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diff --git a/31819.txt b/31819.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..edd3f58 --- /dev/null +++ b/31819.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7221 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ku Klux Klan, by +J. C. Lester and D. L. Wilson and Walter L. Fleming + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ku Klux Klan + Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment + +Author: J. C. Lester + D. L. Wilson + Walter L. Fleming + +Release Date: March 29, 2010 [EBook #31819] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KU KLUX KLAN *** + + + + +Produced by Colin Bell, Joseph Cooper and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | + | been preserved. | + | | + | The pages in Appendix I and II are preserved as printed, | + | with latin headers and page numbers marked like so: | + | [Header: 'text' 'page number'], and latin footers like | + | so: [Footer: 'text'.] A compiled version is included at | + | the end for the benefit of the reader. | + | | + | Many of the illustrations are facsimiles, so have | + | bleedthrough in the original images. Also the first | + | image is missing in the original. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + KU KLUX KLAN + + ITS ORIGIN, GROWTH AND + DISBANDMENT + + BY + + J.C. LESTER AND D.L. WILSON + + WITH + APPENDICES CONTAINING THE PRESCRIPTS + OF THE KU KLUX KLAN, SPECIMEN + ORDERS AND WARNINGS + + WITH + INTRODUCTION AND NOTES + BY + WALTER L. FLEMING, PH. D. + + _Professor of History in West Virginia University; Author + of "Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama."_ + + + + +NOTE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT. + + +Assistance was given to me while searching for information in regard +to Ku Klux Klan, by many former members of the order, and by their +friends and relatives. Of especial value were the details given to me +by Major James R. Crowe, of Sheffield, Alabama; the late Ryland +Randolph, Esq., and his son, Ryland Randolph, Jr., of Birmingham, +Alabama; Judge Z.T. Ewing, of Pulaski, Tennessee; Miss Cora R. Jones, +of Birmingham, Alabama, niece of one of the founders of the Klan; Mr. +Lacy H. Wilson, of Bristol, Tennessee, the son of one of the authors +of the History printed within, Major S.A. Cunningham and Mr. A.V. +Goodpasture, of Nashville, and Dr. John A. Wyeth, of New York City. + +There is still much that is obscure about Ku Klux Klan and I shall be +glad to obtain additional information in regard to the order, and also +to receive notice of mistakes and errors in this account. + + W.L.F. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + +INTRODUCTION. +BY WALTER L. FLEMING. 13 + + +KU KLUX KLAN. + +BY J.C. LESTER AND D.L. WILSON. + + PAGE + +Chapter I. The Origin 47 + +Chapter II. The Spread of the Klan 68 + +Chapter III. The Transformation 83 + +Chapter IV. The Decline 100 + +Chapter V. Disbandment 125 + + +APPENDICES. + + PAGE + +Appendix I. Prescript of Ku Klux Klan 133 + +Appendix II. Revised and Amended Prescript of Ku Klux Klan 151 + +Appendix III. Constitution of a Local Order 177 + +Appendix IV. Ku Klux Orders, Warnings, and Oaths 187 + +Index 199 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +1. Badge worn by high officials of the Klan. See outside cover. + + PAGE + +2. Some Klansmen 19 + +3. General Nathan Bedford Forrest, Grand Wizard 28 + +4. General John B. Gordon 33 + +5. Room in which the Klan was organized 53 + +6. Costumes worn in Mississippi and West Alabama 58 + +7. Costumes worn in Tennessee and North Alabama 97 + +8. Carpetbaggers Listening to a Ku Klux Report, (Cartoon) 113 + +9. The Fate of the Carpetbagger and the Scalawag, (Cartoon) 192 + +10. A Specimen Warning sent by the Klan 196 + + + + + "When laws become lawless contrivances to defeat + the ends of justice, it is not surprising that + the people resort to lawless expedients for + securing their rights."--_S.S. Cox, in "Three + Decades," p. 558._ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +BY + +WALTER L. FLEMING + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +By WALTER L. FLEMING, Ph. D., + +Professor of History in West Virginia University. + + +Twenty-one years ago there was privately printed in Nashville, +Tennessee, a little book by J.C. Lester and D.L. Wilson, that +purported to be an account, from inside information, of the great +secret order of Reconstruction days, known to the public as Ku Klux +Klan. It attracted little notice then; and since that time it has not +been given the attention it deserved as a historical document.[1] At +the time of writing, sectional feeling was still inflamed; the +Northern people were not ready to hear anything favorable about the Ku +Klux Klan, which they considered a band of outlaws and murderers; and +the Southern people were not desirous of being reminded of the +dreadful Reconstruction period. Many of the members of the Klan who +had been hunted for their lives, and who were still technically +outlawed, were unwilling to make known their connection with the order +and some even considered their oaths still binding. But since the book +was printed, the Prescripts or Constitutions of the order have come to +light, and the ex-members are now generally willing to tell all they +know about the organization. As yet, no other member has written an +account of the Klan, though several have been projected, and Lester +and Wilson's History seems likely to remain the only one written +altogether from inside sources. + +The authors, Capt. John C. Lester and Rev. D.L. Wilson, were in 1884, +when the booklet was written, residents in Pulaski, Tennessee, where +the first Den of the Klan was founded. Major Lester was one of the six +original members of the Pulaski Den or Circle. He made a fine record +as a soldier in the Civil War in the Third Tennessee (Confederate) +Infantry, and afterwards became a lawyer and an official in the +Methodist Church, and was a member of the Tennessee legislature at the +time of writing the book. Rev. D.L. Wilson, who put the account into +its present form, was born in 1849, in Augusta County, Virginia. He +went to school to Jed Hotchkiss and was graduated as valedictorian of +his class from Washington and Lee University, in 1873, and a year +later from the Union Theological Seminary, near Hampden-Sidney, +Virginia. From 1874 to 1880 he was pastor of a Presbyterian church at +Broadway, Virginia, and from 1880 to 1902 he served a church in +Pulaski, Tennessee. He died in 1902 after a six months' residence in +Bristol, Tennessee, as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. He was +not a member of the Klan, but was acquainted with the founders and +with many other former members, and had access to all the records of +the order that had not been destroyed. In addition to information +received from other members, Wilson was assisted by Captain Lester, +who furnished most of the facts used, revised the manuscript and the +book was printed with both names on the title page. + +As a general account of the Ku Klux movement Lester and Wilson's +History leaves something to be desired. It is colored too much by +conditions in Tennessee. No knowledge is shown of other organizations +similar to Ku Klux Klan, when in fact there were several other very +important ones, such as the White Brotherhood, the White League, the +Pale Faces, the Constitutional Union Guards, and one, the Knights of +the White Camelia,[2] that was larger than the Klan and covered a +wider territory. Then, too, in an attempt to make a moderate statement +that would be generally accepted, the authors failed to portray +clearly the chaotic social, economic and political conditions that +caused the rise of such orders, and in endeavoring to condemn the acts +of violence committed under cloak of the order they went too far in +the direction of apologetic explanation. Consequently, the causes seem +somewhat trivial and the results not very important.[3] It would seem +from their account that after a partial success, the movement failed +in its attempt to regulate society, and degenerated into general +disorder. This is a superficial conclusion and is not concurred in by +the survivors of the period and those who understand the conditions of +that time. The remnants of such a secret, illegal order were certain +to degenerate finally into violence, but before it reached this stage +it had accomplished much good in reducing to order the social +chaos.[4] + + [Illustration: SOME KLANSMEN + 1. D.L. Wilson, one of the authors of "Ku Klux Klan." 2. Major + J.R. Crowe, one of the founders. 3. Captain John C. Lester, one + of the founders. 4. General Albert Pike, chief judicial officer. + 5. General W.J. Hardee. 6. Calvin Jones, one of the founders. 7. + Ryland Randolph.] + +In view of the fact that the Lester and Wilson account does not +mention names it will be of interest to examine the _personnel_ of the +original Pulaski Circle, out of which the Klan developed. (See p. 52). +There were six young men in the party that first began to meet in the +fall and winter of 1865: (1) Captain John C. Lester, of whom something +has been said. (2) Major James Richard Crowe, now of Sheffield, +Alabama, who was a native of Pulaski and was educated at Waterbury +Academy and Giles College. When the Civil War began he was studying +law in Marion, Alabama, and enlisted at once in the Marion Rifles, +Company "G," Fourth Alabama Infantry. Later he was transferred to the +35th Tennessee Infantry. He was in the battles of Manassas, Fort +Donelson, Shiloh, Shelton's Hill, White Farm, Richmond, Perrysville, +and others of less importance. Three times he was severely wounded and +twice discharged for disability. He was captured with Sam Davis and +both were tried as spies; Crowe was acquitted and Davis was hanged. He +has held high rank in the Masonic order and has been an official in +the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. (3) John Kennedy, the only +survivor of the original six except Major Crowe. He was a soldier in +the 3rd Tennessee Infantry during the Civil War, is a Presbyterian, +and an honored citizen of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. (4) Calvin Jones, +son of Judge Thomas M. Jones, was a lawyer, and a member of the +Episcopal Church. He was Adjutant of the 32nd Tennessee Infantry +during the Civil War. (5) Richard R. Reed was a lawyer, a +Presbyterian, and during the war had served in the 3rd Tennessee +Infantry. (6) Frank O. McCord was editor of the _Pulaski Citizen_, a +Methodist, and had been a private soldier in the Confederate service. +Two others came in at the second or third meeting--Capt. J.L. Pearcy, +later of Nashville, now of Washington, D.C., and James McCallum.[5] +The founders were all of Scotch-Irish descent and most of them were +Presbyterians. + +In regard to the founding of the Pulaski Circle, Major J.R. Crowe +says: "Frank O. McCord was elected Grand Cyclops, and James R. Crowe, +Grand Turk. A committee composed of Richard R. Reed and Calvin +Jones[6] was appointed to select a name for the organization. The +Greek for _circle_ was chosen. We called it Kuklos, which was changed +to Ku Klux afterward when the name was proposed to the Circle. John +Kennedy suggested that we add another _K_, and the order was then +called Ku Klux Klan.... The mysterious lights seen floating about the +ruins (See p. 61) presented a weird and uncanny appearance and filled +the superstitious with dread of the place; so we were never disturbed, +and it only required a quaint garb and a few mysterious sounds to +convince the uninitiated that we were spirits from the other world. We +were quick to catch on to this idea and we governed ourselves +accordingly.... During our parades or appearances in public the +darkies either hid out or remained close in their houses.... The +origin of the order had no political significance. It was at first +purely social and for our amusement. It proved a great blessing to the +entire South and did what the State and Federal officials could not +do--it brought order out of chaos and peace and happiness to our +beloved South.... The order was careful in the admission of members +and I have never known of a betrayal of the secrets of the order. I am +proud to say that I never knew of one single act done by the genuine +Ku Klux Klan that I am ashamed of or do not now endorse." + +Major Crowe and other members repeatedly mention the fact that the +membership of the Klan was largely of Scotch-Irish descent. This was +bound to be the case since in the territory covered by the Klan proper +the great majority of the Scotch-Irish of the South were settled. The +Ku Klux Klan extended from Virginia to Mississippi through the white +county section--the Piedmont and mountain region. It seldom extended +into the Black Belt, though it was founded on its borders. There +another similar order--the Knights of the White Camelia--held sway. In +the Piedmont region before the spread of the Klan, there were numerous +secret protective societies among the whites, and these were later +absorbed into the Klan. The Klan led a more strenuous existence than +the Black Belt orders. In most of its territory, social conditions +were worse than in the black counties. It is a mistake to consider +that in 1865-1870, the whites in the densest black districts were in +the place of greatest danger. There the blacks were usually the best +behaved; there the whites were never divided and never lost their grip +on society; there the negro still respected the white people as +beings almost superhuman. But race relations were worse in the white +districts where there was a lower class of whites, some of whom +mistreated the negro and others encouraged him to violence. Here the +negro had never had the great respect for _all_ whites that the Black +Belt negro had, and here the whites were somewhat divided among +themselves. During the war the "tories," so called, or those who +claimed to be Union sympathizers and the Confederates, alternately +mistreated one another, and the close of the war brought no peace to +such communities. To this region escaped the outlaws, deserters, etc., +of both armies during the war, and here the wreckage of war was worst. +Such was the nature of the country where the Klan flourished. It was a +kind of ex-Confederate protest against the doings of the "tories," +Unionists and outlaws, and the negroes banded in the Union League. For +several years neither the Federal Government nor the State Government +gave protection to the ex-Confederates of this region, and naturally +secret associations were formed for self-defense. This method of +self-defense is as old as history.[7] + +The members of Ku Klux Klan are nowadays inclined to consider that +their order comprehended all that took shape in resistance to the +Africanization of society and government during the Reconstruction +period. As one ex-member said: "Nearly all prominent +men--ex-Confederates--in all the Southern states were connected in +some way with the Klan." This is true only indirectly. Nearly all +white men, it may be said, took part in the movement now called the +"Ku Klux Movement." But more of them belonged to other organizations +than were members of the Klan. The Klan had the most striking name and +it was later applied to the whole movement. The more prominent +politicians, it is said, had no direct connection with any such +orders. Such connection would have embarrassed and hampered them in +their work, but most of them were in full sympathy with the objects of +the Ku Klux movement, and profited by its successes. Many of the +genuine Unionists later joined in the movement, and there were some +few negro members, I have been told. Some prominent men were honorary +members, so to speak, of the order. They sympathized with its objects, +and gave advice and encouragement, but were not initiated and did not +take active part. General John B. Gordon, of Georgia, and General W.J. +Hardee, of Alabama, were such members. The active members were, as a +rule, young men. In this respect the Klan differed from the order of +White Camelia, which discouraged the initiation of very young men. + +Some well-known members of the Klan were General John C. Brown, of +Pulaski, Tennessee; Captain John W. Morton, now Secretary of State of +Tennessee; Ryland Randolph, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, editor of the +_Independent Monitor_, the official organ of the Klan in Alabama; +General N.B. Forrest and General George W. Gordon, of Memphis, +Tennessee; Generals John B. Gordon, A.H. Colquitt, G.T. Anderson and +A.R. Lawton, of Georgia; General W.J. Hardee, of Alabama; Colonel +Joseph Fussell, of Columbia, Tennessee. General Albert Pike, who stood +high in the Masonic order, was the chief judicial officer of the Klan. + +General Forrest heard of the order after it began to spread, and after +investigation consented to become its head as Grand Wizard. He was +initiated by Captain John W. Morton, who had formerly been his chief +of artillery. Under him the order, which was becoming demoralized, was +reorganized. As soon as it had done its work he disbanded it. An +enterprising newspaper reporter interviewed General Forrest, in 1868, +on the subject of Ku Klux Klan and extracted much information;[8] but +when before the Ku Klux Committee of Congress, in 1871, the General +would make only general statements and he evaded some of the +interrogatories. To the committee he appeared to be wonderfully +familiar with the principles of the order, but very ignorant as to +details. The average member of Congress, ignorant of Southern +conditions, did not understand that the members of the order +considered themselves bound by the supreme oath of the Klan and that +other oaths, if in conflict with it, were not binding. That is, the +ex-Confederates under the command of Forrest, Grand Wizard of the +Invisible Empire, were obeying the first law of nature and were bound +to reveal nothing to injure the cause, just as when Confederates under +Forrest, Lieutenant-General of the Confederate Army, they were bound +not to reveal military information to the hostile forces. The +government, in their view, had not only failed to protect them, but +was being used to oppress them. Consequently they were disregarding +its claim to obedience. + + [Illustration: GENERAL N.B. FORREST + Grand Wizard of Ku Klux Klan + FACING PAGE 28] + +Now that General Forrest's connection with the Klan is known it is +amusing to read the testimony he gave before the Ku Klux Committee of +Congress in 1871.[9] Though evading questions aimed to elicit definite +information, yet he was willing to speak of the general conditions +that caused the development of the organization in Tennessee. He +stated that it was meant as a defensive organization among the +Southern whites to offset the work of the Union League, which had +organized, armed and drilled the negroes, and had committed numerous +outrages on the whites; to protect ex-Confederates from extermination +by Brownlow's "loyal" militia, to prevent the burning by negroes of +gins, mills, dwellings, and villages, which was becoming common; to +protect white women from criminal negro men; in short to make life and +property safe and keep the South from becoming a second San Domingo. +He stated that about the time the order arose he was getting as many +as fifty letters a day from his old soldiers who were suffering under +the disordered conditions that followed the war, whose friends and +relatives were being murdered, whose wives and daughters were being +insulted, etc. They wanted advice and assistance from him. Not being +able to write himself, on account of a wounded shoulder, he kept a +secretary busy answering such letters. Most of the defensive bodies, +Forrest stated, had no names and had no connection with one another. +He admitted that he had belonged to the Pale Faces, and that he fully +approved of the objects of the Klan. A copy of the original Prescript +was shown to him and he was able to say that he had never seen it +before. In his day, the Revised and Amended Prescript was used, which +was never discovered by any investigating committee. He maintained +that the order was careful in admitting new members, only sober, +mature, discreet gentlemen being allowed to join. At one time, Forrest +estimated, so a newspaper reporter stated, that the Klan had 40,000 +members in Tennessee and 550,000 in the entire South. This estimate +was probably not exaggerated if the entire membership of all the +orders similar to the Klan be counted in. Forrest refused to give the +names of members. It is likely, from several bits of evidence, that he +had much to do with consolidating the order, giving it a military +organization, and making its work effective. + +General John B. Gordon, the most prominent military man, next to +Forrest, who was connected with the Klan, gave a clear account of the +conditions in Georgia that led to the organization of the defensive +societies of whites.[10] In Georgia the state of affairs where General +Gordon lived was in some respects unlike conditions in Tennessee. In +Tennessee the whites were somewhat divided among themselves and there +were not so many blacks. In Georgia, according to Gordon, the +principal danger was from blacks, incited to hostility and violence by +alien whites of low character. The latter organized the negroes into +armed Union Leagues, taught them that the whites were hostile to all +their rights, and that the lands of the whites were to be, or ought to +be, divided among the blacks. Under such influences the negroes who +had not made trouble began to show signs of restlessness; some of them +banded together to plunder the whites, and serious crimes became +frequent, especially that of rape, and men were afraid to leave their +families in order to attend to their business. The whites feared a +general insurrection of the blacks, and as Gordon stated, "if the sort +of teachings given [to the negroes] in Georgia had been carried out to +its logical results the negroes would have slaughtered whole +neighborhoods." That they did not do so, was, in his opinion, due to +the forbearance and self-control of the whites, and to the natural +kindness and good disposition of the negroes and their remembrance of +former pleasant relations with the whites. There was no great danger, +as one can see today, of the negro uprisings, but the whites thought +then that there was. The religious frenzy of the blacks during the +year after the war also alarmed the whites. The black troops stationed +in Georgia were frequently guilty of gross outrages against white +citizens and were a constant incitement to violence on the part of +their fellow blacks. The carpetbag government pardoned and turned +loose upon society the worst criminals. There was no law for several +years. The whites were subject to arbitrary arrest and trials by +drumhead courts-martial; military prisoners were badly mistreated. In +general, society and government were in a condition of anarchy; the +white race was disorganized, and the blacks organized, but not for +good purposes. + + [Illustration: GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON + Head of Klan in Georgia + FACING PAGE 33] + +General Gordon spoke of another matter often mentioned by the best +class of ex-Confederate soldiers: the Southern soldier believed +that the "Appomattox Program" had not been carried out. At Appomattox +the magnanimity of General Grant and the victorious soldiers had +impressed very favorably the defeated Confederates. The latter +believed that if Grant and the soldiers who had defeated them had been +allowed to settle matters, there would have been no more trouble. +Instead, the politicians had taken charge and had stirred up endless +strife. No effort at conciliation had been made; and the magnanimity +of Grant gave way to the vindictive policies of politicians.[11] The +whites believed that the "understanding of Appomattox" had been +violated and that they had been deliberately humiliated by the +Washington government. + +Such were some of the influences, in General Gordon's opinion, that +caused the spread of the Klan in Georgia. He says that he heartily +approved the objects of the order, that it was purely for +self-protection, an organization for police purposes, a peace police, +which kept the peace, prevented riots, and restrained the passionate +whites as well as the violent blacks. Its membership was, he said, of +the best citizens, mostly ex-Confederates, led by the instinct of +self-preservation to band together. It was secret because the leaders +were sure that the sympathy of the Federal Government would be against +them and would consider a public organization a fresh rebellion. It +took no part in politics and died out when the whites were able to +obtain protection from the police and the courts. + +These were the explanations of men who were high in the order but who +never attended a meeting and were never in actual contact with its +workings. Private members--Ghouls they were called--could have told +more thrilling stories. But deficient as the accounts of Gordon and +Forrest are in detail they supplement the history of Lester and Wilson +in explaining the causes that lay at the bottom of the secret +revolution generally called the Ku Klux Movement. + +As to the success or failure of the movement, Lester and Wilson, +condemning the violence that naturally resulted from the movement, +cause the impression (Ch. 4) that the main result was disorder. Such +was not the case, nor was it the intention of the writers to create +such an impression. The important work of the Klan was accomplished in +regaining for the whites control over the social order and in putting +them in a fair way to regain political control. In some States this +occurred sooner than in others. When the order accomplished its work +it passed away. It was formally disbanded before the evil results of +carpet bag governments could be seen. When it went out of existence in +1869, there had been few outrages, but its name and prestige lived +after it and served to hide the evil deeds of all sorts and conditions +of outlaws. But these could be crushed by the government, State or +Federal. In a wider and truer sense the phrase "Ku Klux Movement" +means the attitude of Southern whites toward the various measures of +Reconstruction lasting from 1865 until 1876, and, in some respects, +almost to the present day. + + * * * * * + +Two elaborate Prescripts or Constitutions were adopted by the Ku Klux +Klan--the original Prescript (See Appendix I) and the Revised and +Amended Prescript (See Appendix II). The ritual and initiatory +ceremonies and obligations were never printed. The by-laws and the +ritual of the Pulaski Circle or Den were elaborate but were in +manuscript only. They were quite absurd and were intended only to +furnish amusement to the members at the expense of the candidates for +initiation. No oaths were prescribed--only a pledge of secrecy. As the +Klan spread among neighboring towns, the Pulaski by-laws and ritual +were modified for the use of new Dens. After the Klan had changed +character and become a body of regulators, and it was decided that the +administration should be centralized, a convention of delegates from +the Dens met in Nashville, in April, 1867, and adopted the original +Prescript already referred to. Lester and Wilson are mistaken in +saying (Ch. 3) that the Revised and Amended Prescript was adopted at +this convention. Where and how this Prescript was printed no one now +knows. A copy was sent, without notice or explanation, from Memphis to +the Grand Cyclops of each Den. It must have been printed in a small +printing office since in the last pages the supply of *'s and +'s ran +out and other characters were substituted. Many Dens used only this +Prescript, and most of the members have never heard of more than one +Prescript. + +In some respects this first Constitution was found defective and in +1868 the Revised and Amended Prescript was adopted. Who framed it we +do not know, but it is known how it was printed. Frank O. McCord, one +of the founders of the Pulaski Circle, was editor of the _Pulaski +Citizen_. A relative of his who worked in the printing office of the +_Citizen_, made the following statement some years ago in reference to +a copy of the Revised and Amended Prescript.