Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment Part 17

TO THE PUBLIC

K. K. K.

TAKEN BY HABEAS CORPUS.

In silence and secrecy thought has been working, and the benignant efficacies of concealment speak for themselves. Once again have we been forced by force to use _Force_. Justice was lame, and she had to lean upon us. Information being obtained that a "doubting Thomas," the inferior of nothing, the superior of nothing, and of consequence the equal of nothing, who has neither eyes to see the scars of oppression, nor ears to hear the cause of humanity, even though he wears the Judicial silk, had ordered some guilty prisoners from Union to the City of Columbia, and of injustice and prejudice, for an _unfair trial of life_; thus clutching at the wheel-spokes of destiny--then this thing was created and projected; otherwise it would never have been.

We yield to the inevitable and inexorable, and account this the _best_. "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth," is our motto.

We want peace, but this cannot be till justice returns. We want and will have justice, but this cannot be till the bleeding fight of freedom is fought. Until then the Moloch of Iniquity will have his victims, even if the Michael of Justice must have his martyrs.

K. K. K.[59]

ANOTHER KU KLUX PROCLAMATION.[60]

The following doc.u.ment was discovered on yesterday morning posted on the "legal advertis.e.m.e.nt" board hanging at the court-house door. We have examined the original and find it is in the same handwriting as the one left with the jailer on the night of the late raid on the jail:

HEADQUARTERS K. K. K, DEPARTMENT OF S. C.,

_General Orders No. 49._

_From the G. G. C., S. S._

We delight not in speech, but there is language which, when meant in earnest, becomes desperate. We raise the voice of warning, beware!

beware! Persons there are, (_and not unknown to us_,) who, to gratify some private grudge or selfish end, like Wheeler's men, so called, are executing their low, paltry, and pitiful designs at the expense, not only of the n.o.ble creed we profess and act, but also to the great trouble and annoyance of their neighbors in various communities. We stay our hand for once; but if such conduct is frightening away laborers, robbery, and connivance at the secrets of our organization is repeated, then the mockers _must_ suffer and the traitors meet their merited doom. We dare not promise what we do not perform. We want no subst.i.tutes or conscripts in our ranks. We can be as generous as we are terrible; but, _stand back_. We've said it, and there can be no interference.

By order of the Grand Chief, A.O., _Grand Secretary._

KU KLUX MANIFESTO.[61]

Below we publish a doc.u.ment which we received through the postoffice on Monday last, it having been dropped into the letter box the previous night, as we are informed by the postmaster. As to whether or not the paper is genuine, and emanates from the mysterious Ku Klux Klan, we have no means of knowing, as the handwriting is evidently disguised. Although it is our rule to decline the publication of all anonymous communications, we have decided to waive the rule in this instance, and print the doc.u.ment for what it is worth. Here it is in full:

EXTRACT OF MINUTES.

ARTICLE 1. Whereas there are malicious and evil disposed persons, who endeavor to perpetrate their malice, serve notices, and make threats under the cover of our august name, now we warn all such bogus organizations that we will not allow of any interference. Stop it.

ARTICLE 2. There shall be no interference with any honest, decent, well-behaved person, whether white or black; and we cordially invite all such to continue at their appropriate labor, and they shall be protected therein by the whole power of this organization. But we do intend that the honest, intelligent white people (the tax payers) of this county shall rule it! We can no longer put up with negro rule, black bayonets, and a miserably degraded, thievish set of lawmakers, (G.o.d save the mark!) the sc.u.m of the earth, the sc.r.a.pings of creation.

We are pledged to stop it; we are determined to end it, even if we are "forced by force to use force."

ARTICLE 3. Our attention having been called to the letter of one Rose, county treasurer of York, we brand it as a lie! Our lieutenant was ordered to arrest him, that he might be tried on alleged charges of incendiarism, (and if convicted he will be executed). But there were no shots fired at him and no money stolen; that is not in our line, the legislature of the State of South Carolina have a monopoly in that line.

By command of the Chief.

Official: K. K. K., A. A. G.

K. K. K.[62]

HEADQUARTERS; NINTH DIVISION, S.C.,

_Special Orders No. 3, K. K. K._

"Ignorance is the curse of G.o.d." For this reason we are determined that the members of the legislature, the school commissioners, and the county commissioners of Union, shall no longer officiate. Fifteen (15) days' notice from this date is therefore given and if they, _one and all_, do not _at once and forever resign_ their present inhuman, disgraceful, and outrageous rule, then retributive justice will as surely be used as night follows day.

Also, "An honest man is the n.o.blest work of G.o.d." For this reason, if the clerk of the said board of county commissioners and school commissioners does not _immediately_ renounce and relinquish his present position, then harsher measures than these will most a.s.suredly and _certainly_ be used.

For confirmation, reference to the orders heretofore published in the _Union Weekly Times_ and _Yorkville Enquirer_ will more fully and completely show our intention.

A.O., _Grand Secretary._

March 9, 1871.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

"Dam Your Soul. The Horrible _Sepulchre_ and b.l.o.o.d.y Moon has at last arrived. Some live to-day to-morrow "_Die._" We the undersigned understand through our Grand "_Cyclops_" that you have recommended a big Black n.i.g.g.e.r for Male agent on our nu rode; wel, sir, Jest you understand in time if he gets on the rode you can make up your mind to pull roape. If you have any thing to say in regard to the Matter, meet the Grand Cyclops and Conclave at Den No. 4 at 12 o'clock midnight, Oct. 1st, 1871.

"When you are in Calera we warn you to hold your tounge and not speak so much with your mouth or otherwise you will be taken on supprise and led out by the Klan and learnt to stretch hemp.

Beware. Beware. Beware. Beware.

(Signed) "PHILLIP ISENBAUM, "_Grand Cyclops_.

"JOHN BANKSTOWN.

"ESAU DAVES.

"MARCUS THOMAS.

"b.l.o.o.d.y BONES.

"You know who. And all others of the Klan."

WARNING SENT BY THE KLAN

From Ku Klux Report, Alabama Testimony.]

THE OATH.[63]

I, before the great immaculate G.o.d of heaven and earth, do take and subscribe to the following sacred binding oath and obligation: I promise and swear that I will uphold and defend the Const.i.tution of the United States as it was handed down by our forefathers in its original purity. I promise and swear that I will reject and oppose the principles of the radical party in all its forms, and forever maintain and contend that intelligent white men shall govern this country. I promise and pledge myself to a.s.sist, according to my pecuniary circ.u.mstances, all brothers in distress. Females, widows, and their households shall ever be specially in my care and protection. I promise and swear that I will obey all instructions given me by my chief, and should I ever divulge or cause to be divulged any secrets, signs or pa.s.s-words of the Invisible Empire, I must meet with the fearful and just penalty of the traitor, which is death, death, death, at the hands of my brethren.[64]

I, T. A. Hope, before the Great Immaculate Judges of Heaven and Earth, and upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty G.o.d, do, of my own free will and accord, subscribe to the following sacred, binding obligation:

I. I am on the side of justice and humanity, and const.i.tutional liberty as bequeathed to us by our forefathers in its original purity.

II. I reject and oppose the principles of the radical party.

III. I pledge aid to a brother of the Ku Klux Klan in sickness, distress, or pecuniary embarra.s.sments; females, friends, and widows, and their households shall be the special object of my care and devoted protection.