_Singular Conduct of the Klan._
In the latter part of the year 1870, there resided in Clinch County,
Georgia, a gentleman by the name of Asa Thompson, who, although a
Southerner by birth and education, was an outspoken Radical Unionist, and
had directly identified himself with the Republican party.
In his intercourse with the people he was frank and free in the expression
of his sentiments, and always exercised the right of suffrage, conducting
himself in an orderly and acceptable manner, at all times, as a good
citizen should do. He was proprietor of a thrifty plantation, upon which
he employed a large number of hands, and stood well generally in the
community.
These essential requisites to a good citizen were altogether insufficient,
in the eyes of the Ku Klux Klan in that vicinity, to balance the bad
points (in their esteem) which characterized him, inasmuch as he was a
Radical in principle. This fault was considered good cause for forwarding
to Thompson a sharp "warning" from the camp, which was sent him in the
customary form, and he was ordered to restrain himself in the utterance of
his Radicalism, or quit the country.
If he failed to obey, then he would receive a visitation from the K. K.
K.'s, and that meant death. To this notice he gave no attention, but
laughed at the threat and awaited events. A second warning was then sent
him, couched in the following terms:--
"One of three things will happen to you, very shortly. You will leave
the country, so that we can never find you--change your politics--or
be turned into Buzzard Bait.