[12] + +"This is an exact copy of the original Prescript printed in the office +of the Pulaski (Tennessee) _Citizen_, L.W. McCord, proprietor, in +1868. I was a printer boy, and with John H. Kirk, the father of the +Rev. Harry Kirk, recently of Nashville, set the type. My brother, L.W. +McCord, received a communication one day, delivered to him by means of +a hole in the wall near the door, in which the Ku Klux deposited all +their communications for the paper, asking for an estimate for +printing this pamphlet, describing it. He delivered his reply in the +same hole, and the following morning the copy in full, the money, and +minute directions as to the disposition of the books when completed, +were in the hole. We did it all under seal of secrecy and concealment, +hid the galleys of type as they were set up, stitched them with our +own hands in a back room over Shapard's store, and trimmed them with a +shoe knife on the floor. When finished they were tied into a bundle +and deposited late at night just outside the office door, whence they +were immediately taken by unseen hands. I knew personally all the +originators of the Ku Klux Klan, and the history of its origin, its +deeds, purposes and accomplishments. + + "LAPS D. MCCORD."[13] + +It will be noticed on comparing the two Prescripts that there are some +considerable differences between the two. The Revised and Amended +Prescript is eight pages longer than the other; the name of the order +is longer; the poetical selections that introduce the first are +omitted from the second; the second has Latin quotations only at the +top of the page; and the second Prescript throws much more light on +the character and objects of the order; the register is changed, and +important changes in the administration are provided for. + +The imperfect Prescript printed in Appendix III was used in the +Carolinas and was evidently written out from memory by some person who +had belonged to the genuine Klan. The members were widely scattered +and to many of them the entire contents of the Prescript were never +known. + +When the Klan was disbanded strict orders were issued that all +documents relating to the order should be destroyed and few +Prescripts escaped. At present only one copy of the original copy is +known to be in existence. That one was used by Ryland Randolph, of +Tuscaloosa, Alabama, formerly Grand Giant of a province of the order, +and was given to me by him. It is a little brown pamphlet of sixteen +pages, and is reprinted in Appendix I. Randolph stated that he never +saw the Revised Prescript. There are two copies of the Revised and +Amended Prescript, one in the library of the Southern Society of New +York, which is now deposited with the Columbia University Library; the +other belongs to Mr. J.L. Pearcy, formerly of Nashville, now of +Washington, D.C. From the latter copy the late Dr. W.R. Garrett, of +Nashville, had the plates made that are now used in reproducing the +Revised and Amended Prescript in Appendix II. + + * * * * * + +The curious orders and warnings printed in Appendix IV had several +purposes. They were meant to warn and frighten evil-doers, to mystify +the public, and to give notice to members. Parts of the orders were +written in cypher which could be interpreted by the initiated. The +rest was gloomy sounding nonsense calculated to alarm some obnoxious +person or persons. The cypher used is found in the Register of the +Prescript. All orders that I have seen were written according to the +Register of the first Prescript. This may be accounted for by the fact +that in 1868 it was generally forbidden by law or by military order to +print or distribute notices from the Ku Klux Klan. About all that the +cypher was used for, I have been told, was to fix dates, etc. There +are thirty-one adjectives in the Register, one for each day of the +month, the first twelve for the morning hours, the last twelve for the +evening hours, and the seven in the middle for the days of the week. +The last word--"Cumberland"--is said to have been a general password. +At first the orders were printed in the newspapers, and during the +winter of 1867-1868 and the spring of 1868 many of them appeared. As +to the significance of the orders printed in Appendix IV, Ryland +Randolph wrote: "I well remember those notices you saw in _The +Monitor_ for they were concocted and posted by my own hand, disguised, +of course." ... "You ask if any of the notices you saw in _The +Monitor_ had any real meaning. Well, they had this much meaning: the +very night of the day on which these notices made their appearances, +three notably offensive negro men were dragged out of their beds, +escorted to the old bone-yard (3/4 mile from Tuscaloosa) and thrashed in +the regular ante-bellum style until their unnatural nigger pride had a +tumble, and humbleness to the white man reigned supreme." + + * * * * * + +Some of the illustrations used are of historical interest. The cartoon +opposite p. 192 is taken from the _Independent Monitor_ of Tuscaloosa, +Alabama, a Ku Klux newspaper. The hanging carpetbagger was Rev. A.S. +Lakin, of Ohio, a Northern Methodist missionary to the negroes, who +had succeeded in getting himself elected President of the University +of Alabama. The other hanging figure represents Dr. N.B. Cloud, the +scalawag superintendent of public instruction who was assisting Lakin +to get his position. They were both driven from Tuscaloosa by the +Klan. The wood-cut from which this picture was printed was fashioned +by Randolph himself in _The Monitor_ office. The picture was eagerly +welcomed by the Reconstructionists as an evidence of the state of +affairs in Alabama, and it was reproduced far and wide during the +Presidential campaign of 1868. Randolph's brother Democrats were +furious because he had furnished such excellent campaign material to +the other side. In one of Randolph's letters he states: "The name of +the Ohio newspaper that republished my famous wood-cut was the +_Cincinnati Commercial_. I have good authority for stating that said +paper issued 500,000 copies for distribution throughout Ohio during +the Seymour-Grant campaign. Not only this, but a Columbus, Ohio, paper +also issued a large edition." + +The cartoon opposite p. 113 is reproduced from "The Loil Legislature," +a pamphlet by Capt. B.H. Screws, of Montgomery. The Alabama +Reconstruction Legislature was the first to make an investigation of +Ku Klux Klan and _Sibley_ and _Coon_ were two carpetbaggers active in +the investigation. + +Opposite p. 196 is a typical warning sent to persons obnoxious to the +Klan. It is taken from the Ku Klux Report, Alabama Testimony. + +The costumes represented opposite p. 58 were captured in Mississippi +and were worn both in Mississippi and in Western Alabama. The +costumes represented opposite p. 97 were captured after the famous Ku +Klux parade in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1868. Federal soldiers donned +the captured disguises and were photographed. During the campaign of +1868 the pictures were reproduced in the Reconstructionist newspapers. + +Miss Cora R. Jones kindly furnished a drawing (see outside cover) of +the badge worn by the higher officials of the Klan, and a sketch of +the room (see p. 53) in which the Klan was founded. Her uncle, Calvin +Jones, was one of the founders, the father, Charles P. Jones, was also +a member and the badge mentioned belonged to him. + +The text of the Lester and Wilson History is reprinted without change. + + _West Virginia University, + October, 1905._ + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Cutler, in his "Lynch Law," p. 139, is the first writer outside of +the South who has paid serious attention to this history of Ku Klux +Klan. + +[2] The Constitution and Ritual of the Knights of the White Camelia +have been printed in West Virginia University Documents relating to +Reconstruction, No. 1. + +[3] Tourgee's "Invisible Empire" gives the carpetbagger's view of the +Ku Klux movement, and, though filled with worthless testimony from the +Ku Klux Report, it shows a very clear conception of the real meaning +of the movement and a correct appreciation of its results. The best +later interpretation is that of Mr. William Garrott Brown in "The +Lower South," Ch. 4. + +[4] For a full account of its work in Alabama see Fleming's "Civil War +and Reconstruction in Alabama," Ch. 21. + +[5] Other well-known members of the Pulaski Den were: Captain Robert +Mitchell, Captain Thomas McCoy, Dr. M.S. Waters, Dr. James Bowers, +Milton Voorheis, C.P. Jones, Robert Martin, Dr. C.C. Abernathy, I.L. +Shappard, Robert Shappard, J.L. Nelson, John Moore, F.M. Crawford, +Alexander McKissick, W.H. Rose. + +[6] Charles P. Jones, brother of Calvin Jones, joined later. He now +lives in Birmingham, Alabama. + +[7] Examples in European history are the Carbonari of Italy, the +Tugenbund and the Vehmgericht of Germany, the Klephts of Greece, Young +Italy, the Nihilists of Russia, the Masonic order in most Catholic +countries during the first half of the Nineteenth Century, Beati Paoli +of Sicily, the Illuminati, etc. The "Confreries" of Medieval France +were similar illegal societies formed "pour defendre les innocentes et +reprimer les violences iniques."--Lavisse et Rambaud, Histoire +Generale, Vol. 2, p. 466. + +[8] See Ku Klux Report, Vol. 13, p. 32. + +[9] Ku Klux Report, Vol. 13, Florida and Miscellaneous, p. 3. + +[10] See Ku Klux Report, Georgia Testimony, p. 304. + +[11] General Clanton, of Alabama, complained that the Southern people +had passed "out of the hands of warriors into the hands of squaws." +General Edmund W. Pettus, now U.S. Senator from Alabama, said that the +entire Reconstruction was in violation of the understanding made at +the surrender of the Confederate armies. The Confederate soldier +surrendered with arms in hand and in return a certain contract was +made in his parole according to which, as long as he was law-abiding, +he was not to be disturbed. This contract had been violated. The +government of the United States had made a promise to men with arms in +their hands and had violated this promise by passing the +Reconstruction measures, which amounted to punishment of individuals +for alleged crime without trial by law. See Ku Klux Report, Alabama +Testimony, pp. 224, 377, 383. + +[12] It is the copy he refers to that is reproduced in Appendix II. + +[13] _American Historical Magazine_, Vol. 5, p. 4. + + + + +KU KLUX KLAN + +ITS ORIGIN, GROWTH AND DISBANDMENT + +BY + +J.C. LESTER AND D.L. WILSON + + + + +KU KLUX KLAN + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ORIGIN. + + +There is no stranger chapter in American history than the one which +bears for a title "Ku Klux Klan." The organization which bore this +name went out of life as it came into it, shrouded in deepest mystery. +Its members would not disclose its secrets; others could not. Even the +investigation committee, appointed by Congress, were baffled. The +voluminous reports containing the results of that committee's tedious +and diligent inquiry do not tell when and where and how the Ku Klux +Klan originated. The veil of secrecy still hangs over its grave. We +propose to lift it. + +The time has now arrived when the history of the origin, growth and +final decay of "The Invisible Empire" may be given to the public. +Circumstances not necessary to detail have put it in the power of the +writer to compile such a history. For obvious reasons the names of +individuals are withheld. But the reader may feel assured that this +narrative is drawn from sources which are accurate and authentic. + +The writer does not profess to be able to disclose the secret signs, +grips and pass-words of the order.[14] These have never been disclosed +and probably never will be. But we claim to narrate facts relating to +the order, which have a historic and philosophic value. It is due to +the truth of history; to the student of human nature; to the +statesmen, and to the men who were engaged in this movement, that the +facts connected with this remarkable episode in our nation's history +be frankly and fairly told. + +A wave of excitement, spreading by contagions till the minds of a +whole people are in a ferment, is an event of frequent occurrent. The +Ku Klux movement was peculiar by reason of the causes which produced +and fed the excitement. It illustrates the weird and irresistible +power of the unknown and mysterious over the minds of men of all +classes and conditions in life. And it illustrates how men, by +circumstances and conditions, in part of their own creation, may be +carried away from their moorings and drifted along in a course against +which reason and judgment protest. + +The popular idea supposes the Ku Klux movement to have been conceived +in malice, and nursed by prejudice and hate, for lawlessness, rapine +and murder. The circumstances which brought the Klan into notice and +notoriety were of a character to favor such conclusions. No other +seemed possible. The report of the Congressional Investigating +Committee confirmed it.[15] Even if that report be true, like +everything else which is known of the Ku Klux, it is fragmentary +truth. The whole story has never been told. And the impression +prevails that the Ku Klux Klan was conceived and carried out in pure +and unmixed deviltry. The reader who follows this narrative to its end +will decide, with the facts before him, whether this impression is +just and true. + +The Ku Klux Klan was the outgrowth of peculiar conditions, social, +civil and political, which prevailed at the South from 1865 to 1869. +It was as much a product of those conditions as malaria is of a swamp +and sun heat. + +Its birthplace was Pulaski, the capital of Giles, one of the southern +tier of counties in Middle Tennessee. Pulaski is a town of about three +thousand inhabitants. Previous to the war its citizens possessed +wealth and culture--they retain the second--the first was lost in the +general wreck. The most intimate association with them fails to +disclose a trace of the diabolism which, according to the popular +idea, one would expect to find characterizing the people among whom +the Ku Klux Klan originated. A male college and a female seminary are +located at Pulaski, and receive liberal patronage. It is a town of +churches. + +There, in 1866, the name Ku Klux first fell from human lips. There +began a movement which in a short time spread as far north as +Virginia[16] and as far south as Texas, and which for a period +convulsed the country and attracted the attention of the civilized +world. Proclamations were fulminated against the Klan by the President +and by the Governors of States; and hostile statutes were enacted both +by State and National Legislatures. + +It was finally quieted, but not until there had become associated with +the name Ku Klux gross mistakes and lawless deeds of violence. To this +day there are localities where the utterance of it awakens awe and +fear. + +During the entire period of the Klan's organized existence, Pulaski +continued to be its central seat of authority. Some of its highest +officers resided there. This narrative, therefore, will relate +principally to the growth of the Klan and the measures taken to +suppress it in Tennessee. It is necessary to a clear understanding of +the movement to observe that the history of the Klan is marked by two +distinct and well defined periods. The first period covers the time +from its organization, in 1866, to the summer of 1867. The second from +the summer of 1867 to the date of its disbandment in the early part of +the year 1869.[17] + +The first period contains but little of general interest, but it is +necessary to describe it somewhat minutely, because of its bearing on +subsequent events. When the war ended, the young men of Pulaski, who +had escaped death on the battlefield, returned home and passed through +a period of enforced inactivity. In some respects it was more trying +than the ordeal of war which lay behind them. The reaction which +followed the excitement of army scenes and service was intense. There +was nothing to relieve it. They could not engage at once in business +or professional pursuits. In the case of many, business habits were +broken up. Few had capital to enter mercantile or agricultural +enterprises. There was a total lack of the amusements and social +diversions which prevail wherever society is in a normal condition. + + [Illustration: ROOM IN WHICH THE KLAN WAS FOUNDED + Law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones, Pulaski, Tennessee. From + sketch by Miss Cora R. Jones + FACING PAGE 53] + +One evening in May, 1866,[18] a few of these young men met in the +office of one of the most prominent members of the Pulaski bar.[19] In +the course of the conversation one of the number said: "Boys, let us +get up a club or society of some description." The suggestion was +discussed with enthusiasm. Before they separated it was agreed to +invite others, whose names were mentioned, to join them, and to meet +again the next evening at the same place. At the appointed time eight +or[20] ten young men had assembled. + +A temporary organization was effected by the election of a chairman +and a secretary. There was entire unanimity among the members in +regard to the end in view, which was diversion and amusement. The +evening was spent in discussing the best means of attaining the object +for which they were seeking. Two committees were appointed, one to +select a name,[21] the other[22] to prepare a set of rules for the +government of the society, and a ritual for the initiation of new +members. The club adjourned to meet the following week to hear and act +upon the reports of these committees. Before the arrival of the +appointed time for the next meeting, one of the wealthiest and most +prominent citizens of Pulaski went on a business trip to Columbus, +Miss., taking his family with him. Before leaving he invited one of +the leading spirits of the new society to take charge of and sleep at +his house during his absence. This young man invited his comrades to +join him there. And so the place of meeting was changed from the law +office to this residence. The owner of it outlived the Ku Klux Klan +and died ignorant of the fact that his house was the place where its +organization was fully effected. + +This residence afterwards came into the possession of Judge H.M. +Spofford, of Spofford-Kellogg fame.[23] It was his home at the time +of his death, and is still owned by his widow. + +The committee appointed to select a name reported that they had found +the task difficult, and had not made a selection. They explained that +they had been trying to discover or invent a name which would be, to +some extent, suggestive of the character and objects of the society. +They mentioned several which they had been considering. In this number +was the name "Kukloi" from the Greek word _Kuklos_ (Kuklos), meaning a +band or circle. At mention of this some one cried out: "Call it Ku +Klux." "Klan" at once suggested itself, and was added to complete the +alliteration. So instead of adopting a name, as was the first +intention, which had a definite meaning, they chose one which to the +proposer of it, and to every one else, was absolutely meaningless. + +This trivial and apparently accidental incident had a most important +bearing on the future of the organization so singularly named. +Looking back over the history of the Klan, and at the causes under +which it developed, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the +order would never have grown to the proportions which it afterwards +assumed, or wielded the power it did, had it not borne this name or +some other equally as meaningless and mysterious--mysterious because +meaningless. + +Had they called themselves the "Jolly Jokers" or the "Adelphi," or by +some similar appellation, the organization would doubtless have had no +more than the mere local and ephemeral existence which those who +organized it contemplated for it. Hundreds of societies have +originated just as this one did, and after a brief existence have +passed away. But in this case there was a weird potency in the very +name Ku Klux Klan. Let the reader pronounce it aloud. The sound of it +is suggestive of bones rattling together! The potency of the name was +not wholly in the impression made by it on the general public. It is a +singular fact that the members of the Klan were themselves the first +to feel its weird influence; they had adopted a mysterious name. +Thereupon the original plan was modified so as to make everything +connected with the order harmonize with the name. + +Amusement was still the end in view. But now the method by which they +propose to win it were those of secrecy and mystery. So when the +report of the committee on rules and ritual came up for consideration, +the recommendations were modified to adapt them to the new idea. The +report as finally adopted, provided for the following officers: a +Grand Cyclops, or President; a Grand Magi, or Vice-President; a Grand +Turk, or Marshal; a Grand Exchequer, or Treasurer; and two Lictors. +These were the outer and inner guards of the "Den," as the place of +meeting was designated. + +The one obligation exacted from members was to maintain profound and +absolute secrecy with reference to the order and everything pertaining +to it. This obligation prohibited those who assumed it from disclosing +that they were Ku Klux, or the name of any other member, and from +soliciting any one to become a member. The last requirement was a +singular one. It was enacted for two reasons. First, it was in keeping +with the determination to appear as mysterious as possible, and thus +play upon the curiosity of the public. Secondly, and mainly, it was +designed to prevent unpleasantness following initiations. They wished +to be able to say to novices: "You are here on your own solicitation, +and not by invitation from us." They desired accessions; to have them +was indispensable; but they knew human nature well enough to know that +if they made the impression that they wished to be exclusive and +select, then applications for membership would be numerous. The result +showed that they reasoned correctly. + +Each member was required to provide himself with the following outfit: +A white mask for the face, with orifices for the eyes and nose; a +tall, fantastic cardboard hat, so constructed as to increase the +wearer's apparent height; a gown, or robe, of sufficient length to +cover the entire person. No particular color or material were +prescribed. These were left to the individual's taste and fancy, and +each selected what in his judgment would be the most hideous and +fantastic, with the aim of inspiring the greatest amount of curiosity +in the novice. These robes, of different colors, often of the most +flashy patterns of "Dolly Varden" calicos, added vastly to the +grotesque appearance of the assembled Klan.[24] + + [Illustration: COSTUMES WORN IN MISSISSIPPI AND WEST ALABAMA + FACING PAGE 58] + +Each member carried also a small whistle, with which, by means of a +code of signals agreed upon, they held communications with one +another. The only utility of this device was to awaken inquiry.[25] + +And the object of all this was amusement--"only this, and nothing +more." A few young men debarred for the time by circumstances from +entering any active business or professional pursuits, and deprived of +the ordinary diversions of social life, were seeking in this way to +amuse and employ themselves. The organization of this Klan was to them +both diversion and occupation. But where, it may be asked, did the fun +come in? Partly in exciting the curiosity of the public, and then in +baffling it; but mainly in the initiation of new members. + +The ritual used in the initiation was elaborate, but not worthy of +reproduction. It is enough to say that it was modeled on and embraced +the leading features of the ritual of an order which has long been +popular in colleges and universities under various names.[26] In one +place it is the "Sons of Confucius;" in another, the "Guiasticutus;" +but everywhere, the "Ancient and the Honorable," and the +"Mirth-Provoking." + +The initiations were at first conducted in the law office, where the +suggestion for the formation of the Klan had been made. But it was not +a suitable place. The room was small. It was near the business portion +of the town, and while in session there, they never felt entirely free +from apprehensions of interruption.[27] + +They soon found a place in every respect better adapted to their +purposes. On the brow of a ridge, that runs along the western +outskirts of the town, there used to stand a handsome and commodious +residence. The front, or main building, was of brick, the "L" of wood. +In December, 1865, the brick portion of this house was demolished by a +cyclone. The "L" remained standing, but tenantless. It consisted of +three rooms. A stairway led from one of them to a large cellar +beneath. No other house stood near. Around these ruins were the +storm-torn, limbless trunks of trees, which had once formed a +magnificent grove. Now, they stood up, grim and gaunt, like spectre +sentinels. A dreary, desolate, uncanny place it was. But it was, in +every way, most suitable for a "den," and the Klan appropriated +it.[28] + +When a meeting was held, one Lictor was stationed near the house, the +other fifty yards from it on the road leading into town. These were +dressed in the fantastic regalia of the order and bore tremendous +spears as the badge of their office. + +As before stated, and for the reasons assigned, the Ku Klux did not +solicit any one to join them; yet, they had applications for +membership. While members were not allowed to disclose the fact of +their membership, they were permitted to talk with others in regard to +anything that was a matter of common report with reference to the +order. If they chose, members were allowed to say to outsiders: "I am +going to join the Ku Klux." If the persons addressed expressed a +desire to do likewise, the Ku Klux would say, if the party was a +desirable one: "Well, I think I know how to get in. Meet me at such a +place, on such a night, at such an hour, and we will join together." +Other similar subterfuges were resorted to, to secure members without +direct solicitation. Usually, curiosity would predominate over every +other consideration, and the candidate would be found waiting at the +appointed place. + +As the Ku Klux and the candidate approached the sentinel Lictor, they +were hailed and halted and questioned. Having received the assurance +that they desired to become Ku Klux, the Lictor blew the signal for +his companion to come and take charge of the novices. The candidate, +under the impression that his companion was similarly treated, was +blindfolded and led to the "den." The preliminaries of the initiation +consisted in leading the candidate around the rooms and down into the +cellar, now and then placing before him obstructions which added to +his discomfort, if not to his mystification. After some rough sport of +this description, he was led before the Grand Cyclops who solemnly +addressed to him numerous questions. Some of these questions were +grave, and occasionally a faulty answer resulted in the candidate's +rejection. For the most part they were absurd to the last degree. If +the answers were satisfactory, the obligation to secrecy, already +administered, was exacted a second time. Then the Grand Cyclops +commanded: + +"Place him before the royal altar and adorn his head with the regal +crown." + +The "royal altar" was a large looking glass. The "regal crown" was a +huge hat bedecked with two enormous donkey ears. In this headgear the +candidate was placed before the mirror and directed to repeat the +couplet: + + "O wad some power the giftie gie us + To see oursel's as ithers see us." + +As the last word was falling from his lips, the Grand Turk removed the +bandage from his eyes, and before the candidate was his own ludicrous +image in the mirror. To increase the discomfiture and chagrin which +any man in such a situation would naturally feel, the removal of the +bandage was the signal to the Klan for indulgence in the most +uproarious and boisterous mirth. The Grand Cyclops relaxed the rigor +of his rule, and the decorum hitherto maintained disappeared, and the +"den" rang with shouts and peals of laughter; and worse than all, as +he looked about him, he saw that he was surrounded by men dressed in +hideous garb and masked, so that he could not recognize one of them. + +The character of these initiatory proceedings explains why, from the +very first, secrecy was so much insisted on. A single "tale out of +school" would have spoiled the fun. For the same reason the Klan, in +its early history, was careful in regard to the character of the men +admitted. Rash and imprudent men--such as could not be confidently +relied upon to respect their obligation to secrecy--were excluded. Nor +were those admitted who were addicted to the use of intoxicants. Later +on in the history they were not so careful, but in the earlier period +of its existence the Klan was composed of men of good habits.