The outrages narrated in the preceding pages are ample for the purposes of
this work, in giving such authenticated facts as show the existence of a
deep-seated conspiracy against law, and the well-being of society.
They have been selected at random, from hundreds of similar instances that
have come under the personal observation of the writer, and that bear with
them the same irrefutable evidences of the truth, and serve to enable the
general reader to comprehend the awful scenes that have been enacted in
various parts of the South since the close of the war of the Rebellion.
In the light of these outrages, and the positive manner in which the
responsibility of their authorship has been fixed upon those who had
determined to ride into power, even though fraud and violence were
necessary to that end, who shall say that the unfortunate South has not
suffered vastly more from its pretended friends than from those whom, by
corrupt means, its people had been led to suppose were their worst
enemies.
Under the pernicious rule of Andrew Johnson, the disturbing elements of
the South gathered renewed hope for the final success of the ambitious
aspirations which had been dissipated by a long and bloody war. That
which had been lost to them through the unswerving integrity of our great
captains in the field, they thought would be secured through the treason
of the traitor in the Cabinet, and they marshalled their forces with that
end in view, and initiated a reign of terror, such as had hitherto been
unknown even in the darkest hours of adversity within the history of the
Republic.
The accession of General Grant to the presidency, caused a halt in this
wild and mad career, and there was a momentary lull in the operations of
the conspirators. It remained to be seen whether one, coming so fresh from
the people--a plain and unassuming man, although laden with honors second
to that of no military chieftain of ancient or modern time--would be
indifferent to the cry for help which was coming up from all parts of the
then famished land, and fail to apply the appropriate remedy, or whether
he would appreciate the true situation of affairs there, and would be able
to say to the disturbing elements of the South, in language which they
could not well mistake: LET US HAVE PEACE.
Time, which gives the just solution to the most intricate of social and
political problems, has informed the nation that it had not long to remain
in doubt. The results thus far attained, show the elaboration of a plan,
conceived in wisdom, founded upon reason and righteousness, and prosecuted
with an even regard for the rights of all, that has commended itself to
civilization everywhere.
The writer has taken especial pains to ascertain, from persons well versed
in the political situation at this juncture, the policy to be pursued by
this Administration, and the wisdom of which seems to have been amply
verified by what followed. The plan to be adopted, they state, was decided
upon only after the most mature deliberations into which the counsels of
the best minds of the country were called. It was necessary that the
condition of affairs in the South should be arrived at with an accuracy
that would place the information sought to be obtained beyond all doubt as
to its genuineness and reliability, as the only means by which such an
intelligent and comprehensive understanding of the evil could be obtained
as would enable President Grant to inforce the laws applicable to the
case, or, in the absence of such, to recommend to Congress the enactment
of those commensurate with the magnitude of the subject. This was
accordingly done.
Agents for the work were selected, with no reference whatever to their
political principles. They were placed under the general charge of a
competent officer, in whose judgment great confidence was reposed, and
were instructed to get at the facts regardless of political bias.
Each one of these agents supposed that he had been sent on a special
mission to ascertain if a certain condition of affairs, said to exist in a
certain locality, did so exist, and had not the remotest idea that several
others had been sent on similar missions to sections of the Southern
country remote from his field of operations.
The evidence of the existence of an armed organization, pernicious in its
policy and its tendencies, and looking to the disruption of society and
the compelling of the adoption of political principles obnoxious to the
people upon whom they were attempted to be forced, came in from all
quarters. The reports differed in minor details, but had a general
correspondence that was remarkable.
Some of these agents--and to whom the writer is indebted for many of the
facts herein contained--stated that all strangers in the localities
visited by them were looked upon with the greatest suspicion, and they
soon learned that the security of their lives depended largely upon the
enunciation of principles according with the Democracy; that the word
democrat was the _open sesame_ to the confidence of the leading spirits in
the various communities through which they passed; that Democracy in the
South meant rebellion, and that Ku Kluxism meant both, and they governed
themselves accordingly.
