It seemed to be the intent of the orders of the Ku Klux Klan everywhere
throughout the South, to impress upon the people, the fallacy of
attempting to entertain any opinion inimical to those put forth by the
Klan. The attacks of the Klan were first directed to such of the people as
were bold enough to declare themselves unionists and republicans.
Scourging, banishment or murder were the measures adopted to enforce
silence, and these terrible agents proved fully potent to accomplish the
end.
This enforced silence, however, appeared to be dangerous, and was
certainly more ominous to the order, than the freest utterances of the
most radical views. "Those not with the order, must certainly be against
it," said the leaders, and a new crusade was forthwith inaugurated. The
object of the new movement was to compel every able-bodied white man to
join the Order and become bound to it by oaths, administered in the Camp.
Notices were accordingly issued by the respective Chiefs of Dominion from
every Camp, requiring the presence of parties, for initiation into the
Order. When these were not heeded, they were followed by warnings. If the
parties were still refractory, then they received a visitation.
The two first cases arising under this new arrangement, were those of
Paul Myers and John Chapman, of Jefferson County, Ala. These gentlemen
were joint proprietors of a small store, and while inwardly opposed to the
principles of the Ku Klux, had outwardly conducted themselves in such a
manner as to give no cause of offence to the Klan. They were surprised in
common with many others, upon receiving a notice to appear for initiation
into the Jefferson County Camp of the K. K., and they resolutely refused
to comply with the request.
They were then warned, that they would be "Ku Kluxed" if they did not
come, and the threat was carried out, both of them being severely whipped,
and their store pillaged. A second warning was sent to them, and this was
succeeded by a second visitation, more terrible than the first. They were
so badly beaten at this time, that their lives were despaired of, and as
soon as they were able, they closed their store and left the place.
They then placed themselves in communication with the United States
Officials, and under their advice returned, signified their willingness to
join the order, and did so. By this means they were enabled to arrive at
the names of parties engaged in various raids, and obtain all information
necessary to the arrest and conviction of the leaders. This was one of the
first steps that led to the breaking up of the Klan in Jefferson County.
Messrs. Myers and Chapman managed to impart information to the United
States Officers, upon which several of the prominent members of the order
were arrested and lodged in jail, and the visitations ceased.
In White County, Georgia, Mr. William Carson received a notice from the Ku
Klux of that County, that he must join the order. Carson was the head of
an intelligent family, a Republican in principle, but who avoided
expressing his opinions as much as possible.
He paid no heed to the notices and warnings sent him, but pursued the even
tenor of his way, remaining home as much of the time as his business would
admit, and being especially careful about going abroad at night.
During November, 1871, he received the long promised visitation. The
evening meal was through with, the early evening prayers of the children
had been said, the latter were about retiring, when a number of the Klan,
armed, mounted and disguised dashed up to the door.
Mr. Carson opened the door and mildly asked to know the object of their
visit. The reply was a rifle shot, which was immediately followed by a
second, and Mr. Carson fell dead across the door step. The Klan
disappeared as suddenly as they had come. The grief stricken family raised
up the inanimate form of the beloved husband and father, only to realize
that the voice which had so long been the comfort and consolation of the
little household would never be heard by them again.
This in a christian land! Within the sound of the sabbath bells, and
almost under the shadow of the sanctuary of the living God. A christian
gentleman refusing to bind himself with those who had sworn to overthrow
the Government, and scourge and kill the negro and the radical; shot down
within his own door, in sight of his wife and little ones, because,
forsooth, he had the temerity to think and act, politically, as his
conscience seemed to dictate.
Thinking men throughout the nation will stand for many years to come with
William Carson, on the spot where he met his awful and untimely fate, and
they will stand there in the power of consolidated right, beating back the
onslaughts of the powers of darkness, and raising a monument to the
justice of that course, which by the vigorous action of the nation's
counsellors, and under the provident rule of a beneficent God, is fast
being established on a solid foundation.