[29] + +In some instances, persons not regarded as eligible to membership, or +not desirable, were persistent even to annoyance in their efforts to +gain admission to the order. Such persistence was occasionally rebuked +in a manner more emphatic than tender. + +One young man had a consuming desire to be a Ku Klux. The sole +objection, to him was his youth. When he presented himself to the +Lictor, the latter received him kindly, and led him blindfold, "over +the hill and far away" to a secluded spot, and left him with the +admonition to "wait there till called for." After hours of weary +waiting, the young man removed the bandage from his eyes and sought +the shelter of the paternal roof. + +Another of riper years, but for some reason not acceptable to the +order, made repeated efforts to join the Klan. For his special benefit +they arranged to have an initiation not provided for in the ritual. A +meeting was appointed to be held on the top of a hill that rises by a +gentle slope to a considerable height, on the northern limits of +Pulaski. The candidate, in the usual way--blindfold excepted--was led +into the presence of the Grand Cyclops. This dignitary was standing on +a stump. The tall hat, the flowing robe, and the elevated position +made him appear not less than ten feet tall. He addressed to the +candidate a few unimportant and absurd questions, and then, turning to +the Lictors, said: "Blindfold the candidate and proceed." + +The "procedure" in this case was to place the would-be Ku Klux in a +barrel, provided for the purpose, and to send him whirling down the +hill! To his credit, be it said, he never revealed any of the secrets +of the Ku Klux Klan.[30] + +These details have an important bearing on the subsequent history of +the Ku Klux. They show that the originators of the Klan were not +meditating treason or lawlessness in any form. Yet the Klan's later +history grew naturally out of the measures and methods which +characterized this period of it. Its projectors did not expect it to +spread. They thought it would "have its little day and die." It lived; +it grew to vast proportions. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] The writer, D.L. Wilson, was not a member. The secrets of the +Klan were not printed or written, but were communicated orally. In +Appendix IV, p. 197, will be found versions of the oath taken by the +members.--_Editor._ + +[15] In 1871-1872 a Committee of Congress made an investigation of +affairs in the South. Its report, with the testimony collected, was +published in 13 volumes, and is usually called the Ku Klux Report. See +Fleming, Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama, p. 701; Garner, +Reconstruction in Mississippi, p. 344.--_Editor._ + +[16] See above, p. 23. + +[17] General Forrest said that the order was disbanded in the fall of +1868. See Ku Klux Report, Vol. XIII., pp. 3-35.--_Editor._ + +[18] Wilson's account in the _Century Magazine_, July, 1884, says that +the order was founded in June, 1866.--_Editor._ + +[19] This was the law office of Judge Thomas M. Jones, father of one +of the originators.--_Editor._ + +[20] Survivors say that six men organized the club and that others +joined soon after.--_Editor._ + +[21] This committee was composed of Calvin Jones and R.R. +Reed.--_Editor._ + +[22] In this committee were J.R. Crowe, J.C. Lester and John +Kennedy.--_Editor._ + +[23] Spofford was a brother of A.R. Spofford, Librarian of Congress. +He was a native of New Hampshire, who removed to Louisiana and held +high judicial office there before the Civil War. After 1870 he spent +much of his time in Pulaski. In 1877 he was elected to the United +States Senate from Louisiana, but the Senate seated W.P. Kellogg, a +carpetbagger from Illinois, who had been voted for by the "Packard +Legislature."--_Editor._ + +[24] "Their robes used in these nocturnal campaigns consisted simply +of sheets wrapped around their bodies and belted around the waist. The +lower portion reached to the heels, whilst the upper had eye-holes +through which to see and mouth-holes through which to breathe. Of +course, every man so caparisoned had one or more pistols in holsters +buckled to his waist."--_Ryland Randolph._ + +[25] It is said that the members of the Pulaski Den wore small metal +badges.--_Editor._ + +[26] In the Southern colleges of today the peculiar Greek letter +fraternity known as Alpha Sigma Sigma, and the institution of "snipe +hunting" most nearly resemble the Klan in its early stages.--_Editor._ + +[27] After leaving the law office of Judge Jones the Klan met for a +while in a room of the _Pulaski Citizen_ building. The editor of the +_Citizen_ was a member of the Klan and his paper published the orders, +proclamations and warnings sent out by the officials.--_Miss Cora R. +Jones._ + +[28] This building was the property of Dr. Benjamin Carter, +grandfather of the present postmaster of Birmingham, Alabama.--_Miss +Cora R. Jones._ + +[29] "My information was that they admitted no man who was not a +gentleman and a man who could be relied upon to act discreetly; not +men who were in the habit of drinking, boisterous men, or men liable +to commit error or wrong."--General _Forrest in Ku Klux Report, Vol. +XIII, p. 22._ + +[30] Later, when Brownlow's Administration was endeavoring to crush +out the Ku Klux Klan, one of his detectives sought to gain admission +to the order. His purposes became known and the Nashville Den, which +he was trying to join, put him into a barrel and rolled it into the +Cumberland River, drowning the detective.--_Washington Post_, _August +13, 1905._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SPREAD OF THE KLAN. + + +The devices for attracting attention were eminently successful. During +the months of July and August, 1866, the Klan was much talked about by +the citizens of Pulaski. Its mysteriousness was the sensation of the +hour. Every issue of the local paper contained some notice of the +strange order. These notices were copied into other papers, and in +this manner the way was prepared for the rapid growth and spread of +the Klan which soon followed. + +Six weeks or less from the date of the organization the sensation in +Pulaski had reached its height and was waning. Curiosity in regard to +it had abated to such a degree that the Klan would have certainly +fallen to pieces but for the following circumstances: + +By the time the eligible material in the town had been used up, the +young men from the country, whose curiosity had been inflamed by the +newspaper notices, began to come in and apply for admission to the +Klan. Some of these applications were accepted. In a little while the +members from the country asked permission to establish "dens" at +various points in the county. No provision had been made for such a +contingency, but the permission was granted; had it not been, the +result in all probability would have been the same. + +As the ritual followed by the Pulaski Klan could not be conveniently +carried out in the country, various modifications and changes were +permitted. But the strictest injunctions were laid on these new +lodges, or dens, in regard to secrecy, mystery and the character of +the men admitted. The growth in the rural districts was more rapid +than it had been in the town. Applications for permission to establish +"dens" multiplied rapidly. + +The news that the Ku Klux were spreading to the country excited the +attention of the country people more generally than the existence of +the Klan in town had done. The same cause rekindled the waning +interest of the town people. Every issue of the local papers in the +"infected regions" bristled with highly mysterious and exciting +accounts of the doings of the "fantastic gentry." + +During the fall and winter of 1866 the growth of the Klan was rapid. +It spread over a wide extent of territory. Sometimes, by a sudden +leap, it appeared in localities far distant from any existing "dens." + +A stranger from West Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama or Texas, +visiting in a neighborhood where the order prevailed, would be +initiated, and on his departure carry with him permission to establish +a "den" at home. In fact, it was often done without such permission. +The connecting link between these "dens" was very fragile. By a sort +of tacit agreement the Pulaski Klan was regarded as the source of +power and authority. The Grand Cyclops of this "den" was virtually the +ruler of the order, but as he had no method of communicating with +subjects or subordinates, and no way in which to enforce his mandates, +his authority was more fancy than fact. But so far there had appeared +no need for compact organization, rigid rules and close supervision. +The leading spirits of the Ku Klux Klan were contemplating nothing +more serious than amusement. They enjoyed the baffled curiosity and +wild speculations of a mystified public even more than the rude sport +afforded by the ludicrous initiations. + +Such is the account of the Ku Klux Klan in the first period of its +history from June, 1866 to April, 1867;[31] yet all this time it was +gradually, in a very natural way, taking on new features not at first +remotely contemplated by the originators of the order; features which +finally transformed the Ku Klux Klan into a band of "Regulators." + +The transformation was effected by the combined operation of several +causes: (1) The impressions made by the order upon the minds of those +who united with it; (2) The impressions upon the public by its weird +and mysterious methods; (3) The anomalous and peculiar condition of +affairs in the South at this time. + +The mystery and secrecy with which the Klan veiled itself made a +singular impression on the minds of many who united with it. + +The prevalent idea was that the Klan contemplated some great and +important mission. This idea aided in its rapid growth. And on the +other hand the rapid extensions of the Klan confirmed this idea of its +purposes. When admitted to membership this conclusion, in the case of +many, was deepened rather than removed by what they saw and heard. +There was not a word in the ritual or in the obligation or in any part +of the ceremony to favor such a conclusion; but the impression still +remained that this mysteriousness and secrecy, the high-sounding +titles of the officers, the grotesque dress of the members, and the +formidable obligation, all meant more than real sport. This impression +was ineradicable, and the attitude of many of the members continued to +be that of expecting great developments. Each had his own speculations +as to what was to be the character of the serious work which the Klan +had to do. But they were satisfied that there was such work. It was an +unhealthy and dangerous state of mind for men to be in; bad results in +some cases very naturally followed from it. + +The impression made by the Klan on the public was the second cause +which contributed to its transformation into a band of Regulators. +When the meetings first began to be held in the dilapidated house on +the hill, passers-by were frequent. Most of them passed the grim and +ghostly sentinel on the roadside in silence, but always with a +quickened step. Occasionally one would stop and ask: "Who are you?" In +awfully sepulchral tones the invariable answer was: "A spirit from the +other world. I was killed at Chickamauga." + +Such an answer, especially when given to a superstitious negro, was +extremely terrifying, and if, in addition, he heard the uproarous +noises issuing from the "den" at the moment of a candidate's +investiture with the "regal crown," he had the foundation for a most +awe-inspiring story. There came from the country similar stories. The +belated laborer, passing after nightfall, some lonely and secluded +spot, heard horrible noises and saw fearful sights. These stories were +repeated with such embellishments as the imagination of the narrator +suggested, till the feeling of the negroes and of many of the white +people, at mention of the Ku Klux, was one of awe and terror. + +In a short time the Lictor of the Pulaski "den" reported that travel +along the road on which he had his post had almost entirely stopped. +In the country it was noticed that the nocturnal perambulation of the +colored population diminished, or entirely ceased, wherever the Ku +Klux appeared. In many ways there was a noticeable improvement in the +habits of a large class who had hitherto been causing great annoyance. +In this way the Klan gradually realized that the most powerful devices +ever constructed for controlling the ignorant and superstitious were +in their hands. Even the most highly cultured were not able wholly to +resist the weird and peculiar feeling which pervaded every community +where the Ku Klux appeared. Each week some new incident occurred to +illustrate the amazing power of the unknown over the minds of men of +all classes. + +Circumstances made it evident that the measures and methods employed +for sport might be effectually used to subserve the public welfare--to +suppress lawlessness and protect property. When propositions to this +effect began to be urged, there were many who hesitated, fearing +danger. The majority regarded such fears as groundless. They pointed +to the good results which had already been produced. The argument was +forcible--almost unanswerable. And the question was decided without +formal action. The very force of circumstances had carried the Klan +away from its original purpose. So that in the beginning of the summer +of 1867 it was virtually, though not yet professedly, a band of +regulators, honestly, but in an injudicious and dangerous way, trying +to protect property and preserve peace and order.[32] + +After all, the most powerful agency in effecting this transformation, +the agency which supplied the conditions under which the two causes +just mentioned became operative, was the peculiar state of affairs +existing at the South at that time. + +As every one knows, the condition of things was wholly anomalous, but +no one can fully appreciate the circumstances by which the people of +the South were surrounded except by personal observation and +experience; and no one who is not fully acquainted with all the facts +in the case is competent to pronounce a just judgment on their +behavior. On this account, not only the Ku Klux, but the mass of the +Southern people, have been tried, convicted and condemned at the bar +of public opinion, and have been denied the equity of having the +sentence modified by mitigating circumstances, which in justice, they +have a right to plead. + +At that time the throes of the great revolution were settling down to +quiet. The almost universal disposition of the better class of the +people was to accept the arbitrament which the sword had accorded +them. On this point there was practical unanimity. Those who had +opportunity and facilities to do so, engaged at once in agricultural, +professional or business pursuits. There was but little disposition to +take part in politics. + +But there were two causes of vexation and exasperation which the +people were in no good mood to bear. One of these causes related to +that class of men who, like scum, had been thrown to the surface in +the great upheaval.[33] + +It was not simply that they were Union men from conviction. That would +have been readily forgiven then, as can be shown by pointing to +hundreds of cases. But the majority of the class referred to had +played traitor to both sides, and were Union men now only because that +was the successful side. And worse than all, they were now engaged in +keeping alive discord and strife between the sections, as the only +means of preventing themselves from sinking back into the obscurity +from which they had been upheaved. Their conduct was malicious in the +extreme and exceedingly exasperating. These men were a "thorn in the +flesh" of the body, politic and social; and the effort to expel it set +up an inflammation which for a time awakened the gravest apprehensions +as to the result. + +The second disturbing element was the negroes. Their transition from +slavery to citizenship was sudden. They were not only not fitted for +the cares of self-control, and maintenance so suddenly thrust upon +them, but many of them entered their new role in life under the +delusion that freedom meant license. They regarded themselves as +freedmen, not only from bondage to former masters, but from the common +and ordinary obligations of citizenship. Many of them looked upon +obedience to the laws of the state--which had been framed by their +former owners--as in some measure a compromise of the rights with +which they had been invested. The administration of civil law was only +partially re-established. On that account, and for other reasons, +there was an amount of disorder and violence prevailing over the +country which has never been equaled at any period of its history. If +the officers of the law had had the disposition and ability to arrest +all law-breakers, a jail and court-house in every civil district would +have been required. + +The depredations on property by theft and by wanton destruction for +the gratification of petty revenge, were to the last degree annoying. +A large part of these depredations was the work of bad white men, who +expected that their lawless deeds would be credited to the negroes. +But perhaps the most potent of all causes which brought about this +transformation was the existence in the South of a spurious and +perverted form of the "Union League."[34] + +It would be as unfair to this organization as it existed at the North, +to charge it with the outrages committed under cover of its name, as +it is to hold the Ku Klux Klan responsible for all the lawlessness and +violence with which it is credited. + +But it is a part of the history of those times that there was a +widespread and desperately active organization called the "Union +League." It was composed of the disorderly element of the negro +population and was led and controlled by white men of the basest and +meanest type just now referred to. They met frequently, went armed to +the teeth, and literally "breathed out threatening and slaughter." +They not only uttered, but in many instances executed the most +violent threats against the persons, families and property of men, +whose sole crime was that they had been in the Confederate army. It +cannot be truthfully denied that the Ku Klux committed excesses and +were charged with wrongdoing. But they were never guilty of the +disorderly and unprovoked deeds of deviltry which mark the history of +the Southern "Union League." It was partly, I may say chiefly, to +resist this aggressive and belligerent organization that the Ku Klux +transformed themselves into a protective organization.[35] + +Whatever may be the judgment of history, those who know the facts will +ever remain firm in the conviction that the Ku Klux Klan was of +immense service at this period of Southern history. Without it, in +many sections of the South, life to decent people would not have been +tolerable. It served a good purpose. Wherever the Ku Klux appeared +the effect was salutary. For a while the robberies ceased. The +lawless class assumed the habits of good behavior. + +The "Union League" relaxed its desperate severity and became more +moderate. Under their fear of the dreaded Ku Klux, the negroes made +more progress, in a few months, in the needed lessons of self-control, +industry, and respect for the rights of property and general good +behavior, than they would have done in as many years, but for this or +some equally powerful impulse. + +It was a rough and a dangerous way to teach such lessons, but under +all the circumstances it seemed the only possible way. + +Of course, these men were trying a dangerous experiment. Many of them +knew it at the time, and did not expect it on the whole to turn out +more successfully than others of a similar character. But there seemed +to be no other alternative at the time. Events soon occurred which +showed that the fears of those who apprehended danger were not +groundless, and it became evident, unless the Klan should be brought +under better control than its leaders at this time exercised over it, +that while it suppressed some evils, it would give rise to others +almost, if not fully, as great.[36] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[31] It will be remembered that in March, 1867, the Reconstruction +Acts were passed and that in April, 1867, the Reconstruction was +beginning.--_Editor._ + +[32] "It originated with returned soldiers for the purpose of +punishing those negroes who had become notoriously and offensively +insolent to white people, and, in some cases, to chastise those white +skinned men who, at that particular time, showed a disposition to +affiliate socially with negroes. The impression sought to be made upon +these latter was that these white-robed night prowlers were the ghosts +of the Confederate dead, who had arisen from their graves in order to +wreak vengeance on an undesirable class of both white and black +men."--_Ryland Randolph._ + +[33] The class called "tories" during the Civil War. They should not +be confused with the genuine Unionists.--_Editor._ + +[34] Sometimes called "Loyal League." See in regard to this secret +society--Fleming, Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama, Ch. 16, and +(West Virginia University) Documents relating to Reconstruction, No. +3.--_Editor._ + +[35] On this point the testimony of Generals Forrest, John B. Gordon +and E.W. Pettus, and J.A. Minnis, in the Ku Klux Report, is +instructive.--_Editor._ + +[36] Pease, "In the Wake of War," (fiction) gives a very good +description of affairs in Tennessee by one who was thoroughly familiar +with conditions there. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TRANSFORMATION. + + +Until the beginning of the year 1867, the movements of the Klan had, +in the main, been characterized by prudence and discretion; but there +were some exceptions. In some cases there had been a liberal +construction of orders and of what was by common consent the law of +the Klan. In some, the limits, which tacitly it had been agreed upon +not to pass, had been overstepped. + +Attempts had been made to correct by positive means evils which +menaces had not been sufficient to remove. Rash, imprudent and bad men +had gotten into the order. The danger which the more prudent and +thoughtful had apprehended as possible was now a reality. Had it been +possible to do so, some of the leaders would have been in favor of +disbanding. That could not well be done, because at that time the +organization was so loose and imperfect. So to speak, the tie that +bound them together was too shadowy to be cut or untied. They had +evoked a spirit from "the vasty deep." It would not down at their +bidding. + +And, besides, the Klan was needed. The only course which seemed to +promise any satisfactory solution of the difficulty was this: To +reorganize the Klan on a plan corresponding to its size and present +purposes; to bind the isolated dens together; to secure unity of +purpose and concert of action; to hedge the members up by such +limitations and regulations as were best adapted to restrain them +within proper limits; to distribute the authority among prudent men at +local centres, and exact from them a close supervision of those under +their charge. + +In this way it was hoped the impending dangers would be effectually +guarded against. With these objects in view the Grand Cyclops of the +Pulaski Den sent out a request to all the dens of which he had +knowledge, to appoint delegates to meet in convention at Nashville, +Tenn., in the early summer of 1867.[37] At the time appointed this +convention was held. Delegates were present from Tennessee, Alabama, +and a number of other States. A plan of reorganization, previously +prepared, was submitted to this convention and adopted. After the +transaction of some further business, the convention adjourned, and +the delegates returned home without having attracted any attention. + +At this convention the territory covered by the Klan was designated as +the "Invisible Empire." This was subdivided into "realms" coterminous +with the boundaries of States. The "realms" were divided into +"dominions," corresponding to Congressional districts; the "dominions" +into "provinces" coterminous with counties; and the "provinces" into +"dens." + +To each of these departments officers were assigned. + +Except in the case of the supreme officer, the duties of each were +minutely specified. + +These officers were: + +The Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire and his ten Genii. The powers +of this officer were almost autocratic. + +The Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hydras. + +The Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six Furies. + +The Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two Night Hawks. + +A Grand Monk. + +A Grand Scribe. + +A Grand Exchequer. + +A Grand Turk. + +A Grand Sentinel. + +The Genii, Hydras, Furies, Goblins and Night Hawks were staff +officers. The gradation and distribution of authority was perfect. But +for one source of weakness, the Klan, under this new organization, was +one of the most perfectly organized orders that ever existed in the +world. + +As we shall see presently, it was vulnerable and failed because of the +character of its methods. Secrecy was at first its strength. It +afterwards became its greatest weakness. As long as mystery was +conjoined with it, it was strength. When masks and disguises ceased to +be mysterious, secrecy was weakness. + +One of the most important things done by this Nashville convention was +to make a positive and emphatic declaration of the principles of the +order. It was in the following terms: + +"We recognize our relations to the United States Government; the +supremacy of the Constitution; the constitutional laws thereof; and +the union of States thereunder." + +If these men were plotting treason, it puzzles us to know why they +should make such a statement as that in setting forth the principles +of the order. The statement above quoted was not intended for general +circulation and popular effect. So far as is known, it is now given to +the public for the first time. We must regard it, therefore, as +accurately describing the political attitude which the Ku Klux +proposed and desired to maintain. Every man who became a member of the +Klan really took an oath to support the Constitution of the United +States. + +This Nashville convention also defined and set forth the peculiar +objects of the order, as follows:[38] + +(1.) "To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless, from the +indignities, wrongs and outrages of the lawless, the violent and the +brutal; to relieve the injured and the oppressed; to succor the +suffering, and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate +soldiers. + +(2.) "To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and +all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the States and +people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. + +(3.) "To aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, +and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except +by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land." + +This last clause was the result of the infamous and barbarous +legislation of that day. On the 3rd of June, 1865, the Thirty-fourth +General Assembly of Tennessee revived the sedition law and restricted +the right of suffrage.