To attain the object, and get the most comprehensive view possible of the
condition of the people, these men, for the time being, were "Democrats,"
and "Rebels," and would gladly be "Ku Klux." By adroit and skillful
management they procured themselves to be initiated into the various
orders of the K. K. K., and were enabled thus to discover the numbers,
resources, operations, designs, and ultimate purposes of the same. The
names and residences of the victims, the outrages committed by the Klan,
were also obtained, until an array was presented that almost challenged
belief.
The information was full, thorough, and reliable. It left no longer room
for doubt. Action--vigorous and energetic action--based upon laws enacted
with special reference to the evil to be met, must be had. The suffering
sons and daughters of the South demanded it; the cause of human justice
and human freedom demanded it; the enforcement of the rights of the
recently emancipated bondmen demanded it; and in the interest of law and
order everywhere throughout the land, there came a demand for the adoption
of such measures as would save the people of the South from themselves,
and thus verify the scriptural saying:
"And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them to
pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to afflict, so will
I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the Lord."
It was evident that if they were left to their own devices, the people
must fall into complete anarchy and ruin. Urgent as were these demands,
nothing could be done hastily. The salvation of a people and the well
being of a nation was in the balance, and the most profound and mature
deliberation was necessary at every step.
It was wisely deemed by the Executive that a continuation of the policy
adopted by him at the outset of his official career with regard to all
sections of the country would apply to this, viz., the judicious
enforcement of appropriate laws, enacted with special reference to the
existing emergency. This was considered a measure which, while it could
give no just grounds of offense to _any_, would afford the most available
means for securing the rights of _all_, and attaining the desired end.
There must be no halting by the wayside. The noblest and best blood of the
nation had been expended for a purpose not yet accomplished. Nothing save
the complete restoration of order, the harmonization of conflicting
elements, and the vindication of the rights of _all_ to their own
individual opinion, and the expression of the same through the ballot-box,
as their conscience might dictate, could be in any manner commensurate
with this great sacrifice.
The words of a just and righteous God to a suffering people must be
redeemed: "And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou
shalt dig about thee and thou shalt take thy rest in safety; also thou
shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid."
On the 23d of March, 1871, President Grant sent to Congress a message, in
which he touched delicately but unmistakably upon this subject, as
follows:
_"A condition of affairs now exists in some of the States of the Union
rendering life and property insecure, and the carrying of the mails and
the collection of the revenue dangerous. The proof that such a condition
of affairs exists in some localities is now before the Senate. That the
power to correct these evils is beyond the control of State authorities, I
do not doubt. That the power of the Executive of the United States, acting
within the limits of existing laws, is sufficient for present emergencies
is not clear."_
It was further suggested that such legislation should be had as would
secure life, liberty, and property in all parts of the United States; and
in pursuance of this recommendation, an act was passed by Congress, and
approved April 20th, 1871, entitled, "An Act to enforce the provisions of
the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and for
other purposes."
This was a blow under which the various orders of the Ku Klux Klans reeled
and staggered like quivering aspens. The leaders of these Klans had so
long disregarded law as to come to think, apparently, that they were no
longer amenable to it, and might be a law unto themselves. They predicted
that any attempt to interfere with them would lead to results in
comparison with which the scenes enacted during the war of the rebellion
would sink to insignificance; but, as the results have thus far shown,
they had reckoned without their host.
They sought to stand upon something like tenable ground and to fortify
their position before the world, by arguments that were worn threadbare
long before the war of the Rebellion, and they failed most signally. Their
fallacious reasonings were impotent to justify their acts, and they
neither enlisted the sympathies, nor gained the support of those to whom
they appealed.
The march of progressive republicanism, irresistible in the force of its
teachings, and the spread of the God-like principles of truth, justice,
and equality among men, without distinction of race or color, which had
_then_ encountered the fiercest obstruction within the power of the
slaveocracy to throw in its way, _now_ swept over the country, uprooting
the tyrannical oligarchy of the South, tearing asunder the flimsy veil
behind which the great wrongs done to the bondmen were sought to be hid,
and destined, in its onward course, to remove every vestige of those
pernicious principles so inimical to sound doctrine and the stability of
governments.
The results produced by the spread of these principles, and the
enforcement of the laws based thereon, can hardly be estimated. Taking the
condition of the Southern States both before and after the war--