New-York tribune., 1874-10-22
RACE CONFLICT in ALABAMA

xRN AIaBAMA-TESTIMONY OF RAILROAD
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WORKING ON RAILROADS
GENERALLY LET ALONE, EVEN IN KU-kLUX
TIMEs-LAwLEss ACTS ALLOWED TO GO ON IN
roRMER YEARs-IyEy KILLED ON ACCOUNT OF
HIS coIOR-THE ARRESTS BY DETECTIVE HESTER.
(FRoM TUE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
CHATTANOOGA Tenn, Oct 17.-The Alabama and
Chattanooga Railroad extends from this city, In
sol.h-westerly direction. across Alabama, TO Meri-
diam which is only few miles beyond the Missis-
sppi line and it intersects in the western part OF
the State about half of the counties included In the
IVth Congressional District, where Congressman
Hsys has reported "Reign of Terror" Among
these are Bibb Greene. Hale, Sumter, and lusca-
loosa This road was built in 1869, 1870 and 1871,
during the time that the Ku-Klux Klan was in its
most hourishing condition. and when, according to
almost universal testimony. society was in very
alarming state Of disorganzation The present
manager of the road, Mr. j. c. Stanton, superin-
tended its construction, and having been constantly
on the ground had better opportunities than almost
any one else. not a resident to become acquainted
with the character of the people To use his own
words he stepped on every tie of the road between
Chattanooga and Meridian; he ate, drank anu
slept with the people; he travelled all over the
country by day and by night, and by every ordinary
means of conveyance; he went on CONSTRUCTION
trains in a buggy on horseback, and on foot; was
everywhere known to be Northern man ana an
outspoken Republican. and was never molested.
Mar did his knowledge of the country cease with
the completion of the road ever since, MS duties
have called him TO make frequent trips over the
hne to sop at country stations and TO TRANSACT
business with the people, 1t was on this road that
Tom Ivey was appointed last Winter early in the
Spring to act as mail agent, and on the lower di-
vision of it he was assassinated late in August OF
this year.
Knowing that the testimony of such man as Mr.
Stanton would assist in obtaining correct under
standing of the true condition of affairs in Western
Alabama improved an opportunity offered me
Yesterday to talk with him. He told me that, IN
spite Of the troubles which occurred in the counties
I have named during the time the road was build
ing aud notwithstanding the fact that ne had as
many as 1000 negroes at work there at one tlme he
had comparatively little trouble either with the
whites or with the blacks. 1.-The eolored people
he said. have the reputation of being thieves and
they may be So generally but assure you that $50
would pay for all their depredations during the
entire time had them at work"
HOW THE NEGROES FARED IN THE KU-KLUX TIMES.
"Those were Ku-Klux times" remarked; were
not your wOrkmen iuterfered with y
ooh yes in few cases. few were murdered
and some whipped. but generally they were let
alone. have always made it rule never to put a
man where | thought there was danger that he
would be killed. and so, when found that certain
negro was obnoxious to the white roughs IN the
vicinity where he was at work, removed him to
another section of the road And then, too. those
fellows knew that would stand no nonsense, and
concluded it was best to let my men alone"
when they did interfere with the men, what did
you do :"
"Well III give YOU an example. We had during
the construction of the road movable post-ofice,
which was kept in car at or near the place where
the men at work. One night some men came
and took out a negro and ordered him to take down
the little flags that placed over this office. At
first be refused but after they had whipped him he
obeyed. was telegraphed to and arrived the next
day. ] found a lot of longhaire rOugbs sitting
around and very soon was talking with them about
this affair. They said they knew nothing about it,
told them that, whether they did not, they could
stop such things if they desired to- and was de-
termneG that my should be unmolested.
told them that should the negroes, and that,
If anything of the kind occurred again. should turn
them loose and lay waste their country more effect
ually than Gen. Sherman ever did Georgia And
did arm them-that is, did not put the arms into
their hands, but left them in charge of the overseers
where they could be got-and we were troubled no
more"
"You are very familiar with those people" said;
al should be pleased to have your opinion whether
the lawless acts that have occurred in Western
Alabama are approved by the majority of the people
or not"
IAwLEss ACTS APPARENTLY C0UNTENANCED IN
FORMER YEARS.
"Well I'll tell you. 1t seemed to me sometimes
as though everybody countenanced them. For in
stance three or four years a man named Spring
field who lived in st. Clair County, shot
almost to death-the assassins thought that he was
dead Immediately after the Government desired
to move some troops in that vicinity, and we went
with train for that purpose. The troops were
canned about three miles from the railroad and it
WAS necessary for some one to go and inform them
that the train was ready. Everybody was afraid to
60 as the woods were full of Ku-Klux, and finally
took the message myself. At that time l told some
of the respectable people that such state OF affairs
could not exist without their countenance. and they
rephed that they were afraid to speak out in con-
demnation or to give the names of the guilty men,
IL thew knew them If they should do it, they them
selves would be attacked their houses burned or
some other outrage would be committed upon them.
They deplored the lawlessDess, but burst not
take measures to stop it. The roughs finally got so
bold that they began to burn our bridges and de-
stroy our property, and we succeeded in arresting
some of them. convicted them and they have been
in the Huntsville prison for about eighteen months
We have had no trouble since The men we got be-
longed to gang of desperadoes. and their arrest
broke it up"
IyEY KILLED BECAUSE He WAS Niger
Now about Tom Ivey. l suppose there is no
doubt that his was political murderW
"Oh, | think Ivey was killed because he was
3nigger' told him when he was appointed that
there was a set of men down there who would not
let him rum and that they would kill him If they
could not get rid of him otherwise. He was good
man. almost white, and thoroughly competent for