[39] A negro militia, ignorant and brutal, were +afterwards put over the State, and spread terror throughout its +borders. Men felt that they had no security for life, liberty, or +property. They were persecuted if they dared to complain. It was no +strange thing if they resorted to desperate measures for protection. +The emergency was desperate. Taking all the circumstances and +aggravations into consideration one cannot but be surprised that men +so persecuted and oppressed remained so moderate and forbearing. + +The legislation of the Nashville Convention of Ku Klux bears internal +evidence of what we know from other sources to be true. Whilst +devising measures for protection to life and property, and for the +resistance of lawlessness and oppression, whether from irresponsible +parties or from those who professed to be acting legally and under +cover of authority, they were anxious also to control the Klan itself +and to keep it within what they conceived to be safe limits. + +Up to this time the majority had shown a fair appreciation of the +responsibilities of their self-imposed task of preserving social +order. But under any circumstances the natural tendency of an +organization such as this is to violence and crime--much more under +such circumstances as those then prevailing. + +Excesses had been committed. Whether justly so or not, they were +credited to the Klan. And it was foreseen and feared that if such +things continued or increased the hostility of State and Federal +Governments would be kindled against the Klan and active measures +taken to suppress it. The hope was entertained that the legislations +taken by the convention and the reorganization would not only enable +the Klan to enact its _role_ as Regulators with greater success, but +would keep its members within the prescribed limits, and so guard +against the contingencies referred to. They desired on the one hand, +to restrain and control their own members; on the other to correct +evils and promote order in society; and to do the latter _solely_ by +utilizing for this purpose the means and methods originally employed +for amusement. In each direction the success was but partial, as will +be told presently. + +By the reorganization no material change was made in the methods of +the Klan's operations. Some of the old methods were slightly modified; +a few new features were added. The essential features of mystery, +secrecy and grotesqueness were retained, and steps were taken with a +view to deepening and intensifying the impressions already made upon +the public mind. They attempted to push to the extreme limits of +illustration the power of the mysterious over the minds of men. + +Henceforth they courted publicity as assiduously as they had formerly +seemed to shun it. They appeared at different points at the same time, +and always when and where they were the least expected. Devices were +multiplied to deceive people in regard to their numbers and everything +else, and to play upon the fears of the superstitious. + +As it was now the policy of the Klan to appear in public, an order was +issued by the Grand Dragon of the Realm of Tennessee to the Grand +Giants of the Provinces for a general parade in the capital town of +each Province on the night of the 4th of July, 1867. It will be +sufficient for this narrative to describe that parade as witnessed by +the citizens of Pulaski. Similar scenes were enacted at many other +places. + +On the morning of the 4th of July, 1867, the citizens of Pulaski found +the sidewalks thickly strewn with slips of paper bearing the printed +words:[40] "The Ku Klux will parade the streets to-night." This +announcement created great excitement. The people supposed that their +curiosity, so long baffled, would now be gratified. They were +confident that this parade would at least afford them the opportunity +to find out who were the Ku Klux. + +Soon after nightfall the streets were lined with an expectant and +excited throng of people. Many came from the surrounding country. The +members of the Klan in the county left their homes in the afternoon +and traveled alone or in squads of two or three, with their +paraphernalia carefully concealed. If questioned, they answered that +they were going to Pulaski to see the Ku Klux parade. After nightfall +they assembled at designated points near the four main roads leading +into town. Here they donned their robes and disguises and put covers +of gaudy materials on their horses. A skyrocket sent up from some +point in the town was the signal to mount and move. The different +companies met and passed each other on the public square in perfect +silence; the discipline appeared to be admirable.[41] Not a word was +spoken. Necessary orders were given by means of the whistles. In +single file, in death-like stillness, with funeral slowness, they +marched and counter-marched throughout the town. While the column was +headed North on one street it was going South on another. By crossing +over in opposite directions the lines were kept up in almost unbroken +continuity. The effect was to create the impression of vast numbers. +This marching and counter-marching was kept up for about two hours, +and the Klan departed as noiselessly as they came. The public were +more than ever mystified. Curiosity had not been satisfied, as it was +expected it would be. The efforts of the most curious and cunning to +find out who were Ku Klux failed. One gentleman from the country, a +great lover of horses, who claimed to know every horse in the county, +was confident that he would be able to identify the riders by the +horses. With this purpose in view, he remained in town to witness the +parade. But, as we have said, the horses were disguised as well as the +riders. Determined not to be baffled, during a halt of the column he +lifted the cover of a horse that was near him--the rider offering no +objection--and recognized his own steed and saddle upon which he had +ridden into town. The town people were on the alert also to see who of +the young men of the town would be with the Ku Klux. All of them, +almost without exception, were marked, mingling freely and +conspicuously with the spectators. Those of them who were members of +the Klan did not go into the parade. + +This demonstration had the effect for which it was designed. Perhaps +the greatest illusion produced by it was in regard to the numbers +participating in it. Reputable citizens--men of cool and accurate +judgment--were confident that the number was not less than three +thousand. Others, whose imaginations were more easily wrought upon, +were quite certain there were ten thousand. The truth is, that the +number of Ku Klux in the parade did not exceed four hundred. This +delusion in regard to numbers prevailed wherever the Ku Klux appeared. +It illustrates how little the testimony of even an eye-witness is +worth in regard to anything which makes a deep impression on him by +reason of its mysteriousness. + +The Klan had a large membership; it exerted a vast, terrifying and +wholesome power; but its influence was never at any time dependent on, +or proportioned to, its membership. It was in the mystery in which the +comparatively few enshrouded themselves. Gen. Forrest, before the +Investigating Committee, placed the number of Ku Klux in Tennessee at +40,000,[42] and in the entire South at 550,000. This was with him only +a guessing estimate.[43] Careful investigation leads to the +conclusion that he overshoots the mark in both cases. It is an error +to suppose that the entire male population of the South were Ku Klux, +or that even a majority of them were privy to its secrets and in +sympathy with its extremest measures. To many of them, perhaps to a +majority, the Ku Klux Klan was as vague, impersonal and mysterious as +to the people of the North, or of England. They did attribute to it +great good and to this day remember with gratitude the protection it +afforded them in the most trying and perilous period of their history, +when there was no other earthly source to which to appeal.[44] + + [Illustration: COSTUMES WORN IN TENNESSEE AND NORTH ALABAMA + FACING PAGE 97] + +One or two illustrations may here be given of the methods resorted to +to play upon the superstitious fears of the negroes and others.[45] At +the parade in Pulaski, while the procession was passing a corner on +which a negro man was standing, a tall horseman in hideous garb turned +aside from the line, dismounted, and stretched out his bridle rein +toward the negro, as if he desired him to hold his horse. Not daring +to refuse, the frightened African extended his hand to grasp the rein. +As he did so, the Ku Klux took his own head from his shoulders and +offered to place that also in the outstretched hand. The negro stood +not upon the order of his going, but departed with a yell of terror. +To this day he will tell you: "He done it, suah, boss. I seed him do +it." The gown was fastened by a draw-string over the top of the +wearer's head. Over this was worn an artificial skull made of a large +gourd or of pasteboard. This with the hat could be readily removed, +and the man would then appear to be headless. Such tricks gave rise +to the belief--still prevalent among the negroes--that the Ku Klux +could take themselves all to pieces whenever they wanted to. + +Some of the Ku Klux carried skeleton hands. These were made of bone or +wood with a handle long enough to be held in the hand, which was +concealed by the gown sleeve. The possessor of one of these was +invariably of a friendly turn and offered to shake hands with all he +met, with what effect may be readily imagined. + +A trick of frequent perpetration in the country was for a horseman, +spectral and ghostly looking, to stop before the cabin of some negro +needing a wholesome impression and call for a bucket of water. If a +dipper or gourd was brought it was declined, and the bucket full of +water demanded. As if consumed by raging thirst the horseman grasped +it and pressed it to his lips. He held it there till every drop of the +water was poured into a gum or oiled sack concealed beneath the Ku +Klux robe. Then the empty bucket was returned to the amazed negro with +the remark: "That's good. It is the first drink of water I have had +since I was killed at Shiloh." Then a few words of counsel as to +future behavior made an impression not easily forgotten or likely to +be disregarded. + +Under ordinary circumstances such devices are unjustifiable. But in +the peculiar state of things then existing they served a good purpose. +It was not only better to deter the negroes from theft and other +lawlessness in this way than to put them in the penitentiary; but it +was the only way, at this time, by which they could be controlled. The +jails would not contain them. The courts could not or would not try +them. The policy of the Klan all the while was to deter men from +wrongdoing. It was only in rare, exceptional cases, and these the most +aggravated, that it undertook to punish.[46] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[37] "In the spring of 1867," says Wilson in the _Century Magazine_, +July, 1884. May was the month of meeting. This was just after the +Reconstruction Acts had been passed.--_Editor._ + +[38] I am convinced that the authors are mistaken in saying that the +first convention adopted the Prescript containing these declarations. +The Prescript adopted was the one reproduced in Appendix I. The other +one, reproduced in Appendix II, was adopted, it is believed, in +1868.--_Editor._ + +[39] Ex-Confederates were practically all excluded from the +suffrage.--_Editor._ + +[40] Notices were posted in every public place, and even pasted on the +backs of hogs and cows running loose in the streets.--_Miss Cora R. +Jones._ + +[41] Most members of the Klan had been Confederate soldiers and were +familiar with military drill and discipline.--_Editor._ + +[42] A later estimate places the membership of Ku Klux Klan at 72,000 +in Tennessee alone.--_Washington Post, August 13, 1905._ + +[43] Forrest denied that he had made such an estimate. There were many +other orders similar to Ku Klux Klan and the total membership was +probably about half a million.--_Editor._ + +[44] It made the women feel safer. "And then came the reign of martial +law, and the Freedmen's Bureau. Those dark days of the Reconstruction +period rapidly followed the horrors of civil war, and the reign of the +carpetbagger began, goading the people to desperation. For their +protection the younger and more reckless men of the community now +formed a secret society, which masqueraded at night in grotesque and +grewsome character called the Ku Klux Klan. Always silent and +mysterious, mounted on horses, they swept noiselessly by in the +darkness with gleaming death's heads, skeletons and chains. It struck +terror into the heart of the evil-doer, while the peaceful citizen +knew a faithful patrol had guarded his premises while he +slept."--_Mrs. Stubbs, in "Saunders' Early Settlers of Alabama_," p. +31. + +[45] A practice not mentioned here was that of sending out the +peculiar warnings and orders, specimens of which are printed in +Appendix IV.--_Editor._ + +[46] "We had regular meetings about once a week, at which the conduct +of certain offensive characters would be discussed, and if the +majority voted to punish such it would be accordingly done on certain +prescribed nights. Sometimes it was deemed necessary only to post +notices of warning, which, in some cases, were sufficient to alarm the +victims sufficiently to induce them to reform in their +behavior."--_Ryland Randolph._ + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE DECLINE. + + +For a while after the reorganization of the Klan, those concerned for +its welfare and right conduct congratulated themselves that all was +now well. Closer organization and stricter official supervision had a +restraining influence upon the members. Many things seemed to indicate +that the future work of the Klan would be wholly good. + +These hopes were rudely shattered. Ere long official supervision grew +less rigid or was less regarded. The membership was steadily +increasing. Among the new material added were some bad men who could +not be--at least were not--controlled. + +In the winter and spring of 1867 and 1868 many things were done by +members, or professed members, of the Klan, which were the subject of +universal regret and condemnation. In many ways the grave censure of +those who had hitherto been friendly to it was evoked against the +Klan, and occasion, long sought for, was given its enemies to petition +the intervention of the government to suppress it. The end came +rapidly. We must now trace the causes which wrought the decay and +downfall of the "Invisible Empire." + +In regard to the doings of the Ku Klux two extreme positions have been +advocated. On the one hand, it is asserted that the Ku Klux committed +no outrages. On the other, that they were the authors of all the +depredations committed by masked and disguised men in the Southern +States from 1865 to 1869. The truth lies between these two extremes. +Great outrages were committed by bands of disguised men during those +years of lawlessness and oppression. And the fact must be admitted +that some of these outrages were committed, if not by the order and +approbation of the Klan, at least by men who were members of it.[47] + +The thoughtful reader will readily understand how this came about. + +There was a cause which naturally and almost necessarily produced the +result. Men of the character of the majority of those who composed +the Klan do not disregard their own professed principles and violate +self-assumed obligations without cause. We have seen that the Klan was +in the main composed of the very best men in the country--peaceable, +law-loving and law-abiding men--men of good habits and character--men +of property and intelligence. + +We have seen that the organization had no political significance; they +expressly and in solemn secret compact declared their allegiance to +the constitution and all constitutional laws, and pledged themselves +to aid in the administration of all such laws. To see such men defying +law and creating disorder, is a sight singular enough to awake inquiry +as to the causes which had been at work upon them. The transformation +of the Ku Klux Klan, from a band of regulators, honestly trying to +preserve peace and order, into the body of desperate men who, in 1869, +convulsed the country and set at defiance the mandates of both State +and Federal governments, is greater than the transformation which we +have already traced. + +In both cases there were causes at work adequate to the results +produced; causes from which, as remarked before, the results followed +naturally and necessarily. + +These have never been fully and fairly stated. They may be classed +under three general heads: (1). Unjust charges. (2). Misapprehension +of the nature and objects of the order on the part of those not +members of it. (3). Unwise and over-severe legislation. + +As has already been pointed out, the order contained within itself, by +reason of the methods practiced, sources of weakness. The devices and +disguises by which the Klan deceived outsiders enabled all who were so +disposed, even its own members, to practice deception on the Klan +itself. It placed in the hands of its own members the facility to do +deeds of violence for the gratification of personal feeling, and have +them credited to the Klan. To evilly-disposed men membership in the +Klan was an inducement to wrongdoing. It presented to all men a +dangerous temptation, which, in certain contingencies at any time +likely to arise, it required a considerable amount of moral robustness +to resist. Many did not withstand it. And deeds of violence were done +by men who were Ku Klux, but who, while acting under cover of their +connection with the Klan, were not under its orders. But because these +men were Ku Klux, the Klan had to bear the odium of wrongdoing.[48] + +In addition to this, the very class which the Klan proposed to hold in +check and awe into good behavior, soon became wholly unmanageable. +Those who had formerly committed depredations to be laid to the charge +of the negroes, after a brief interval of good behavior, assumed the +guise of Ku Klux and returned to their old ways, but with less +boldness and more caution, showing the salutary impression which the +Klan had made upon them. In some cases the negroes played Ku Klux. +Outrages were committed by masked men in regions far remote from any +Ku Klux organizations. The parties engaged took pains to assert that +they were Ku Klux, _which the members of the Klan never did_. This was +evidence that these parties were simply aping Ku Klux disguises. The +proof on this point is ample and clear. After the passage of the Anti +Ku Klux Statute by the State of Tennessee, several instances occurred +of parties being arrested in Ku Klux disguises; but in every instance +they proved to be either negroes or "radical" Brownlow Republicans. +This occurred so often that the statute was allowed by the party in +power to become a dead letter before its repeal. It bore too hard on +"loyal" men when enforced. + +The same thing occurred in Georgia and other States. (See testimony of +General Gordon and others before the Investigating Committee.) + +_No single instance occurred of the arrest of a masked man who proved +to be--when stripped of his disguises--a Ku Klux._ + +But it came to pass that all the disorder done in the country was +charged upon the Ku Klux, because done under disguises which they had +invented and used. The Klan had no way in which to disprove or refute +the charges. They felt that it was hard to be charged with violence of +which they were innocent. At the same time they felt that it was +natural, and, under the circumstances, not wholly unjust that this +should be the case. They had assumed the office of Regulators. It was +therefore due society, due themselves, and due the Government, which, +so far, had not molested them, that they should, at least, not afford +the lawless classes facilities for the commission of excesses greater +than any they had hitherto indulged in, and above all, that they +should restrain their own members from lawlessness. + +The Klan felt all this; and in its efforts to relieve itself of the +stigma thus incurred, it acted in some cases against the offending +parties with a severity well merited, no doubt, but unjustifiable.[49] +As is frequently the case they were carried beyond the limits of +prudence and right by a hot zeal for self-vindication against unjust +aspersions. + +They felt that the charge of wrong was unfairly brought against them. +To clear themselves of the charge they did worse wrong than that +alleged against them. + +The Klan from the first shrouded itself in deepest mystery; out of +this fact grew trouble not at first apprehended. They wished people +not to understand. They tried to keep them profoundly ignorant. The +result was that the Klan and its objects were wholly misunderstood and +misinterpreted. Many who joined the Klan and many who did not, were +certain it contemplated something far more important than its overt +acts gave evidence of. Some were sure it meant treason and revolution. +The negroes and the whites whose consciences made them the subjects of +guilty fears, were sure it boded no good to them. + +When the first impressions of awe and terror which the Klan had +inspired, to some extent, wore off, a feeling of intense hostility +towards the Ku Klux followed. This feeling was the more bitter because +founded, not on overt acts which the Ku Klux had done, but on vague +fears and surmises as to what they intended to do. Those who +entertained such fears were in some cases impelled by them to become +the aggressors. They attacked the Ku Klux before receiving from them +any provocation. The negroes formed organizations of a military +character and drilled by night, and even appeared in the day armed and +threatening. The avowed purpose of these organizations was "to make +war upon and exterminate the Ku Klux." On several occasions the Klan +was fired into. The effect of such attacks was to provoke counter +hostility from the Klan, and so there was irritation and +counter-irritation, till, in some places, the state of things was +little short of open warfare. In some respects it was worse; the +parties wholly misunderstood each other. Each party felt that its +cause was the just one. Each justified its deed by the provocation. + +The Ku Klux, intending wrong, as they believed, to no one, were +aggrieved that acts which they had not done should be charged to them; +and motives which they did not entertain imputed to them and outraged +that they should be molested and assaulted. The other party satisfied +that they were acting in self-defense felt fully justified in +assaulting them, and so each goaded the other on from one degree of +exasperation to another. + +The following extracts from a general order of the Grand Dragon of the +Realm of Tennessee will illustrate the operation of both these causes. +It was issued in the fall of the year 1868. It shows what were the +principles and objects which the Klan still professed, and it also +shows how it was being forced away from them: + + + HEADQUARTERS REALM NO. 1,} + DREADFUL ERA, BLACK EPOCH,} + + DREADFUL HOUR.} + + _General Order No. 1._ + + WHEREAS, Information of an authentic character has reached these + headquarters that the blacks in the counties of Marshall, Maury, + Giles and Lawrence are organized into military companies, with + the avowed purpose to make war upon and exterminate the Ku Klux + Klan, said blacks are hereby solemnly warned and ordered to + desist from further action in such organizations, if they exist. + + The G. D. [Grand Dragon] regrets the necessity of such an order. + But this Klan shall not be outraged and interfered with by + lawless negroes and meaner white men, who do not and never have + understood our purposes. + + In the first place this Klan is not an institution of violence, + lawlessness and cruelty; it is not lawless; it is not + aggressive; it is not military; it is not revolutionary. + + It is, essentially, originally and inherently a protective + organization. It proposes to execute law instead of resisting + it; and to protect all good men, whether white or black, from + the outrages and atrocities of bad men of both colors, who have + been for the past three years a terror to society, and an injury + to us all. + + The blacks seem to be impressed with the belief that this Klan + is especially their enemy. We are not the enemy of the blacks, + as long as they behave themselves, make no threats upon us, and + do not attack or interfere with us. + + But if they make war upon us they must abide the awful + retribution that will follow. + + This Klan, while in its peaceful movements, and disturbing no + one, has been fired into three times. This will not be endured + any longer; and if it occurs again, and the parties be + discovered, a remorseless vengeance will be wreaked upon them. + + We reiterate that we are for peace and law and order. No man, + white or black, shall be molested for his political sentiments. + This Klan is not a political party; it is not a military party; + it is a protective organization, and will never use violence + except in resisting violence. + + Outrages have been perpetrated by irresponsible parties in the + name of this Klan. Should such parties be apprehended, they will + be dealt with in a manner to insure us future exemption from + such imposition. These impostors have, in some instances, + whipped negroes. This is wrong! wrong! It is denounced by this + Klan as it must be by all good and humane men. + + The Klan now, as in the past, is prohibited from doing such + things. We are striving to protect all good, peaceful, + well-disposed and law-abiding men, whether white or black. + + The G. D. deems this order due to the public, due to the Klan, + and due to those who are misguided and misinformed. We, + therefore, request that all newspapers who are friendly to law, + and peace, and the public welfare, will publish the same. + + By order of the G. D., Realm No. 1. + By the Grand Scribe. + +This order doubtless expresses the principles which the Klan, as a +body, was honestly trying to maintain. It also illustrates how they +were driven to violate them by the very earnestness and vehemence +with which they attempted to maintain them. + +The question naturally arises, Why, under the embarrassing +circumstances, did not the Klan disband and close its operations?[50] +The answer is, that the members felt that there was now more reasons +than ever for the Klan's existence. They felt that they ought not to +abandon their important and needful work because they encountered +unforeseen difficulties in accomplishing it. It is an illustration of +the fatuity which sometimes marks the lives of men that they did not +perceive what seems perfectly clear and plain to others. Nothing is +more certain than that a part of the evils which the Klan was +combating at this period of its history grew out of their own methods, +and might be expected to continue as long as the Klan existed. Men are +not always wise. But even in cases where their conduct does not permit +of vindication and excuse, justice requires that a fair and truthful +statement be made of the temptations and embarrassments which +surrounded them. Placing all the circumstances before us fully, who of +us is prepared to say that we would have acted with more wisdom and +discretion than these men? + + [Illustration: CARPETBAGGERS LISTENING TO A KU KLUX REPORT + Coon and Sibly of the Alabama Legislature. Cartoon from Screw's + "Lost Legislature." + FACING PAGE 113] + +Matters grew worse and worse, till it was imperatively necessary that +there should be interference on the part of the Government. In +September, 1868, the Legislature of Tennessee, in obedience to the +call of Governor Brownlow, assembled in extra session and passed a +most stringent and bloody anti-Ku Klux statute.