as good as white folk :" and tha
these frequent hoggings, and an occasiona
murder, are necessary to maintain such ;
state Of morals among the blacks as viii
permit the vice-hating whites to live il
their neighborhood yet, on the cross
examination, these witnesses also yer,
generally, as well as very reluctantly con
tess that the intimidation Of Republical
, voters is a prominent and not to be re
gretted result.
, :. That to secure this purpose, tn
: putting down Of the Republican and tn
' putting-up Of the Democratic party, init
midation is the grand measure-the init
A midation of Republican voters, black an
| white but especially the humble and dc
t fenceless, by midnight raids by burnin
q houses and stores, and the destruction c
: crops; by whippings of such extrem
: cruelty as of to end in death by mos
t indecent and painful naming by assassin
| alton and murder IN such cowardl
h manner and with such helllsh device a
| my strike terror into whole counties, an
] bring down the Republican vote fror
n two or three thousand to less than singl
F., dozen.
| 9. That "school.teachers, and preacl
y ers of the Methodist church north" seel
to be the especial adherence of thes
= Democratic assassins; and hundreds {
t school, l-houses and Methodist churchs hav
4 been given TO the flames; and christendol
d will stand aghast when it is made know
Y the scores OF school-teachers and Metht
!, dist preachers, who, by this Democrat
agency, within these three years, hay
a been whipped shot hung and, in SON
# instances, it is believed, burned at tn
,. stake
is 10. That in nearly one-half the stat,
c of this Union this work of hell is now q
d ing on, night by night-every month e,
|, tending the range of its bloody operation
,, and feariully multiplying the number
[ its victims
S IL. That it is solely apd immediatel
], in the service, of the Democratic part
r, "a large proportion of the party sout
II heartily approving-lsrge numbers of II
party north attempting its palliation |
y excuse, and its shelter from scorn by CO.
,, ering up or denying its crimes, as
If cowardly assassination could be palliate
g and brutal murder excused-and Il
o Democratic party throughout the lar