[51] This was the +culmination of a long series of the most infamous legislations which +ever disgraced a statute book. + +It began in 1865, as we have seen, in the passage of the alien and +sedition act, and grew worse and worse till the passage of the anti-Ku +Klux statute in 1868. Sixteen years have passed since then, and many +into whose hands this book will come have never seen the "Anti-Ku +Klux Law." We quote it entire, to show the character of the +legislation of those times as well as for the sake of its bearing on +the matter in hand: + + SEC. 1. _Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Tennessee_, + That if any person or persons shall unite with, associate with, + promote or encourage any secret organization of persons who + shall prowl through the country or towns of this State, by day + or by night, disguised or otherwise, for the purpose of + disturbing the peace, or alarming the peaceable citizens of any + portion of this State, on conviction by any tribunal of this + State, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars, + imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than five years, and + shall be rendered infamous. + + SEC. 2. _Be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of + all the courts in this State, before the impaneling of any grand + jury or petit jury in any cause whatever, to inquire of the + juror, on oath, whether he shall be associated in any way + obnoxious to the first section of this act; and if such juror + shall decline to give a voluntary answer, or shall answer + affirmatively, such persons shall be disqualified as a juror in + any case in any court in this State. + + SEC. 3. _Be it further enacted_, That, for the purpose of + facilitating the execution of the provisions of this act, it + shall be the duty of the Prosecuting Attorneys of this State or + grand jurors, or either of them, to summons or cause to be + summoned, any persons he shall have a well-grounded belief has + any knowledge of such organization as described by the first + section of this act, and if any person shall fail or refuse to + obey such summons, or shall appear and refuse to testify, such + persons so summoned shall suffer the penalty imposed by the + first section of this act; and if such witness shall avoid the + service of said subpoena or summons, the sheriff, or other + officer, shall return such fact on said process, when the court + shall order a copy of said process to be left at the last place + of residence of such persons sought to be summoned; and if such + person shall fail to appear according to the command of said + process, said court shall enter a judgment _nisi_ against such + person for the sum of five hundred dollars, for which _sci. fa._ + shall issue, as in other cases of forfeiture of subpoena. + + SEC. 4. _Be it further enacted_, That no prosecutor shall be + required on any indictment under the provisions of this act; and + all the courts of the State shall give a remedial construction + to the same; and that no presentment or indictment shall be + quashed, or declared insufficient for want of form. + + SEC. 5. _Be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of + all the courts of this State, at every term, for two years from + and after the passage of this act, to call before it all the + officers thereof, who shall be sworn, and have this act read or + explained to them; and the court shall ask said officers if they + shall have any knowledge of any person of the State, or out of + it, that shall be guilty of any of the offenses contained in + this act, and that, if at any time they shall come to such + knowledge, or shall have a well-grounded belief that any person + or persons shall be guilty of a violation of this act or any of + its provisions, that they will immediately, inform the + Prosecuting Attorney for the State thereof; and if such + Prosecuting Attorney, upon being so informed, shall fail, + refuse, or neglect to prosecute such person or persons so + informed on, he shall be subject to the same penalties imposed + by the first section of this act, and shall be stricken from the + roll of attorneys in said court. + + SEC. 6. _Be it further enacted_, That if any officer, or other + person, shall inform any other person that he or she is to be + summoned as a witness under any of the provisions of this act, + or any other statute or law of this State, with the intent and + for the purpose of defeating any of the provisions of this act, + or any criminal law of this State; or if any officer, clerk, + sheriff or constable shall refuse or fail to perform any of the + duties imposed by this act, upon conviction, shall suffer the + penalties by the first section of this act, and shall be + disqualified from holding office in this State for two years. + + SEC. 7. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person shall + voluntarily inform on any person guilty of any of the provisions + of this act, upon conviction such informant shall be entitled + and receive one-half of the fine imposed; and if any officer, + three-fourths. + + SEC. 8. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person, guilty of + any of the provisions or offenses enumerated in this act, that + shall appear before any jury or prosecuting officer of the + State, and shall inform him or them of any offense committed by + any person or persons against the criminal laws of this State, + such person or witness shall not be bound to answer to any + charge for the violation of any provisions of any law about + which such person or witness shall be examined; and the court + shall protect such witness from any prosecution whatever. + + SEC. 9. _Be it further enacted_, That where any process shall be + issued against the person of any citizen in any county of this + State, for any violation of the provisions of this act, and such + shall be returned not executed, for any cause whatever, by the + sheriff or other officer, to the court from which it was issued, + with an affidavit appended thereto, plainly setting forth the + reason for the non-execution of such process, then it shall be + the duty of the clerk, without delay, to issue an _alias capias_ + to the same county, if the home of the defendant shall be in + said county, either in part or in whole, when said sheriff or + other officer shall give notice to the inhabitants of said + county by posting such notice at the court-house of said county, + of the existence of said capias; and if the inhabitants of such + county shall permit such defendant to be or to live in said + county, in part or in whole, the inhabitants shall be subject to + an assessment of not less than five hundred dollars, nor more + than five thousand dollars, at the discretion of the court, + which said assessment shall be made in the following manner, + to-wit: When the sheriff or other officer shall return his + _alias capias_, showing that said defendant is an inhabitant of + said county, in part or in whole, and that the citizens thereof + have failed or refused to arrest said defendant, which every + citizen is hereby authorized to do or perform. Said court shall + order _sci. fa._ to issue to the proper officer to make known to + the chairman, judge, or other presiding officer of the County + Court, to appear and show cause why final judgment should not + have been entered up accordingly; which, if any County Court + fails or refuses to do and perform, any judge, in vacation, + shall grant a _mandamus_ to compel said County Court to assess + and collect said assessment, to be paid into the State treasury + for the benefit of the school fund; provided, said assessment + shall not be made of the sheriff or other officer, upon the + return of the original, or _alias_ writs, show cause why the + same cannot be executed, which may be done by his affidavit and + two respectable witnesses known to the court as such. + + SEC. 10. _Be it further enacted_, That all the inhabitants in + this State shall be authorized to arrest any person defendant, + under the provisions of this act, in any county in this State + without process. + + SEC. 11. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person or persons + shall write, publish, advise, entreat or persuade, privately or + publicly, any class of persons, or any individual, to resist any + of the laws of this State calculated to molest or disturb the + good people and peaceable citizens of the State, such persons + shall be subject to the penalties of the first section of this + act; and if an attorney at law, he shall be stricken from the + roll of attorneys and be prevented from practicing in any court + in this State. + + SEC. 12. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person shall make + threats against any elector or person authorized to exercise the + elective franchise, with the intention of intimidating or + preventing such person or persons from attending any election in + this State, they shall be subject to the penalties inflicted by + the first section of this act. + + SEC. 13. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person or persons + shall attempt to break up any election in this State, or advise + the same to be done, with a view of preventing the lawful or + qualified citizens of this State from voting, they shall be + subject to the penalties prescribed by the first section of this + act; and the attorney of the State in all convictions under the + provisions of this act, shall be entitled to a tax fee of one + hundred dollars, to be taxed in the bill of costs, and to be + paid by the defendant. And the attorney prosecuting for the + State shall keep all information given him a secret, unless it + shall be necessary, in the opinion of the court, that the same + should be made public. + + SEC. 14. _Be it further enacted_, That it shall be the duty of + all the judges in this State to read this act to the grand + juries, and give it especially in charge to said juries. + + SEC. 15. _Be it further enacted_, That the treasurer of this + State shall not be authorized to pay any judge in this State any + salary, or to any clerk, sheriff, or attorney, any fee or bill + of costs that may accrue to such parties under the provisions of + this act, until such judge or other officer shall have filed + with the comptroller or treasurer an affidavit plainly setting + forth that he has fully complied with the provisions of this + act. + + SEC. 16. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person or citizen + of this State shall voluntarily feed, or lodge, or entertain, or + conceal in the woods, or elsewhere, any offender known to such + person to be charged with any criminal offense under this act, + such person shall suffer the penalty prescribed by the first + section of this act; provided, that this section shall not apply + to persons who, under the ancient law, might feed or conceal the + party charged. + + SEC. 17. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person, guilty of + any of the offenses enumerated in this act, shall have, own or + possess any real estate held by deed, or grant, or entry, or by + fee, or entail in law, or equity, the same shall be bound for + costs, fines or penalties imposed by any of the provisions of + this act; and a lien is hereby declared to attach to all estates + in law or equity, as above, dating from the day or night of the + commission of the offense, which fact may be found by the jury + trying the cause, or any other jury impaneled for that purpose; + and if in the opinion of the court the defendant has evaded the + law, the jury shall find such fact, and the estate of the + defendant shall be made liable for the costs of the State; and + there shall be no limitation to the recovery of the same. + + SEC. 18. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person or persons + shall be guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of this + act, to the prejudice or injury of any individual, the jury + trying the defendant shall, or may find such fact with the + amount of injury sustained, which shall be paid to the injured + party or person entitled to the same, by the laws of descent of + this State, with all costs, and who shall have the same lien on + the property of the defendant that is possessed or given to the + State by this act. + + SEC. 19. _Be it further enacted_, That if any person shall + knowingly make or cause to be made, any uniform or regalia, in + part or in whole, by day or night, or shall be found in + possession of the same, he, she or they shall be fined at the + discretion of the court, and shall be rendered infamous. + + SEC. 20. _Be it further enacted_, That in addition to the oath + prescribed by the constitution and oath of office, every public + officer shall swear that he has never been a member of the + organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, or other disguised body + of men contrary to the laws of the State, and that he has + neither directly nor indirectly aided, encouraged, supported, or + in any manner countenanced said organization. + + SEC. 21. _Be it further enacted_, That the attorneys or + prosecuting officers for the State, shall be entitled to and + receive five per cent, on all forfeitures or assessments made by + this act, on compensations to be paid by the defendant. + + SEC. 22. _Be it further enacted_, That the standard of damages + for injuries to individuals shall be as follows: For disturbing + any of the officers of the State or other person, by entering + the house or houses, or place of residence of any such + individual in the night, in a hostile manner, or against his + will, the sum of ten thousand dollars; and it shall be lawful + for the person so assailed to kill the assailant. For killing + any individual in the night twenty thousand dollars; provided, + such person killed was peaceable at that time. That all other + injuries shall be assessed by the court and jury in proportion; + and the court trying said causes may grant as many new trials as + may, in his opinion, be necessary to attain the end of justice. + + SEC. 23. _Be it further enacted_, That all persons present, and + not giving immediate information on the offenders, shall be + regarded as guilty of a misdemeanor against the law, and shall + be punished accordingly. + + SEC. 24. _Be it further enacted_, That it shall not be lawful + for any persons to publish any proffered or pretended order of + said secret, unlawful clans; and any person convicted under any + of the provisions of this act, shall not claim, hold, or possess + any property, real or personal, exempt from execution, fine, + penalty or costs, under this act; provided, that nothing herein + contained shall be so construed as to prevent or exempt any + person heretofore guilty of any of the offenses herein contained + from prosecution under the law as it now stands. This act to + take effect from after its passage.[52] + +The same legislature passed a bill authorizing the Governor to +organize, equip and call into active service, at his discretion, a +volunteer force, to be known as the Tennessee State Guards; to be +composed of one or more regiments from each congressional district of +the State; provided always that said Tennessee State Guards shall be +composed of loyal men. + +And it was further provided by the "Militia Law," that upon the +representation of "ten Union men, or three Justices of the Peace in +any county in the State," that the presence of these troops were +needed, that the Governor might declare martial law in such counties, +and send thither troops in such numbers as, in his judgment, were +necessary for the preservation of peace and order. And it was provided +that the expense of these troops to the State should be collected from +the counties where they were quartered. + +The reader has now some insight into the character of the legislation +direct against the Ku Klux. He will not only note the general severity +and harshness of it, but the following features in particular: + +(1). The anti-Ku Klux statute was _ex post facto_, as expressly +declared by Section 24 of it. (2). It presented no way in which a man +could relieve himself from liability to it, except by turning +informer, and as an inducement to do this a large bribe was offered. +(3). It encouraged strife, by making every inhabitant of the State an +officer extraordinary with power "to arrest without process" when he +had ground to suspect. (4). It must be remembered that in those days +in Tennessee "to be loyal" had a very limited meaning. It meant simply +to be a subservient tool and supporter of Governor Brownlow. If a man +was not that, no matter what his past record, or what his political +opinion, he was not "loyal." (5). While the law professed to be aimed +at the suppression of all lawlessness, it was not so construed and +enforced by the party in power. The "Union" or "Loyal" League was +never molested, though this organization met frequently, and its +members appeared by day and by night, armed, threatening and molesting +the life and property of as peaceable and quiet citizens as any in the +State. No attempt was ever made to arrest men except in Ku Klux +disguises. But as before remarked there is no instance on record of a +Ku Klux being arrested, tried and convicted. Invariably the party +arrested while depredating as Ku Klux turned out to be, when stripped +of their disguises, "loyal" men. + +In some sections of the State a perfect reign of terror followed this +anti-Ku Klux statute. The members of the Klan were now in the attitude +of men fighting for life and liberty. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of +them were not lawbreakers, and did not desire to be. There had been no +law against association with the Klan; they had conceived and done no +wrong during their connection with it. They had had no participation +in or knowledge of the excesses in which some of the Klan had indulged +or were charged with having indulged in. But now their previous +connection with the Klan was made a penal offense; and they had no +hope except on terms which to men of honor and right principle were +more odious than death. + +These men were made infamous, made liable to fine and imprisonment, +exposed to arrest without process by any malicious negro or mean white +man; and even their wives and children were outlawed and exposed to +the same indignities; and it is no strange thing if they were driven +to the very verge of desperation. It is not denied that they did many +things for which the world has been exceedingly slow to accept apology +or excuse. But history is challenged to furnish an instance of a +people bearing gross wrong and brutal outrage perpetrated in the name +of law and loyalty with patience, forbearance or forgiveness, +comparable to that exhibited by the people of the Southern States, +and especially of Tennessee, during what is called the "Reconstruction +period," and since. + +There may be in their conduct some things to regret, and some to +condemn; but he who gets a full understanding of their surroundings, +social, civil and political, if he is not incapable of noble +sentiment, will also find many things to awaken his sympathy and call +forth his admiration. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[47] See Major Crowe's statement on p. 22. + +[48] "At this late day (1901) I am gratified to be able to say that my +company did much good service to Tuscaloosa county. Had these +organizations confined their operations to their legitimate object, +viz: Punishing impudent negroes and negro-loving whites, then their +performances would have effected only good. Unfortunately, the Klan +began to degenerate into a vile means of wreaking revenge for personal +dislikes or personal animosities, and in this way many outrages were +perpetrated, ultimately resulting in casting so much well-deserved +odium on the whole concern that about the year 1870 there was almost a +universal collapse; all the good and brave men abandoning it in +disgust. Many outrages were committed in the name of Ku Klux that +really were done by irresponsible parties who never belonged to the +Klan."--_Ryland Randolph._ + +[49] I have been told that in Tennessee several members of the Klan +were executed by its orders for committing evil deeds under name of +the Klan.--_Editor._ + +[50] Some of the "Dens" disbanded in 1868. "As soon as our object was +effected, viz., got the negroes to behave themselves, we +disbanded."--_Ryland Randolph._ + +[51] Most of the carpetbag and negro legislatures of the other +Southern States passed similar laws, and Congress enacted a series of +three "Force Laws" in 1870-1871. See Burgess' "Reconstruction and the +Constitution," pp. 253, 262; Fleming's "Civil War and Reconstruction +in Alabama," p. 695.--_Editor._ + +[52] This is a good specimen of the "Force Laws" which were meant to +uphold the Radical governments in the South against popular +disaffection.--_Editor._ + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +DISBANDMENT. + + +On the 20th day of February, 1869, Governor Brownlow resigned his +position as Governor to take the seat in the United States Senate, to +which he had been elected. The last paper to which he affixed his +signature as Governor of Tennessee, proclaimed martial law in certain +counties, and ordered troops to be sent thither. This proclamation was +dated February 20, 1869. In a short while it was followed by a +proclamation from the "Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire" to his +subjects. + +This proclamation recited the legislation directed against the Klan, +and stated that the order had now, in large measure, accomplished the +objects of its existence. At a time when the civil law afforded +inadequate protection to life and property, when robbery and +lawlessness of every description were unrebuked, when all the better +elements of society were in constant dread for the safety of their +property, persons and families, the Klan had afforded protection and +security to many firesides, and, in many ways contributed to the +public welfare. But greatly to the regret of all good citizens, some +members of the Klan had violated positive orders; others, under the +name and disguises of the organization, had assumed to do acts of +violence, for which the Klan was held responsible. The Grand Wizard +had been invested with the power to determine questions of paramount +importance to the interests of the order. Therefore, in the exercise +of that power, the Grand Wizard declared that the organization +heretofore known as the Ku Klux Klan was dissolved and disbanded. + +Members were directed to burn all regalia and paraphernalia of every +description, and to desist from any further assemblies or acts as Ku +Klux.[53] The members of the Klan were counseled in the future as +heretofore, to assist all good people of the land in maintaining and +upholding the civil laws, and in putting down lawlessness. This +proclamation was directed to all Realms, Dominions, Provinces and +"Dens" in "the Empire." It is reasonably certain that there were +portions of the Empire never reached by it. The Klan was widely +scattered and the facilities for communication exceedingly poor. The +Grand Wizard was a citizen of Tennessee. Under the statute just now +quoted newspapers were forbidden to publish anything emanating from +the Klan. So that there was no way in which this proclamation could be +generally disseminated. + +Where it was promulgated, obedience to it was prompt and implicit. +Whether obeyed or not, this proclamation terminated the Klan's +organized existence as decisively and completely as General Lee's last +general order, on the morning of the 10th of April, 1865, disbanded +the army of Northern Virginia. + +When the office of Grand Wizard was created and its duties defined, it +was explicitly provided that he should have "the power to determine +questions of paramount importance, and his decision shall be final." +To continue the organization or to disband it was such a question. He +decided in favor of disbanding, and so ordered. Therefore the Ku Klux +Klan had no organized existence after March, 1869.[54] + +The report of the Congressional Investigating Committee contains some +disreputable history, which belongs to a later date, and is attributed +to the Klan, but not justly so. For several years, after March, 1869, +the papers reported and commented on "Ku Klux outrages" committed at +various points. The authors of these outrages may have acted in the +name of the Klan, and under its disguises; it may be that in some +cases they were men who had been Ku Klux. But it cannot be charged +that they were acting by the authority of an order which had formally +disbanded. They were acting on their own responsibility. + +Thus lived, so died, this strange order. Its birth was an accident; +its growth was a comedy; its death a tragedy. It owed its existence +wholly to the anomalous condition of social and civil affairs in the +South during the years immediately succeeding the unfortunate contest +in which so many brave men in blue and gray fell, martyrs to their +convictions. + +There never was, before or since, a period of our history when such an +order could have lived. May there never be again! + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[53] In the copy of the Revised and Amended Prescript owned by +Columbia University Library is bound a letter in which is mentioned +this order of destruction.--_Editor._ + +[54] The local "Dens" were not affected by this order. Many had +already disbanded; many more remained active as long as the +Reconstruction regime lasted.--_Editor._ + + + + +APPENDIX I. + + + PRESCRIPT OF KU KLUX KLAN + + ADOPTED AT A CONVENTION OF THE ORDER + HELD IN NASHVILLE, APRIL, 1867 + + Copied from the Original Prescript, line for line and page + for page. The type used here is slightly larger than + in the original document. + + + + +[Page header: Damnant quod non intelligunt. 1] + +PRESCRIPT + +OF THE + +* * + + What may this mean, + That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, + Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, + Making night hideous; and we fools of nature, + So horridly to shake our disposition, + With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? + + + An' now auld Cloots, I ken ye're thinkin', + A certain _Ghoul_ is rantin', drinkin', + Some luckless night will send him linkin', + To your black pit; + But, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin', + And cheat you yet. + + + [Header: Amici humani generis. 2] + + CREED. + + We the * * reverently acknowledge + the Majesty and Supremacy of the Divine being, + and recognize the Goodness and Providence of the + Same. + + PREAMBLE. + + We recognize our relations to the United States + Government and acknowledge the supremacy of + its laws. + + APPELLATION. + + ARTICLE I. This organization shall be styled and + denominated the * * + + TITLES. + + ART. II. The officers of this * shall consist of + a Grand Wizard of the Empire and his ten Genii; + a Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight Hy- + dras; a Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six + Furies; a Grand Giant of the Province and his four + Goblins; a Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two + Night Hawks; a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a + Grand Exchequer, a Grand Turk, a Grand Scribe, + a Grand Sentinel, and a Grand Ensign. + + SEC. 2. The body politic of this * shall be des- + ignated and known as "Ghouls." + + DIVISIONS. + + ART. III. This * shall be divided into five de- + partments, all combined, constituting the Grand + * of the Empire. The second department to be + called the Grand * of the Realm. The third, the + Grand * of the Dominion. The fourth, the Grand + * of the Province. The fifth, the * of the Den. + + DUTIES OF OFFICERS. + + GRAND WIZARD. + + ART. IV. SEC. I. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Wizard, who is the Supreme Officer of the Empire + to communicate with and receive reports from the + + [Footer: Magna est veritas, et prevalebit.] + + [Header: Nec scire fas est omnia. 3] + + Grand Dragons of Realms, as to the condition, + strength, efficiency and progress of the *s + within their respective Realms. And he shall com- + municate from time to time, to all subordinates *s, + through the Grand Dragon, the condition, strength, + efficiency, and progress of the *s throughout his vast + Empire; and such other information as he may deem + expedient to impart. And it shall further be his du- + ty to keep by his G Scribe a list of the names (without + any caption or explanation whatever) of the Grand + Dragons of the different Realms of his Empire, and + shall number such Realms with the Arabic nume- + rals, 1, 2, 3, &c., _ad finem_. And he shall instruct + his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and + disbursement which he shall make of the revenue + of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have + the sole power to issue copies of this Prescript, + through his Subalterns and Deputies, for the organ- + ization and establishment of subordinate *s. And + he shall have the further power to appoint his Ge- + nii; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer + for his Department, and to appoint and ordain + Special Deputy Grand Wizards to assist him in the + more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- + lishment of the * throughout his Empire. He is + further empowered to appoint and instruct Depu- + ties, to organize and control Realms, Dominions, + Provinces, and Dens, until the same shall elect a + Grand Dragon, a Grand Titan, a Grand Giant, and + a Grand Cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provid- + ded. And when a question of paramount impor- + tance to the interest or prosperity of the * arises, + not provided for in this Prescript, he shall have + power to determine such question, and his decision + shall be final, until the same shall be provided for + by amendment as hereinafter provided. + + [Footer: Ne vile fano.] + + [Header: Ars est celare artem. 4] + + GRAND DRAGON. + + Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Grand Dragon + who is the Chief Officer of the Realm, to report to + the Grand Wizard when required by that officer, + the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of + the * within his Realm, and to transmit through + the Grand Titan to the subordinate *s of his Realm, + all information or intelligence conveyed to him by + the Grand Wizard for that purpose, and all such oth- + er information or instruction as he may think will + promote the interests of the *. He shall keep by his + G. Scribe a list of the names (without any caption) + of the Grand Titans of the different Dominions of + his Realm, and shall report the same to the Grand + Wizard when required; and shall number the Do- + minions of his Realm with the Arabic numerals, 1, + 2, 3, &c, _ad finem_. He shall instruct his Grand + Exchequer as to the appropriation and disburse- + ment of the revenue of the * that comes to his + hands. He shall have the power to appoint his + Hydras; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exche- + quer for his Department, and to appoint and ordain + Special Deputy Grand Dragons to assist him in the + more rapid and effectual dissemination and estab- + lishment of the * throughout his Realm. He is + further empowered to appoint and instruct Depu- + ties to organize and control Dominions, Provinces + and Dens, until the same shall elect a Grand Titan, + a Grand Giant, and Grand Cyclops, in the manner + hereinafter provided. + + GRAND TITAN. + + Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Grand Titan + who is the Chief Officer of the Dominion, to report + to the Grand Dragon when required by that officer, + the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress + of the * within his Dominion, and to transmit + through the Grand Giants to the subordinate *s + + [Footer: Nusquam tuta fides.] + + [Header: Quid faciendum? 5] + + of his Dominion, all information or intelligence con- + veyed to him by the Grand Dragon for that pur + pose, and all such other information or instruction + as he may think will enhance the interests of the *. + He shall keep, by his G. Scribe, a list of the names + (without caption) of the Grand Giants of the differ- + ent Provinces of his Dominion, and shall report the + same to the Grand Dragon when required; and he + shall number the Provinces of his Dominion with + the Arabic Numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., _ad finem_. And he + shall instruct and direct his Grand Exchequer as to + the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue + of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have + power to appoint his Furies; also to appoint a Grand + Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his department, + and appoint and ordain Special Deputy Grand Ti- + tans to assist him in the more rapid and effectual + dissemination and establishment of the * throughout + his Dominion. He shall have further power to + appoint and instruct Deputies to organize and con- + trol Provinces and Dens, until the same shall elect + a Grand Giant and a Grand Cyclops, in the man- + ner hereinafter provided. + + GRAND GIANT. + + Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Grand Giant, + who is the Chief Officer of the Province, to super- + vise and administer general and special in- + struction in the formation and establishment of + *s within his Province, and to report to the Grand + Titan, when required by that officer, the condition, + strength, progress and efficiency of the * through- + out his Province, and to transmit, through the + Grand Cyclops, to the subordinate *s of his Pro- + vince, all information or intelligence conveyed to + him by the Grand Titan for that purpose, and such + other information and instruction as he may think + + [Footer: Fide non armis.] + + [Header: Fiat justia. 6] + + will advance the interests of the *. He shall keep by + his G. Scribe a list of the names (without caption) of + the Grand Cyclops of the various Dens of his Prov- + ince, and shall report the same to the Grand Titan + when required; and shall number the Dens of his + Province with the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., _ad + finem._ And shall determine and limit the number + of Dens to be organized in his Province. And he + shall instruct and direct his Grand Exchequer as to + what appropriation and disbursement he shall make + of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. + He shall have power to appoint his Goblins; also, + a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his de- + partment, and to appoint and ordain Special Depu- + ty Grand Giants to assist him in the more rapid + and effectual dissemination and establishment of + the * throughout his Province. He shall have + the further power to appoint and instruct Deputies + to organize and control Dens, until the same shall + elect a Grand Cyclops in the manner hereinafter + provided. And in all cases, he shall preside at and + conduct the Grand Council of Yahoos. + + GRAND CYCLOPS. + + Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Grand Cyclops + to take charge of the * of his Den after his election, + under the direction and with the assistance (when + practicable) of the Grand Giant, and in accordance + with, and in conformity to the provisions of this + Prescript, a copy of which shall in all cases be obtain- + ed before the formation of a * begins. It shall fur- + ther be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of + his * and to preside at the same--to appoint irregu- + lar meetings when he deems it expedient, to preserve + order in his Den, and to impose fines for irregularities + or disobedience of orders, and to receive and initiate + candidates for admission into the * after the + same shall have been pronounced competent and wor- + + [Footer: Hic manent vestigia morientis libertatis.] + + [Header: Curae leves loquntur, ingentes stupent. 7] + + thy become members by the Investigating Com- + mittee. He shall make a quarterly report to the + Grand Giant, of the condition, strength and ef- + ficiency of the * of his Den, and shall convey to + the Ghouls of his Den, all information or intelli- + gence conveyed to him by the Grand Giant for that + purpose, and all other such information or instruc- + tion as he may think will conduce to the interests + and welfare of the *. He shall preside at and con- + duct the Grand Council of Centaurs. He shall have + power to appoint his Night Hawks, his Grand + Scribe, his Grand Turk, his Grand Sentinel, and + his Grand Ensign. And he shall instruct and di- + rect the Grand Exchequer of his Den, as to what + appropriation and disbursement he shall make of + the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. + And for any small offense he may punish any mem- + ber by fine, and may reprimand him for the same: + And he may admonish and reprimand the * of + his Den for any imprudence, irregularity or trans- + gression, when he is convinced or advised that the + interests, welfare and safety of the * demand it. + + GRAND MAGI. + + Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Grand Magi, + who is the Second Officer, in Authority, of the Den, + to assist the Grand Cyclops and to obey all the + proper orders of that officer. To preside at all + meetings in the Den in the absence of the Grand + Cyclops; and to exercise during his absence all the + powers and authority conferred upon that officer. + + GRAND MONK. + + Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Grand Monk, + who is the third officer, in authority, of the Den, to + assist and obey all the proper orders of the Grand + Cyclops and the Grand Magi. And in the absence + of both of these officers, he shall preside at and con- + duct the meetings in the Den, and shall exercise all + + [Footer: Dat Deus his quoque finem.] + + [Header: Cessante causa, cessat effectus. 8] + + the powers and authority conferred upon the Grand + Cyclops. + + GRAND EXCHEQUER. + + Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Grand Exche- + quers of the different Departments of the * to keep + a correct account of all the revenue of the * that + shall come to their hands, and shall make no appro- + priation or disbursement of the same except under + the orders and direction of the chief officer of their + respective departments. And it shall further be + the duty of the Grand Exchequer of Dens to collect + the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the + Grand Cyclops. + + GRAND TURK. + + Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand Turk, + who is the Executive Officer of the Grand Cyclops, + to notify the ghouls of the Den of all informal or + irregular meetings appointed by the Grand Cyclops + and to obey and execute all the lawful orders of that + officer in the control and government of his Den. + It shall further be his duty to receive and question + at the Out Posts, all candidates for admission into + the *, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary + obligation required, and then to conduct such can- + didate or candidates to the Grand Cyclops at his + Den, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. + And it shall further be his duty to act as the ex- + ecutive officer of the Grand Council of Centaurs. + + GRAND SCRIBE. + + Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand Scribes + of the different departments to conduct the corres- + pondence and write the orders of the chiefs of their + departments, when required. And it shall further + be the duty of the Grand Scribes of the Den to keep + a list of the names (without caption) of the ghouls + of the Den--to call the Roll at all regular meetings + and to make the quarterly report under the direc- + tion of the Grand Cyclops. + + [Footer: Droit et avant.] + + [Header: Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui. 9] + + GRAND SENTINEL. + + Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand Senti- + nel to detail, take charge of, post and instruct the + Grand Guard under the direction and orders of the + Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same + when directed by that officer. + + GRAND ENSIGN. + + Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of the Grand Ensign + to take charge of the Grand Banner of the *, to + preserve it sacredly, and protect it carefully, and to + bear it on all occasions of parade or ceremony, and + on such other occasions as the Grand Cyclops may + direct it to be flung to the night breeze. + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + + ART. V. Sec. 1. The Grand Cyclops, the Grand + Magi, the Grand Monk, and the Grand Exchequer + of Dens, shall be elected semi-annually by the + ghouls of Dens. And the first election for these + officers may take place as soon as seven ghouls have + been initiated for that purpose. + + Sec. 2. The Grand Wizard of the Empire, the + Grand Dragons of Realms, the Grand Titans of Do- + minions, and the Grand Giants of Provinces, shall + be elected biennially, and in the following man- + ner, to wit: The Grand Wizard by a majority vote + of the Grand Dragons of his Empire, the Grand + Dragons by a like vote of the Grand Titans of his + Realm; the Grand Titans by a like vote of the + Grand Giants of his Dominion, and the Grand Gi- + ant by a like vote of the Grand Cyclops of his Pro- + vince. + + The first election for Grand Dragon may take + place as soon as three Dominions have been organ- + ized in a Realm, but all subsequent elections shall + be by a majority vote of the Grand Titans, through- + out the Realm, and biennially as aforesaid. + + The first election for Grand Titan may take place + + [Footer: Dormitur aliquando jus, moritur nunquam.] + + [Header: Deo adjuvante, non timendum. 10] + + as soon as three Provinces have been organized in a + Dominion, but all subsequent elections shall be by a + majority vote of all the Grand Giants throughout + the Dominion and biennially as aforesaid. + + The first election for Grand Giant may take place + as soon as three Dens have been organized in a + Province, but all subsequent elections shall be by a + majority vote of all the Grand Cyclops throughout + the Province, and biennially as aforesaid. + + The Grand Wizard of the Empire is hereby cre- + ated, to serve three years from the First Monday + in May, 1867, after the expiration of which time, + biennial elections shall be held for that office as + aforesaid. And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall + notify the Grand Dragons, at least six months be- + fore said election, at what time and place the same + will be held. + + JUDICIARY. + + ART. VI. Sec. 1. The Tribunal of Justice of this + * shall consist of a Grand Council of Yahoos, and + a Grand Council of Centaurs. + + Sec. 2. The Grand Council of Yahoos, shall be + the Tribunal for the trial of all elected officers, and + shall be composed of officers of equal rank with the + accused, and shall be appointed and presided over + by an officer of the next rank above, and sworn by + him to administer even handed justice. The Tribu- + nal for the trial of the Grand Wizard, shall be com- + posed of all the Grand Dragons of the Empire, and + shall be presided over and sworn by the senior + Grand Dragon. They shall have power to summon + the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and + if found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and + execute the same. And they shall have power to + appoint an executive officer to attend said Council + while in session. + + [Footer: Spectemur agendo.] + + [Header: Nemo nos impune lacessit. 11] + + Sec. 3. The Grand Council of Centaurs shall be + the Tribunal for the trial of Ghouls and non-elective + officers, and shall be composed of six judges appoint- + ed by the Grand Cyclops from the Ghouls of his Den, + presided over and sworn by him to give the ac- + cused a fair and impartial trial. They shall + have power to summon the accused, and + witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty + they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the + same. Said Judges shall be selected by the Grand + Cyclops with reference to their intelligence, integri- + ty and fair-mindedness, and shall render their ver- + dict without prejudice or partiality. + + REVENUE. + + ART. VII. Sec. 1. The revenue of this * shall + be derived as follows: For every copy of this Pre- + script issued to the *s of Dens, Ten Dollars will + be required. Two dollars of which shall go into + the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Gi- + ant; two into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of + the Grand Titan; two into the hands of the Grand + Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and the remaining + four into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the + Grand Wizard. + + Sec. 2. A further source of revenue to the Empire + shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of the + Realms, and a tax upon Realms, when the Grand + Wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable + to levy the same. + + Sec. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms + shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of Domin- + ions, and a tax upon Dominions when the Grand + Dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- + sable. + + Sec. 4. A further source of revenue to Domin- + ions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of Pro- + + [Footer: Patria cara, carior libertas.] + + [Header: Ad unum omnes. 12] + + vinces, and a tax upon Provinces when the Grand + Titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- + sable. + + Sec. 5. A further source of revenue to Provinces + shall be ten per cent. on all the revenue of Dens, + and a tax upon the Dens, when the Grand Giant + shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + + Sec. 6. The source of revenue to Dens, shall be + the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, when- + ever the Grand Cyclops shall deem such tax indis- + pensable to the interests and purposes of the *. + + Sec. 7. All of the revenue obtained in the man- + ner herein aforesaid, shall be for the exclusive ben- + efit of the *. And shall be appropriated to the + dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a + fund to meet any disbursement that it may become + necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the + *, and to secure the protection of the same. + + OBLIGATION. + + ART. VIII. No one shall become a member of + this *, unless he shall take the following oath or + obligation: + + "I, ---- of my own free will and accord, and in + the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear + or affirm that I will never reveal to any one, not a + member of the * * by any intimation, sign, + symbol, word or act, or in any other manner what- + ever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass words, + mysteries or purposes of the * * or that I am + a member of the same or that I know any one who + _is_ a member, and that I will abide by the Prescript + and Edicts of the * *. So help me God." + + Sec. 2. The preliminary obligation to be adminis- + tered before the candidate for admission is taken + to the Grand Cyclops for examination, shall be as + follows: + + "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never + + [Footer: Deo duce, ferro comitante.] + + [Header: Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. 13] + + reveal any thing that I may this day (or night) + learn concerning the * *. So help me God." + + ADMISSION. + + ART. IX. Sec. 1. No one shall be presented for + admission into this *, until he shall have been + recommended by some friend or intimate, who _is_ a + member, to the Investigating Committee, which + shall be composed of the Grand Cyclops, the Grand + Magi and the Grand Monk, and who shall investi- + gate his antecedents and his past and present stand- + ing and connections, and if after such investigation, + they pronounce him competent and worthy to become + a member, he may be admitted upon taking the ob- + ligation required and passing through the ceremo- + nies of initiation. _Provided_, That no one shall be + admitted into this * who shall have not attain- + ed the age of eighteen years. + + Sec. 2. No one shall become a member of a dis- + tant * when there is a * established and in + operation in his own immediate vicinity. Nor + shall any one become a member of any * after + he shall have been rejected by any other *. + + ENSIGN. + + ART. X. The Grand Banner of this * shall be + in the form of an isosceles triangle, five feet long + and three wide at the staff. The material shall be + Yellow, with a Red scalloped border, about three + inches in width. There shall be painted upon it, + in black, a Dracovolans, or Flying Dragon[55] with + the following motto inscribed above the Dragon, + + "QUOD SEMPER, QUOD UBIQUE, QUOD AB OMNIBUS."[56] + + AMENDMENTS. + + ART. XI. This Prescript or any part or Edicts + thereof, shall never be changed except by a two- + + [Footer: O tempora! O mores!] + + [Header: Ad utrumque paratus. 14] + + thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in + Convention assembled, and at which Convention + the Grand Wizard shall preside and be entitled to a + vote. And upon the application of a majority of + the Grand Dragons, for that purpose, the Grand + Wizard shall appoint the time and place for said + Convention; which, when assembled, shall pro- + ceed to make such modifications and amendments as + it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the + utility and more thoroughly effectuate the purpo- + ses of the *. + + INTERDICTION. + + ART. XII. The origin, designs, mysteries and + ritual of this * shall never be written, but the + same shall be communicated orally. + + REGISTER. + + 1st--Dismal. 7th--Dreadful. + 2nd--Dark. 8th--Terrible. + 3rd--Furious. 9th--Horrible. + 4th--Portentous. 10th--Melancholy. + 5th--Wonderful. 11th--Mournful. + 6th--Alarming. 12th--Dying. + + II. + + I--White. IV--Black. + II--Green. V--Yellow. + III--Blue. VI--Crimson. + VII--Purple. + + III. + + 1--Fearful. 7--Doleful. + 2--Startling. 8--Sorrowful. + 3--Awful. 9--Hideous. + 4--Woeful. 10--Frightful. + 5--Horrid. 11--Appalling. + 6--Bloody. 12--Last. + + EDICTS. + + I. The Initiation Fee of this * shall be one + dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated + and received into the *. + + II. No member shall be allowed to take any in- + toxicating spirits to any meeting of the *. Nor + shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting + when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a + meeting in such a condition, he shall be fined the + + [Footer: Cavendo tutus.] + + [Header: Astra castra, numen lumen. 15] + + sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, + to go into the revenue of the *. + + III. Any member may be expelled from the * + by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the + Den to which he belongs, and if after such expulsion + such member shall assume any of the duties, rega- + lia or insignia of the * or in any way claim to be + a member of the same, he shall be severely punish- + ed. His obligation of secrecy shall be as binding + upon him after expulsion as before, and for any + revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held + accountable in the same manner as if he were then + a member. + + IV. Every Grand Cyclops shall read or cause to + be read, this Prescript and these Edicts to the * + of his Den, at least once in every three months,-- + And shall read them to each new member when he + is initiated, or present the same to him for person- + al perusal. + + V. Each Den may provide itself with the Grand + Banner of the *. + + VI. The *s of Dens may make such addition- + al Edicts for their control and government as they + shall deem requisite and necessary. _Provided_, + No Edict shall be made to conflict with any of the pro- + visions or Edicts of this Prescript. + + VII. The strictest and most rigid secrecy, con- + cerning any and everything that relates to the * + shall at all times be maintained. + + VIII. Any member who shall reveal or betray the + secrets or purposes of this * shall suffer the ex- + treme penalty of the Law. + + Hush, thou art not to utter what + I am. Bethink thee; it was our covenant. + I said that I would see thee once again. + + [Footer: Ne quid detrimenti Respublica capiat.] + + [Header: Amici usque ad aras. 16] + + L' ENVOI. + + To the lovers of Law and Order, Peace and Jus- + tice, we send greeting; and to the shades of + the venerated Dead, we affectionately dedicate the * * + + [Footer: Nos ducit amor libertatis.] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[55] See Webster's Unabridged Pictorial. + +[56] "What always, what every where, what by all is held to be true." + + + + +APPENDIX II. + +REVISED AND AMENDED PRESCRIPT OF KU KLUX KLAN + +ADOPTED IN 1868 (?) + + +Reprinted _in facsimile_ + + + + + REVISED AND AMENDED + + PRESCRIPT + + OF THE + + ORDER + + OF THE + + * + * * + + + _Damnant quod non intelligunt._ + + + + + APPELLATION. + + This Organization shall be styled and + denominated, the Order of the * * *. + + CREED. + + We, the Order of the * * *, rever- + entially acknowledge the majesty and + supremacy of the Divine Being, and + recognize the goodness and providence + of the same. And we recognize our + relation to the United States Govern- + ment, the supremacy of the Constitu- + tion, the Constitutional Laws thereof, + and the Union of States thereunder. + + CHARACTER AND OBJECTS OF THE ORDER. + + This is an institution of Chivalry, Humanity, + Mercy, and Patriotism; embodying in its genius + and its principles all that is chivalric in conduct, + noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and + patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being + + First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and + the defenceless, from the indignities, wrongs, and + outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the + brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to + succor the suffering and unfortunate, and espe- + cially the widows and orphans of Confederate + soldiers. + + Second: To protect and defend the Constitu- + tion of the United States, and all laws passed in + conformity thereto, and to protect the States and + the people thereof from all invasion from any + source whatever. + + Third: To aid and assist in the execution of + all constitutional laws, and to protect the people + from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by + their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. + + ARTICLE I. + + TITLES. + + SECTION 1. The officers of this Order shall consist + of a Grand Wizard of the Empire, and + his ten Genii; a Grand Dragon of the Realm, + + [Header: _Nec scire fas est omnia._ 4] + + and his eight Hydras; a Grand Titan of the Do- + minion, and his six Furies; a Grand Giant of + the Province, and his four Goblins; a Grand + Cyclops of the Den, and his two Night-hawks; a + Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand Scribe, a + Grand Exchequer, a Grand Turk, and a Grand + Sentinel. + + SEC. 2. The body politic of this Order shall + be known and designated as "Ghouls." + + ARTICLE II. + + TERRITORY AND ITS DIVISIONS. + + SECTION 1. The territory embraced within the + jurisdiction of this Order shall he coterminous + with the States of Maryland, Virginia, North + Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala- + bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, + Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee; all com- + bined constituting the Empire. + + SEC. 2. The Empire shall be divided into four + departments, the first to be styled the Realm, + and coterminus with the boundaries of the + several States; the second to be styled the Do- + minion, and to be coterminous with such coun- + ties as the Grand Dragons of the several Realms + may assign to the charge of the Grand Titan. + The third to be styled the Province, and to be co- + terminous with the several counties; _provided_, + the Grand Titan may, when he deems it neces- + sary, assign two Grand Giants to one Province, + prescribing, at the same time, the jurisdiction of + + [Header: _Amici humani generis._ 5] + + each. The fourth department to be styled the + Den, and shall embrace such part of a Province + as the Grand Giant shall assign to the charge of + a Grand Cyclops. + + ARTICLE III. + + POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. + + GRAND WIZARD. + + SECTION 1. The Grand Wizard, who is the + supreme officer of the Empire, shall have power, + and he shall be required to, appoint Grand + Dragons for the different Realms of the Empire; + and he shall have power to appoint his Genii, + also a Grand Scribe, and a Grand Exchequer + for his Department, and he shall have the sole + power to issue copies of this Prescript, through + his subalterns, for the organization and dissemi- + nation of the Order; and when a question of + paramount importance to the interests or pros- + perity of the Order arises, not provided for in + this Prescript, he shall have power to determine + such question, and his decision shall be final + until the same shall be provided for by amend- + ment as hereinafter provided. It shall be his + duty to communicate with, and receive reports + from, the Grand Dragons of Realms, as to the + condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of + the Order within their respective Realms. And, + it shall further be his duty to keep, by his Grand + Scribe, a list of the names (without any caption + or explanation whatever) of the Grand Dragons, + of the different Realms of the Empire, and shall + + [Header: _Quemeunque miserum videris, hominem scias._ 6] + + number such Realms with the Arabic numerals + 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_; and he shall direct and + instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the appro- + priation and disbursement he shall make of the + revenue of the Order that comes to his hands. + + GRAND DRAGON. + + SEC. 2. The Grand Dragon, who is the chief + officer of the Realm, shall have power, and he + shall be required, to appoint and instruct a Grand + Titan for each Dominion of his Realm, (such + Dominion not to exceed three in number for any + Congressional District) said appointments being + subject to the approval of the Grand Wizard of + the Empire. He shall have power to appoint + his Hydras; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand + Exchequer for his Department. + + It shall be his duty to report to the Grand + Wizard, when required by that officer, the con- + dition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the + Order within his Realm, and to transmit, + through the Grand Titan, or other authorized + sources, to the Order, all information, intelli- + gence, or instruction conveyed to him by the + Grand Wizard for that purpose, and all such + other information or instruction as he may think + will promote the interest and utility of the Or- + der. He shall keep by his Grand Scribe, a list + of the names (without caption) of the Grand + Titans of the different Dominions of his Realm, + and shall report the same to the Grand Wizard + when required, and shall number the Domin- + + [Header: _Magna est veritas, et prevalebit._ 7] + + ion of his Realm with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, + 3, etc., _ad finem_. And he shall direct and in- + struct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropria- + tion and disbursement he shall make of the reve- + nue of the Order that comes to his hands. + + GRAND TITAN. + + SEC. 3. The Grand Titan, who is the chief + officer of the Dominion, shall have power, and he + shall be required, to appoint and instruct a Grand + Giant for each Province of his Dominion, such + appointments, however, being subject to the ap- + proval of the Grand Dragon of the Realm. He + shall have the power to appoint his Furies; also, + a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his + Department. It shall be his duty to report to + the Grand Dragon when required by that officer, + the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress + of the Order within his Dominion, and to trans- + mit through the Grand Giant, or other author- + ized channels, to the Order, all information, in- + telligence, instruction or directions conveyed to + him by the Grand Dragon for that purpose, and + all such other information or instruction as he + may think will enhance the interest or efficiency + of the Order. + + He shall keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list of + the names (without caption or explanation) of + the Grand Giants of the different Provinces of + his Dominion, and shall report the same to the + Grand Dragon when required; and shall num- + + [Header: _Ne tentes aut perfice._ 8] + + ber the Provinces of his Dominion with the Ar- + abic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_. And he + shall direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer + as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall + make of the revenue of the Order that comes to + his hands. + + GRAND GIANT. + + SEC. 4. The Grand Giant, who is the chief + officer of the Province, shall have power, and he + is required, to appoint and instruct a Grand Cy- + clops for each Den of his Province, such ap- + pointments, however, being subject to the ap- + proval of the Grand Titan of the Dominion. + And he shall have the further power to appoint + his Goblins; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand + Exchequer for his Department. + + It shall be his duty to supervise and admin- + ister general and special instructions in the or- + ganization and establishment of the Order within + his Province, and to report to the Grand Titan, + when required by that officer, the condition, + strength, efficiency, and progress of the Order + within his Province, and to transmit through the + Grand Cyclops, or other legitimate sources, to the + Order, all information, intelligence, instruction, + or directions conveyed to him by the Grand + Titan or other higher authority for that purpose, + and all such other information or instruction as + he may think would advance the purposes or + prosperity of the Order. He shall keep, by his + Grand Scribe, a list of the names (without cap- + + [Header: _Quid faciendum?_ 9] + + tion or explanation) of the Grand Cyclops of the + various Dens of his Province, and shall report + the same to the Grand Titan when required; and + shall number the Dens of his Province with the + Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_. He + shall determine and limit the number of Dens + to be organized and established in his Province; + and he shall direct and instruct his Grand Ex- + chequer as to the appropriation and disburse- + ment he shall make of the revenue of the Order + that comes to his hands. + + GRAND CYCLOPS. + + SEC. 5. The Grand Cyclops, who is the chief + officer of the Den, shall have power to appoint + his Night-hawks, his Grand Scribe, his Grand + Turk, his Grand Exchequer, and his Grand Sen- + tinel. And for small offenses he may punish + any member by fine, and may reprimand him + for the same. And he is further empowered to + admonish and reprimand his Den, or any of the + members thereof, for any imprudence, irregu- + larity, or transgression, whenever he may think + that the interests, welfare, reputation or safety + of the Order demand it. It shall be his duty to + take charge of his Den under the instruction and + with the assistance (when practicable) of the + Grand Giant, and in accordance with and in con- + formity to the provisions of this Prescript--a + copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before + the formation of a Den begins. It shall + + [Header: _Fiat justitia ruat coelum._ 10] + + further be his duty to appoint all regular meet- + ings of his Den, and to preside at the same; to + appoint irregular meetings when he deems it ex- + pedient; to preserve order and enforce discipline + in his Den; to impose fines for irregularities or + disobedience of orders; and to receive and initi- + ate candidates for admission into the Order, after + the same shall have been pronounced competent + and worthy to become members, by the Investi- + gating Committee herein after provided for. + And it shall further be his duty to make a quar- + terly report to the Grand Giant of the condition, + strength, efficiency, and progress of his Den, and + shall communicate to the Officers and Ghouls of + his Den, all information, intelligence, instruction, + or direction, conveyed to him by the Grand Gi- + ant or other higher authority for that purpose; + and shall from time to time administer all such + other counsel, instruction or direction, as in his + sound discretion, will conduce to the interests, + and more effectually accomplish, the real objects + and designs of the Order. + + GRAND MAGI. + + SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Magi, who is the second officer in authority of + the Den, to assist the Grand Cyclops, and to obey + all the orders of that officer; to preside at all + meetings in the Den, in the absence of the Grand + Cyclops; and to discharge during his absence + all the duties and exercise all the powers and + authority of that officer. + + [Header: _Dormitus aliquando jus, moritus nunquam._ 11] + + GRAND MONK. + + SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Monk, who is the third officer in authority of + the Den, to assist and obey all the orders of the + Grand Cyclops and the Grand Magi; and, in + the absence of both of these officers, he shall pre- + side at and conduct the meetings in the Den, and + shall discharge all the duties, and exercise all the + powers and authority of the Grand Cyclops. + + GRAND EXCHEQUER. + + SEC. 8. It shall be the duty of the Grand Ex- + chequers of the different Departments to keep a + correct account of all the revenue of the Order + that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by + them; and shall make no appropriation or dis- + bursement of the same except under the orders + and direction of the chief officer of their respect- + ive Departments. And it shall further be the + duty of the Exchequers of Dens to collect the + initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the Grand + Cyclops, or the officer discharging his functions. + + GRAND TURK. + + SEC. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Turk, who is the executive officer of the Grand + Cyclops, to notify the Officers and Ghouls of the + Den, of all informal or irregular meetings ap- + pointed by the Grand Cyclops, and to obey and + execute all the orders of that officer in the con- + trol and government of his Den. It shall further + be his duty to receive and question at the out- + + [Header: _Quieta non movere._ 12] + + posts, all candidates for admission into the Order, + and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obli- + gation required, and then to conduct such candi- + date or candidates to the Grand Cyclops, and to + assist him in the initiation of the same. + + GRAND SCRIBE. + + SEC. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Scribes of the different Departments to conduct + the correspondence and write the orders of the + Chiefs of their Departments, when required. + And it shall further be the duty of the Grand + Scribes of Dens, to keep a list of the names + (without any caption or explanation whatever) + of the Officers and Ghouls of the Den, to call the + roll at all meetings, and to make the quarterly + reports under the direction and instruction of the + Grand Cyclops. + + GRAND SENTINEL. + + SEC. 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand + Sentinel to take charge of post, and instruct the + Grand Guard, under the direction and orders of + the Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss + the same when directed by that officer. + + THE STAFF. + + SEC. 12. The Genii shall constitute the staff of + the Grand Wizard; the Hydras, that of the + Grand Dragon; the Furies, that of the Grand + Titan; the Goblins, that of the Grand Giant; + and the Night-hawks, that of the Grand Cyclops, + + [Header: _Quid verum alque decens._ 13] + + REMOVAL. + + SEC. 13. For any just, reasonable and sub- + stantial cause, any appointee may be removed by + the authority that appointed him, and his place + supplied by another appointment. + + ARTICLE IV + + ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + + SECTION 1. The Grand Wizard shall be elected + biennially by the Grand Dragons of Realms. + The first election for this office to take place on + the 1st Monday in May, 1870, (a Grand Wizard + having been created, by the original Prescript, + to serve three years from the 1st Monday in May, + 1867); all subsequent elections to take place every + two years thereafter. And the incumbent Grand + Wizard shall notify the Grand Dragons of the + different Realms, at least six months before said + election, at what time and place the same will + be held; a majority vote of all the Grand + Dragons _present_ being necessary and sufficient to + elect a Grand Wizard. Such election shall be + by ballot, and shall be held by three Commis- + sioners appointed by the Grand Wizard for that + purpose; and in the event of a tie, the Grand + Wizard shall have the casting-vote. + + SEC. 2. The Grand Magi and the Grand Monk + of Dens shall be elected annually by the Ghouls + of Dens; and the first election for these officers + may take place as soon as ten Ghouls have been + initiated for the formation of a Den. All subse- + + [Header: _Art est colare artem._ 14] + + quent elections to take place every year there- + after. + + SEC. 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office + of Grand Wizard, by death, resignation, removal, + or otherwise, the senior Grand Dragon of the + Empire shall immediately assume and enter + upon the discharge of the duties of the Grand + Wizard, and shall exercise the powers and per- + form the duties of said office until the same shall + be filled by election; and the said senior Grand + Dragon, as soon as practicable after the happen- + ing of such vacancy, shall call a convention of + the Grand Dragons of Realms, to be held at + such time and place as in his discretion he may + deem most convenient and proper. _Provided_, + however, that the time for assembling such Con- + vention for the election of a Grand Wizard shall + in no case exceed six months from the time such + vacancy occurred; and in the event of a va- + cancy in any other office, the same shall imme- + diately be filled in the manner herein before + mentioned. + + SEC. 4. The Officers heretofore elected or ap- + pointed may retain their offices during the time + for which they have been so elected or appointed, + at the expiration of which time said offices shall + be filled as herein-before provided. + + ARTICLE V + + JUDICIARY. + + SECTION 1. The Tribunal of Justice of this + Order shall consist of a Court at the Head-quar- + + [Header: _Nusquam tuta fides._ 15] + + ters of the Empire, the Realm, the Dominion, the + Province, and the Den, to be appointed by the + Chiefs of these several Departments. + + SEC. 2. The Court at the Head-quarters of + the Empire shall consist of three Judges for the + trial of Grand Dragons, and the Officers and at- + taches belonging to the Head-quarters of the + Empire. + + SEC. 3. The Court at the Head-quarters of the + Realm shall consist of three Judges for the trial + of Grand Titans, and the Officers and attaches + belonging to the Head-quarters of the Realm. + + SEC. 4. The Court at the Head-quarters of the + Dominion shall consist of three Judges for the + trial of Grand Giants, and the Officers and at- + taches belonging to the Head-quarters of the + Dominion. + + SEC. 5. The Court at the Head-quarters of the + Province shall consist of five Judges for the + trial of Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magis, Grand + Monks, and the Grand Exchequers of Dens, and + the Officers and attaches belonging to the Head- + quarters of the Province. + + SEC. 6. The Court at the Head-quarters of the + Den shall consist of seven Judges appointed + from the Den for the trial of Ghouls and the + officers belonging to the Head-quarters of the Den. + + SEC. 7. The Tribunal for the trial of the Grand + Wizard shall be composed of at least seven Grand + Dragons, to be convened by the senior Grand + Dragon upon charges being preferred against the + + [Header: _Fide non armis._ 16] + + Grand Wizard; which Tribunal shall be organ- + ized and presided over by the senior Grand + Dragon _present_; and if they find the accused + guilty, they shall prescribe the penalty, and the + senior Grand Dragon of the Empire shall cause + the same to be executed. + + SEC. 8. The aforesaid Courts shall summon + the accused and witnesses for and against him, + and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the pen- + alty, and the Officers convening the Court shall + cause the same to be executed. _Provided_ the ac- + cused shall always have the right of appeal to + the next Court above, whose decision shall be + final. + + SEC. 9. The Judges constituting the aforesaid + Courts shall be selected with reference to their + intelligence, integrity, and fair-mindedness, and + shall render their verdict without prejudice, + favor, partiality, or affection, and shall be so + sworn, upon the organization of the Court; and + shall further be sworn to administer even-handed + justice. + + SEC. 10. The several Courts herein provided + for shall be governed in their deliberations, pro- + ceedings, and judgments by the rules and regu- + lations governing the proceedings of regular + Courts-martial. + + ARTICLE VI. + + REVENUE. + + SECTION 1. The revenue of this Order shall be + derived as follows: For every copy of this Pre- + + [Header: _Dat Deus his quoque finem._ 17] + + script issued to Dens, $10 will be required; $2 + of which shall go into the hands of the Grand + Exchequer of the Grand Giant, $2 into the hands + of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Titan, + $2 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of + the Grand Dragon, and the remaining $4 into + the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand + Wizard. + + SEC. 2. A further source of revenue to the + Empire shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue + of the Realms, and a tax upon Realms when the + Grand Wizard shall deem it necessary and in- + dispensable to levy the same. + + SEC. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms + shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of Do- + minions, and a tax upon Dominions when the + Grand Dragon shall deem it necessary and in- + dispensable to levy the same. + + SEC. 4. A further source of revenue to Domin- + ions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of + Provinces, and a tax upon Provinces when the + Grand Giant shall deem such tax necessary and + indispensable. + + SEC. 5. A further source of revenue to Provin- + ces shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of + Dens, and a tax upon Dens when the Grand + Giant shall deem such tax necessary and indis- + pensable. + + SEC. 6. The source of revenue to Dens shall + be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, + whenever the Grand Cyclops shall deem such + + [Header: _Cessante causa, cessat effectus._ 18] + + tax necessary and indispensable to the interests + and objects of the Order. + + SEC. 7. All the revenue obtained in the man- + ner aforesaid, shall be for the _exclusive_ benefit of + the Order, and shall be appropriated to the + dissemination of the same and to the creation of + a fund to meet any disbursement that it may be- + come necessary to make to accomplish the ob- + jects of the Order and to secure the protection of + the same. + + ARTICLE VII. + + ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP. + + SECTION 1. No one shall be presented for ad- + mission into the Order until he shall have first + been recommended by some friend or intimate + who _is_ a member, to the Investigating Commit- + tee, (which shall be composed of the Grand Cy- + clops, the Grand Magi, and the Grand Monk,) + and who shall have investigated his antecedents + and his past and present standing and connec- + tions; and after such investigation, shall have + pronounced him competent and worthy to become + a member. _Provided_, no one shall be presented + for admission into, or become a member of, this + Order who shall not have attained the age of + eighteen years. + + SEC. 2. No one shall become a member of this + Order unless he shall _voluntarily_ take the follow- + ing oaths or obligations, and shall _satisfactorily_ + answer the following interrogatories, while kneel- + + [Header: _Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui._ 19] + + ing, with his right hand raised to heaven, and + his left hand resting on the Bible: + + PRELIMINARY OBLIGATION. + + "I ---- solemnly swear or affirm that I will + never reveal any thing that I may this day (or + night) learn concerning the Order of the * * *, + and that I will true answer make to such interrog- + atories as may be put to me touching my com- + petency for admission into the same. So help + me God." + + INTERROGATORIES TO BE ASKED: + + 1st. Have you ever been rejected, upon appli- + cation for membership in the * * *, or have you + ever been expelled from the same? + + 2d. Are you now, or have you ever been, a + member of the Radical Republican party, or + either of the organizations known as the "Loyal + League" and the "Grand Army of the Re- + public?". + + 3d. Are you opposed to the principles and + policy of the Radical party, and to the Loyal + League, and the Grand Army of the Republic, + so far as you are informed of the character and + purposes of those organizations? + + 4th. Did you belong to the Federal army + during the late war, and fight against the South + during the existence of the same? + + 5th. Are you opposed to negro equality, both + social and political? + + 6th. Are you in favor of a white man's gov- + ernment in this country? + + [Header: _Nemo tenetur seipsum accusare._ 20] + + 7th. Are you in favor of Constitutional liberty, + and a Government of equitable laws instead of a + Government of violence and oppression? + + 8th. Are you in favor of maintaining the Con- + stitutional rights of the South? + + 9th. Are you in favor of the re-enfranchise- + ment and emancipation of the white men of + the South, and the restitution of the Southern + people to all their rights, alike proprietary, civil, + and political? + + 10th. Do you believe in the inalienable right + of self-preservation of the people against the ex- + ercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power? + + If the foregoing interrogatories are satisfacto- + rily answered, and the candidate desires to go + further (after something of the character and na- + ture of the Order has thus been indicated to him) + and to be admitted to the benefits, mysteries, + secrets and purposes of the Order, he shall then + be required to take the following final oath or + obligation. But if said interrogatories are not + satisfactorily answered, or the candidate declines + to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after + being solemnly admonished by the initiating offi- + cer of the deep secresy to which the oath already + taken has bound him, and that the extreme pen- + alty of the law will follow a violation of the same. + + FINAL OBLIGATION. + + "I ---- of my own free will and accord, + and in the presence of Almighty God, do sol- + emnly swear or affirm, that I will never reveal to + + [Header: _Deo adjuvante, non timendum._ 21] + + any one not a member of the Order of the * * *, + by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or + in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, + signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the Order + of the * * *, or that I am a member of the same, + or that I know any one who _is_ a member; and + that I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts of + the Order of the * * * So help me God." + + The initiating officer will then proceed to ex- + plain to the new members the character and ob- + jects of the Order, and introduce him to the mys- + teries and secrets of the same; and shall read to + him this Prescript and the Edicts thereof, or + present the same to him for personal perusal. + + ARTICLE VIII. + + AMENDMENTS. + + This Prescript or any part or Edicts thereof + shall never be changed, except by a two-thirds + vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in + convention assembled, and at which convention + the Grand Wizard shall preside and be entitled + to a vote. And upon the application of a ma- + jority of the Grand Dragons for that purpose, the + Grand Wizard shall call and appoint the time + and place for said convention; which, when as- + sembled, shall proceed to make such modifica- + tions and amendments as it may think will + promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and + more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the + Order. + + [Header: _Spectemus agendo._ 22] + + ARTICLE IX. + + INTERDICTION. + + The origin, mysteries, and Ritual of this Order + shall never be written, but the same shall be + communicated orally. + + ARTICLE X. + + EDICTS. + + 1. No one shall become a member of a distant + Den, when there is a Den established and in ope- + ration in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall + any one become a member of any Den, or of this + Order in any way after he shall have been once + rejected, upon application for membership. + + 2. No Den, or officer, or member, or members + thereof, shall operate beyond their prescribed + limits, unless invited or ordered by the proper + authority so to do. + + 3. No member shall be allowed to take any + intoxicating spirits to any meeting of the Den; + nor shall any member be allowed to attend a + meeting while intoxicated; and for every ap- + pearance at a meeting in such condition, he shall + be fined the sum of not less than one nor more + than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the + Order. + + 4. Any member may be expelled from the + Order by a majority vote of the Officers and + Ghouls of the Den to which he belongs; and if + after such expulsion, such member shall assume + any of the duties, regalia, or insignia of the Or- + + [Header: _Nemo nos impune lacissit._ 23] + + der, or in any way claim to be a member of the + same, he shall be severely punished. His obli- + gation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him + after expulsion as before, and for any revelation + made by him thereafter, he shall be held ac- + countable in the same manner as if he were then + a member. + + 5. Upon the expulsion of any member from + the Order, the Grand Cyclops, or the officer act- + ing in his stead, shall immediately report the + same to the Grand Giant of the Province, who + shall cause the fact to be made known and read + in each Den of his Province, and shall transmit + the same, through the proper channels, to the + Grand Dragon of the Realm, who shall cause it + to be published to every Den in his Realm, and + shall notify the Grand Dragons of contiguous + Realms of the same. + + 6. Every Grand Cyclops shall read, or cause + to be read, this Prescript and these Edicts to his + Den, at least once in every month; and shall read + them to each new member when he is initiated, + or present the same to him for personal perusal. + + 7. The initiation fee of this Order shall be one + dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated + and received into the Order. + + 8. Dens may make such additional Edicts for + their control and government as they may deem + requisite and necessary. _Provided_, no Edict + shall be made to conflict with any of the provi- + sions or Edicts of this Prescript. + + [Header: _Ad unum omnes._ 24] + + 9. The most profound and rigid secrecy con- + cerning any and everything that relates to the + Order, shall at all times be maintained. + + 10. Any member who shall reveal or betray + the secrets of this Order, shall suffer the extreme + penalty of the law. + + ADMONITION. + + Hush! thou art not to utter what I am, be- + think thee! it was our covenant! + + REGISTER. + + I. + + 1. Dismal, 7. Painful, + 2. Mystic, 8. Portentous, + 3. Stormy, 9. Fading, + 4. Peculiar, 10. Melancholy, + 5. Blooming, 11. Glorious, + 6. Brilliant, 12. Gloomy. + + II. + + I. White, II. Green, III. Yellow, IV. Amber, + V. Purple, VI. Crimson, VII. Emerald. + + III. + + 1. Fearful, 7. Hideous, + 2. Startling, 8. Frightful, + 3. Wonderful, 9. Awful, + 4. Alarming, 10. Horrible, + 5. Mournful, 11. Dreadful, + 6. Appalling, 12. Last. + + IV. + + Cumberland. + + L'ENVOI. + + To the lovers of law and order, peace and jus- + tice, we send greeting; and to the shades of the + venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the + Order of the * * * + + _Resurgamus._ + + + + +APPENDIX III. + +CONSTITUTION OF A LOCAL +ORDER MODELED UPON +KU KLUX KLAN + +Used in South Carolina and in North Carolina + +From The Ku Klux Report, North Carolina Testimony + + +CONSTITUTION + + +ARTICLE I. + +This organization shall be known as the ---- Order, No. --, of the Ku +Klux Klan of the State of South Carolina. + + +ARTICLE II. + +The officers shall consist of a cyclops and a scribe, both of whom +shall be elected by a majority vote of the order, and to hold their +office during good behavior. + + +ARTICLE III. + +SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the C. to preside in the order, +enforce a due observance of the constitution and by-laws, and an exact +compliance to the rules and usages of the order; to see that all the +members perform their respective duties; to appoint all committees +before the order; inspect the arms and dress of each member on +special occasions; to call meetings when necessary; draw upon members +for all sums needed to carry on the order. + +SEC. 2. The S. shall keep a record of the proceedings of the order; +write communications; notify other Klans when their assistance is +needed; give notice when any member has to suffer the penalty for +violating his oath; see that all books, papers or other property +belonging to his office, are placed beyond the reach of any one not a +member of the order. He shall perform such other duties as may be +required of him by the C. + + +ARTICLE IV. + +SECTION 1. No person shall be initiated into this order under eighteen +years of age. + +SEC. 2. No person of color shall be admitted into this order. + +SEC. 3. No person shall be admitted into this order who does not +sustain a good moral character, and who is in any way incapacitated to +perform the duties of a Ku Klux. + +SEC. 4. The name of a person proposed for membership must be proposed +by the committee appointed by the chief, verbally, stating age, +residence, and occupation; state if he was a soldier in the late war, +his rank, whether in the Federal or Confederate service, and his +command. + +ARTICLE V. + +SECTION 1. Any member who shall offend against these articles, or the +by-laws shall be subject to be fined and reprimanded by the C., as +two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting may +determine. + +SEC. 2. Every member shall be entitled to a fair trial for any offense +involving reprimand or criminal punishment. + + +BY-LAWS + +ARTICLE I. + +SECTION 1. This order shall meet at ----. + +SEC. 2. Five members shall constitute a quorum, provided the C. or S. +be present. + +SEC. 3. The C. shall have power to appoint such members of the order +to attend the sick, the needy, and those distressed, and those +suffering from radical misrule, as the case may require. + +SEC. 4. No person shall be appointed on a committee unless the person +is present at the time of appointment. Members of committees +neglecting to report shall be fined 30 cents. + + +ARTICLE II. + +SECTION 1. Every member, on being admitted, shall sign the +constitution and by-laws and pay the initiation fee. + +SEC. 2. A brother of the Klan wishing to become a member of this +order, who shall present his application with the proper papers of +transfer from the order of which he was a member formerly, shall be +admitted to the order only by a unanimous vote of the members present. + + +ARTICLE III. + +SECTION 1. The initiation fee shall be ----. + + +ARTICLE IV. + +SECTION 1. Every member who shall refuse or neglect to pay his fine or +dues shall be dealt with as the chief thinks proper. + +SEC. 2. Sickness or absence from the country or being engaged in any +important business shall be a valid excuse for any neglect of duty. + + +ARTICLE V. + +SECTION 1. Each member shall provide himself with a pistol, Ku Klux +gown and signal instruments. + +SEC. 2. When charges have been preferred against a member in proper +manner, or any matters of grievance between brother Ku Klux are +brought before the order, they shall be referred to a committee of +three or more members, who shall examine the parties and determine the +matters in question, reporting their decision to the order. If the +parties interested desire, two-thirds of the members present voting in +favor of the report, it shall be carried. + + +ARTICLE VI. + +SECTION 1. It is the duty of every member who has evidence that +another has violated Article II. to prefer the charges and specify the +offense to the order. + +SEC. 2. The charge for violating Article II. shall be referred to a +committee of five or more members, who shall as soon as practicable, +summon the parties and investigate the matter. + +SEC. 3. If the committee agree that the charges are sustained, that +the member on trial has intentionally violated his oath, or Article +II., they shall report the fact to the order. + +SEC. 4. If the committee agree that the charges are not sustained, +that the member is not guilty of violating his oath or Article II., +they shall report to that effect to the order and the charges shall be +dismissed. + +SEC. 5. When the committee report that the charges are sustained, and +the unanimous vote of the members is given thereof, the offending +person shall be sentenced to death by the chief. + +SEC. 6. The person, through the cyclops of the order of which he is a +member, can make application for pardon to the Great Grand Cyclops of +Nashville, Tennessee, in which case execution of the sentence can be +stayed until pardoning power is heard from. + + +ARTICLE VII. + +SECTION 1. Any member who shall betray or divulge any of the matters +of the order shall suffer death. + + +ARTICLE VIII. + +SECTION 1. The following shall be the rules of any order to any matter +herein not provided for; shall be managed in strict accordance with +the Ku Klux rules. + +SEC. 2. When the chief takes his position on the right, the scribe, +with the members forming a half-circle around them, and at the sound +of the signal instrument there shall be profound silence. + +SEC. 3. Before proceeding to business, the scribe shall call the roll +and note the absentees. + +SEC. 4. Business shall be taken up in the following order: + +1. Reading the minutes. + +2. Excuse of members at preceding meeting. + +3. Report of committee of candidates for membership. + +4. Collection of dues. + +5. Are any of the order sick or suffering? + +6. Report of committees. + +7. New business. + + + + +APPENDIX IV. + +KU KLUX ORDERS, WARNINGS +AND OATHS + + +KU KLUX ORDERS, WARNINGS, OATHS. + + + KU KLUX KLAN. + + ALERT! + + (Crossed muskets) + (and pistol.) (Spade ax ax.) + + ALERT! ALERT! + + T T T T T T T T T T T + +The B. G. C. of the K. K. K. is in town. You who know the signal of +his presence and have seen it be on the _alert_. You who do not--to a +brother--_mark the nail of the finger and the_ (?) must be organized +in the future. _Traitors_ to their race _will not always flemish like +the bay. Dimity marks them. Look out. And meet at the cave where the +Greased Lightning Slumbers._ + + By order of the + B. G. C. + In Pro., Per. + + D. W. S. + Forerunner.[57] + +KU KLUX. + + Serpent's Den--Death's Retreat + Hollow Tomb--Misery Cave of the + Great Ku Klux Klan, No. 1,000. + Windy Month--Bloody Moon, + Muddy Night--Twelfth Hour. + +_General Orders No. 1._ + +Make ready! Make ready! Make ready! + +The mighty hobgoblins of the Confederate dead in Hell-a-Bulloo +assembled! + +Revenge, Revenge! + +Be secret, be cautious, be terrible! + +By special grant, Hell freezes over for your passage. Offended ghosts, +put on your skates, and cross over to mother earth! + + Work! Work!! Work!!! + Double, double, toil and trouble; + Fire burn and cauldron bubble. + +Ye white men who stick to black, soulless beasts! the time arrives for +you to part. Q. W. X. W. V. U., and so, from Omega to Alpha. + + Cool it with a baboon's blood + Then the charm is firm and good. + +Ye niggers who stick to low whites! + +Begone, Begone, Begone! The world turns around--the thirteenth hour +approacheth. + +S. one, two, and three--beware! White and yellow. + +J. and T---- P---- and L---- begone.--The handwriting on the wall +warns you! + + From the murderer's gibbet, throw + Into the flame. Come high and low. + + By order of the Great + BLUFUSTIN. + G. S. K. K. K. + +A true copy, + Peterloo. + P. S. K. K. K. + + +KU KLUX. + + Hell-a-Bulloo Hole--Den of Skulls. + Bloody Bones--Headquarters of the + Great Ku Klux Klan, No. 1,000. + Windy Month--New Moon. + Cloudy Night--Thirteenth Hour. + + +_General Orders No. 2._ + + The great chief Simulacre summons you! + Be ready! Crawl slowly! Strike hard! + Fire around the pot! + Sweltered venom, sleeping got + Boil thou first i' the charmed pot! + Like a hell-broth boil and bubble! + The Great High Priest Cyclops! C. J. F. Y. + Varnish, Tar and Turpentine! + The fifth Ghost sounds his Trumpet! + The mighty Genii wants two black wethers! + Make them, make them, make them! Presto! + The Great Giantess must have a white barrow. + Make him, make him, make him! Presto! + +Meet at once--the den of Snakes--the Giants jungle--the hole of Hell! + +The second Hobgoblin will be there, a mighty Ghost of valor! His eyes +of fire, his voice of thunder! Clean the streets--clean the serpents' +dens. + +Red hot pincers! Bastinado!! Cut Clean!!! No more to be born. Fire and +brimstone. + +Leave us, leave us, leave us! One, two, three tonight! Others soon! + +Hell freezes! On with skates--glide on. Twenty from Atlanta. Call the +roll. _Bene dicite!_ The Great Ogre orders it! + + By order of the Great + BLUFUSTIN. + G. S. K. K. K. + +A true copy, + Peterloo. + P. S. K. K. K. + + +KU KLUX. + + Hollow Hell, Devil's Den, Horrible + Shadows. Ghostly Sepulchre. + Head Quarters of the Immortal Ate + of the K. K. K. Gloomy month. Bloody + Moon. Black Night, Last Hour. + +_General Orders No. 3._ + +Shadowed Brotherhood! Murdered heroes! + +Fling the bloody dirt that covers you to the four winds! Erect thy +Goddess on the banks of the Avernus. Mark well your foes! Strike with +the red hot spear! Prepare Charon for his task! + +Enemies reform! The skies shall be blackened! A single Star shall look +down upon horrible deeds! The night owl shall hoot a requiem o'er +Ghostly Corpses! + +Beware! Beware! Beware! + +The Great Cyclops is angry! Hobgoblins report! Shears and lash! Tar +and Feathers! Hell and Fury! + +Revenge! Revenge! Revenge! + +Bad men! white, black, yellow, repent! + +The hour is at hand! Be ye ready! Life is short. J. H. S. Y. W.!!! + +Ghosts! Ghosts!! Ghosts!!! + +Drink thy tea made of distilled hell, stirred with the lightning of +heaven, and sweetened with the gall of thine enemies! + +All will be well!!! + + By order of the Great + BLUFUSTIN. + G. S. K. K. K. + +A true copy, + Peterloo. + P. S. K. K. K.[58] + +[Illustration: + + Prospective scene in the "City of Oaks," 4th of March, 1868. + + + "Hang, curs, hang! * * * * * _Their_ complexion is + perfect gallows. Stand fast, good fate, to _their_ + hanging! * * * * * If they be not born to be hanged, + our case is miserable." + + The above cut represents the fate in store for those great pests + of Southern society--the carpet-bagger and scallawag--if found + in Dixie's Land after the break of day on the 4th of March next. + + The genus carpet-bagger is a man with a lank head of dry hair, a + lank stomach and long legs, club knees and splay feet, dried + legs and lank jaws with eyes like a fish and mouth like a shark. + Add to this a habit of sneaking and dodging about in unknown + places--habiting with negroes in dark dens and back streets--a + look like a hound and the smell of a polecat. + + Words are wanting to do full justice to the genus scallawag. He + is a cur with a contracted head, downward look, slinking and + uneasy gait; sleeps in the woods, like old Crossland, at the + bare idea of a Ku-Klux raid. + + Our scallawag is the local leper of the community. Unlike the + carpet-bagger, he is native, which is so much the worse. Once he + was respected in his circle; his head was level, and he would + look his neighbor in the face. Now, possessed of the itch of + office and the salt rheum of Radicalism, he is a mangy dog, + slinking through the alleys, haunting the Governor's office, + defiling with tobacco juice the steps of the Capitol, stretching + his lazy carcass in the sun on the Square, or the benches of the + Mayor's Court. + + He waiteth for the troubling of the political waters, to the end + that he may step in and be healed of the itch by the ointment of + office. For office he 'bums' as a toper 'bums' for the + satisfying dram. For office, yet in prospective, he hath + bartered respectability; hath abandoned business, and ceased to + labor with his hands, but employs his feet kicking out + boot-heels against lamp post and corner curb, while discussing + the question of office + +THE FATE OF THE CARPETBAGGER AND THE SCALAWAG + +Cartoon by Ryland Randolph in _Independent Monitor_, September 1, +1868.] + + +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 document was discovered on yesterday morning posted on +the "legal advertisement" 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 noble 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 substitutes 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 document 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 document 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, +(God save the mark!) the scum of the earth, the scrapings 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 God." 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 noblest work of God." 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 assuredly +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. + +[Illustration: + + "Dam Your Soul. The Horrible _Sepulchre_ and Bloody 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 Nigger 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. + "BLOODY 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 God 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 Constitution 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 assist, according to my pecuniary +circumstances, 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 pass-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 God, 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 constitutional +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 embarrassments; females, friends, and widows, +and their households shall be the special object of my care and +devoted protection. + +IV. Should I ever divulge, or cause to be divulged, any of the secrets +of this order, or any of the foregoing obligations, I must meet with +the fearful punishment of death and traitor's doom, which is death, +death, death, at the hands of the brethren.[65] + + * * * * * + +I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Invisible +Circle; that I will defend our families, our wives, our children, and +brethren; that I will assist a brother in distress to the best of my +ability; that I will never reveal the secrets of this order or +anything in regard to it that may come to my knowledge, and if I do +may I meet a traitor's doom, which is death, death, death: so help me +God, and so punish me my brethren.[66] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[57] Montgomery Mail, March 23, 1868. + +[58] This and the two preceding orders were written by Ryland Randolph +and printed in his paper _The Independent Monitor_, of Tuscaloosa, +Alabama. + +[59] From the _Weekly Union Times_ of Unionville, S.C., February 17, +1871; South Carolina Testimony, pp. 1003, 1092. The negro militia of +South Carolina had killed a man who refused to sell whisky to them. +Several were arrested and imprisoned. A radical judge named Thomas, in +Columbia, 60 or 70 miles away and out of the district where the crime +was committed, directed that the prisoners be removed to Columbia for +trial. The whites believed that this was done as the first step toward +releasing the criminals. A mob came in, took the men from jail, shot +them and gave to the sheriff the above notice with instructions to +have it published in the newspapers. + +[60] Weekly Union Times, Unionville, S.C., February 24, 1871; Ku Klux +Report, South Carolina Testimony, p. 1004. The Ku Klux Klan had many +imitators, and lawless conduct was often carried on under the +protection of the name and prestige of the Klan. The above warning was +meant for those who had been using the name of the order to cloak evil +deeds. + +[61] _Yorkville Enquirer_, Yorkville, S.C., March 9, 1871; South +Carolina Testimony, p. 1347. Another warning to those engaged in +lawlessness and using the name of the Klan. + +[62] _Union Weekly Times_, March 17, 1871; South Carolina Testimony, +p. 1096. This order illustrates one method of getting rid of obnoxious +officials. + +[63] The oath of Ku Klux Klan was not printed. The three versions here +given were given from memory. The similarity is marked, however. + +[64] Ku Klux Report. North Carolina Testimony. Court Proceedings, p. +422. + +[65] Ku Klux Report, North Carolina Testimony, pp. 399, 400. + +[66] South Carolina Testimony, p. 361. + + + + +INDEX + + +A. + +Abernathy, Dr. C.C., a member of the Klan, 21 + +Admission of members, 147, 170 + +Admonition, 176 + +Alabama, Costumes worn in, 43, 58, 97; + investigation in, 43; + Klan extends to, 70 + +Amendment of Prescript, 147, 173 + +"American Historical Magazine," cited, 39 + +Anderson, Gen. G.T., a member of the Klan, 27 + +Appellation Official, of the Order, 136, 154 + +"Appomattox Program," not carried out, 33 + + +B. + +Badges worn by high officials, 59 + (See also outside cover.) + +Beati Paoli, 25 + +Black Belt, Ku Klux Klan mainly outside of, 23 + +Bowers, Dr. James, a member, 21 + +Brown, Gen. John C., a member, 26 + +Brown, W.G., "The Lower South," cited, 18 + +Brownlow, W.G., Governor of Tennessee, 1865-1868, 125; + his militia a cause of the Ku Klux Movement, 29; + proclaims martial law, 128; + has "Force Laws" passed, 113; + his detective drowned by the Klan, 67 + +Brownlow Republicans in Ku Klux disguise, 105 + +Burgess, J.W., "Reconstruction and the Constitution," cited, 113 + + +C. + +Carbonari, 25 + +Carpetbag and negro legislators pass "Force Laws", 113 + +Carpetbag rule a cause of the Ku Klux Movement,. 29, 31, 32, 35 + +Carter, Dr. Benjamin, a member, 61 + +Cartoon from the "Independent Monitor," 42, 192; + from the "Loil Legislature", 43, 113 + +Causes of the Ku Klux Movement, 24, 28, 31, 50, 75-81 + (See also Ku Klux Klan.) + +Centaurs, Grand Council of, 144 + +"Century Magazine," cited, 53, 84 + +Certificate of Laps D. McCord, 38 + +"Cincinnati Commercial," prints the Randolph cartoons, 43, 192 + +"Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama," by W.L. Fleming, + cited, 49, 79, 113 + +Character and objects of Ku Klux Klan, 155 + +Clanton, Gen. James H., 33 + +Cloud, Dr. N.B., driven from Tuscaloosa by the Klan, 42; + see cartoon facing page, 192 + +Colquitt, Gen. A.H. Colquitt, a member, 27 + +Conditions in the South, 75, 76 + +Confederates disfranchised, 88 + +Confreries, 25 + +Congress investigates Ku Klux Klan, 27, 28, 30, 47, 48, 49, 131; + passes "Force Laws", 113 + +Constitutions, see Prescript. + +Constitutional Union Guards, 18 + +Convention of Ku Klux Klan, 36, 37, 84, 133 + +Coon and Sibley, carpetbaggers, cartoon of, 43, and facing, 113 + +Costumes worn in the Klan, 43, 58, 59, 97 + +Council of Centaurs, 144; of Yahoos, 144 + +Cox, S.S., "Three Decades," quotation from. 11 + +Crawford, F.M., a member, 21 + +Creed of the Klan, 136, 154 + +Crowe, Major James R., one of the founders of the Klan, 19; + first Grand Turk, 21; + statement in regard to origin of the Pulaski Den, 22; + one of committee to prepare a constitution and a ritual, 54 + +Cutler, "Lynch Law," cited, 15 + +Cyclops, Grand, an official of the Klan, 57; + ruler of a Den, 86; + duties, 140, 161; + election of, 143; + appointment of, 160; + in a local order, 179 + +Cypher Code, 148, 176 + (See also Register.) + + +D. + +Decline of the Klan, 100-127; + causes of, 103 + +Dedication of Prescript, 150, 176 + +Den, the lowest division of the Order, 85, 136, 157; + at Pulaski, Tennessee, 19-21, 53 + +Disbandment of the Klan, 27, 52, 112, 128-130 + +Divisions of the Invisible Empire of Ku Klux Klan, 156 + +"Documents Relating to Reconstruction," cited, 18, 79 + +Dominions or Congressional Districts, 85, 136, 156 + +Dracovolans, or Flying Dragon, 147 + +Dragon, Grand, ruler of a Realm, 86; + duties, 138, 158; + how elected, 143; + appointed, 157 + +Duties of officials, 136-143, 157-165 + + +E. + +Edicts, or By-laws of the Order, 148, 174 + +Empire, The, 136, 156 + +Ensign, Grand, duties, 143 + +Ensign or banner of the Ku Klux Klan, 147 + +Exchequer, Grand, or treasurer, 57, 86; + duties, 142, 163; + how elected, 143; + appointed, 157-161 + +Expansion of the Klan's territory, 68-82, 156 + +Expulsion of members, 149, 174 + + +F. + +Fleming, W.L., "Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama," + cited, 49, 79, 113 + +Flying Dragon, 147 + +"Force Laws," effect on Klan, 125, 126 + +Forrest, Gen. Nathan Bedford, Grand Wizard, 26, 27, 28; + testimony before Ku Klux Committee of Congress, 28-30, 80; + his estimate of the number of members, 95; + his opinion of the character of members, 65; + belongs to the order of Pale Faces, 30; + disbands the Klan, 27, 52, 112, 128-130 + +Founders of the Klan, 19 + +Furies, the staff of the Grand Titan, 86, 136, 156, 159, 164 + +Fussell, Col. Joseph, a member, 27 + + +G. + +Garner, J.W., "Reconstruction in Mississippi," cited, 49 + +Garrett, Dr. W.R., makes plates used on pages 153-176 40 + +Genii, the staff of the Grand Wizard, 85, 136, 155, 157 164 + +Georgia, candidates in Georgia, 31 + +Ghouls, private members, 136, 156; + elect officials 143, 165 + +Giant, Grand, ruler of a Province, duties, 139, 160; + how elected, 143; + appointed 159 + +Giles County, Tennessee 50 + +Goblins, 136, 156, 160, 164 + +Gordon, Gen. John B., 26, 27, 33; + testimony before the Ku Klux Committee of Congress, 30-33, 80, 105 + +Grand Army of the Republic 171 + +Grant, Gen. U.S., magnanimity of, 33 + + +H. + +Hanging picture, cartoon by Ryland Randolph, 42, 192; + republished in the North 192 + +Hardee, Gen. W.J., a member, 26 + +"Histoire Generale," by Lavisse & Rambaud, cited 25 + +Huntsville, Alabama, parade of Klan in, 44 + +Hydras, the staff of the Grand Dragon, 86, 136, 156, 158 164 + + +I. + +"Independent Monitor," cited 26, 41, 192 + +Initiations into the Pulaski Den, 60, 63, 64 + +Interrogations to be asked candidates for admission, 171 + +Investigation of Ku Klux Klan, by Congress, 26, 28, 30, 47, 48, 49, 131; + by Alabama, 43 + +Invisible Circle 198 + +Invisible Empire, 47, 85, 101 + + +J. + +Jones, Calvin, one of the founders, 20, 21; + on committee to choose a name for the order, 53; + Charles P., a member, 21; + Miss Cora R., daughter of Charles P., and niece of Calvin, article + in "Advance," cited, 61, 92; + Judge Thomas M., father of Calvin and Charles P., 20, 53 + +Judiciary of the Klan, 27, 144, 166 + + +K. + +Kennedy, John, one of the founders of the Klan, 20, 21; + on committee to prepare constitution and ritual, 54 + +Kirk, John H., aided in printing the Prescript, 38 + +Klephts, 25 + +Knights of the White Camelia, 18, 23 + +Ku Klux Committee of Congress, 27 + +Ku Klux Klan, causes of, 23, 24, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 47-67, 75-81; + founded at Pulaski, Tennessee, 19, 21, 51, 53; + headquarters at Pulaski, 51; + initiations at Pulaski, 61-64; + original object, 59; + selection of name, 22, 53, 55; + costumes worn, 43, 58, 59, 97; + expansion, 68-82; + transformation, 71, 83-99; + reorganized, 84-99; + territorial extent, 23, 24, 85, 136, 156; + Prescripts, 37, 39, 133-150, 151-176; + officers and their duties, 85-86, 136; + oaths and obligations, 171, 172, 197, 198; + parades, 44, 91; + character and objects, 28, 31, 109-111, 155, 171-172; + creed, 136, 154; + declaration of principles, 87; + edicts, 148, 174; + admission of members, 147, 170; + character and conduct of members, 30, 34, 101, 102; + numbers, 30, 95; + secrets, 48, 148, 174; + revenue, 145, 168; + judiciary, 27, 144, 166; + convention at Nashville, 36, 37; + methods, 71-75, 91, 96-99, 183-196; + orders and warnings, 40, 130, 187-198; + disciplines its members, 106; outrages, 131; + decline and disbandment, 35, 100-127, 128-130; + regalia destroyed, 129; + investigation by Congress, 27, 28, 30, 43, 47, 48, 49, 131; + effect of "force laws;" popular idea of the Klan, 49; + results of the Ku Klux Movement, 35, 73, 80, 81; + other secret orders, 18 + +Ku Klux Klan, Lester and Wilson's History of, 15-19, 35, 37, 47 + +Ku Klux Movement, 25 + +Ku Klux Report, cited, 18, 27, 28, 33, 49, 52, 65, 80, 196, 197, 198 + + +L. + +Lakin, Rev. A.S., president of University of Alabama, driven away by + the Klan, 42; + see cartoon, 192 + +Lavisse and Rambaud, "Histoire Generale," cited, 25 + +Lawton, Gen. A.R., a member, 27 + +Lester, Capt. J. C, one of the founders of the Klan and one of the + authors of the History of Ku Klux Klan, 15, 16, 17, 19; + on committee to prepare constitution and ritual, 54 + +Lictor, an official title, 57 + +"Loil Legislature," by Capt. B.H. Screws, cartoon from, 43, 113 + +"Lower South," by W.G. Brown, cited, 18 + +Loyal League, 79, 125, 171 + (See also Union League.) + +"Loyalty," meaning of, 125 + +"Lynch Law," by Cutler, cited, 15 + + +M. + +McCallum, James, a member, 21 + +McCoy, Capt. Thomas, a member, 21 + +McCord, Frank O., one of the founders of the Klan, 20, 37; + first Grand Cyclops, 21; + Laps D., prints the Prescripts, 38; + L.W., editor of the "Pulaski Citizen," a Ku Klux newspaper, 38 + +McKissick, Alex., a member, 21 + +Magi, Grand, 57; + duties, 141, 162; + how elected, 143, 165 + +Martial law proclaimed in Tennessee, 128 + +Masonic order, 25 + +Members, admission of, 102, 147, 170; + expulsion, 149, 174; + none ever arrested, 106 + +Methods employed by the Klan, 91, 96, 97, 187-196 + +Militia law of Tennessee, 124 + +Mississippi, Klan extends to, 70; + costumes worn in, 43, 58 + +Minnis, J.A., testimony, 80 + +Mitchell, Capt. Robert, a member, 21 + +Monk, Grand, 86; + duties, 141, 163; + how elected, 143, 165 + +"Montgomery Mail," cited, 189 + +Moore, John A., a member, 21 + +Morton, Capt. John W., a member, 21, 26; + initiates General Forrest, 27 + +Motto, on ensign, 147 + + +N. + +Name of the order, selection of, 53, 55; + influence of name on the career of the order, 55, 56, 136, 154 + +Nashville Convention of the Klan, 84, 89; + adopts Prescript, 33 + +Nashville Den drowns a detective, 67 + +Negro equality, Klan opposed to, 171 + +Negro members of the Klan, 26 + +Negro troops, conduct of, 32 + +Negroes, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 31, 32; + conduct of, 77; + frightened by Klan, 97-99 + +Nelson, J.L., a member, 21 + +Newspapers forbidden to print Ku Klux notices, 41, 130 + +Night Hawks, the staff of a Cyclops, 86, 136, 156, 161, 164 + +Nihilists, 25 + +North Carolina, a local order in, 177-186 + +Number of members, 30, 95 + + +O. + +Oaths and obligations, 146, 147, 171, 172, 197, 198 + +Officials of the Klan, duties, 85, 86; + how elected, 143, 165 + +Order issued by the Grand Dragon of Tennessee, 109-111 + +Orders and warnings sent by the Klan, 40, 41, 187-196 + +Origin of Ku Klux Klan, 47-67 + +Outrages attributed to the Klan, 105 + + +P. + +Pale Faces, 18; + Gen. Forrest a member of, 30 + +Parades of the Klan, 44, 91-95 + +Pearcy, Capt. J.L., a member, 21; + owns a Revised and Amended Prescript, 40 + +Penalty for betrayal of secrets, 149, 176 + +Pettus, Gen. Edmund W, 33, 80 + +Pike, Gen. Albert, chief judicial officer, 27 + +Principles of the Klan, 87, 88, 171, 182 + +Province, or county, 85, 136, 156 + +Pulaski, Tennessee, description of, 50; + conditions in 1865, 52; + Ku Klux Klan founded there, 16, 53; + Ku Klux parade, 91-95 + +Pulaski Den, origin and membership, 19-21, 53, 57, 61 + +Prescripts, 16, 30, 36, 87, 88; + original, adopted at Nashville Convention, 37, 40, 133-150; + Revised and Amended, 37, 38, 40, 151-176; + an imperfect copy used by a local order, 39, 177-186; + sold by Grand Wizard, 137, 145, 157, 169; + dedication, 150, 176; + Amendment, 147, 173; + Register, 148, 176 + +Purpose of the original Den, 22 + + +Q. + +Quotations, poetical, in original Prescript, 135; + Latin, in the Prescripts, _passim_, 133-176 + + +R. + +Radical Republican party, 171 + +Radicals in Ku Klux disguise, 105 + +Randolph, Ryland, 26, 40; + quoted, 99, 104; + author of orders and warnings, 41, 190-192; + publishes cartoon of Coon and Sibley, 43, 113 + +Realm, or state, 85, 136, 156 + +Reconstruction Acts, 71, 84 + +"Reconstruction of the Constitution," by J.W. Burgess, cited, 113 + +"Reconstruction in Mississippi," by J.W. Garner, cited, 49 + +Reed, Richard R., one of the founders, 20, 21; + on committee to choose a name for the order, 53 + +Regalia and records of Klan destroyed, 129 + +Register of the Prescript, 41, 148, 176 + +Regulators, 71, 73, 106 + +Results of the Ku Klux Movement, 35 + +Revenue of the Klan, 145, 168 + +Revised and Amended Prescript, 38, 151-176 + +Ritual of Pulaski Den, 54, 57 + +Rose, W.H., a member, 21 + + +S. + +Saunders, "Early Settlers of Alabama," quoted, 96 + +Scotch-Irish descent of the members of the Klan, 21, 23 + +Screws, Capt. B.H., "Loil Legislature," cartoon from, 43, 113 + +Scribe, of a local order, 179 + +Scribe, Grand, 86; + duties, 142, 164 + +Secrets of the Klan, 148, 174; + penalty for betrayal of, 149, 176 + +Sentinel, Grand, 86; + duties, 143, 164 + +Shapard, I.L. and Robt., members, 21, 38 + +Sibley and Coon, carpetbaggers, 43, 113 + +South Carolina, local order in, 177-186; + warnings sent by Klan in, 193-196 + +Southern Society of New York, owns a Revised and Amended Prescript, 40 + +Spofford, Judge H.M., residence used by Klan 54 + +Staff officers, 86, 164 + +State Guards of Tennessee, 123 + +Stubbs, Mrs. Elizabeth, in "Early Settlers of Alabama," quoted, 96 + + +T. + +Taxes levied in Klan, 145, 169 + +Tennessee, conditions in, 17, 29; + the Klan in 51, 70, 95; + Confederates disfranchised, 88; + State Guards, 123; Militia law, 124; + order of a Grand Dragon, 109-111; + Anti-Ku Klux law, 113-123 + +Term of office, 144, 165 + +Texas, Klan extends to, 70 + +"Three Decades," by S.S. Cox, quoted, 11 + +Titan, Grand, ruler of a Dominion, 86; + duties, 138, 159; + how elected, 143; + appointed, 158 + +Titles of officials, 136, 155 + +Tories, 24, 77 + +Tourgee, "Invisible Empire," cited, 18 + +Transformation of the Klan, 71, 83-99 + +Tribunal of Justice, 166 + +Tugenbund, 25 + +Turk, Grand, 57, 86; + duties, 142, 163; + office first held by Major J.R. Crowe, 21 + +Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Klan at, 42 + + +U. + +"Understanding of Appomattox," violated, 34 + +Union League, a cause of the Ku Klux Movement, 24, 29, 31, 79-81, 125 + +Unionists, 24, 26, 77 + +University of Alabama, 42 + + +V. + +Vehmgericht, 25 + +Voorheis, Milton, a member, 21 + + +W. + +Warnings sent by the Klan, 40, 43, 196 + +"Washington Post," cited, 67, 95 + +Waters, Dr. M.S., a member, 21 + +Webster's "Unabridged Pictorial," cited, 147 + +"Weekly Union Times," cited, 193, 194, 196 + +White Brotherhood, 18 + +White Camelia, 18 + +White League, 18 + +"White Man's Government", 171 + +Wilson, Rev. D.L., one of the authors of the History of Ku Klux Klan + 15, 16, 17, 19; + article in "Century Magazine" cited, 53, 84 + +Wizard, Grand, 85; + duties, 136, 157; + how elected, 143, 165, 166; + term of office, 144, 165; + disbands the Klan, 128-130 + + +Y. + +Yahoos, Grand Council of, 144 + +"Yorkville Enquirer," cited, 195 + +Young Italy, 25 + + + * * * * * + +Compiled versions of Appendix I and Appendix II + + * * * * * + + + +APPENDIX I. + + + PRESCRIPT OF KU KLUX KLAN + + ADOPTED AT A CONVENTION OF THE ORDER + HELD IN NASHVILLE, APRIL, 1867 + + Copied from the Original Prescript, line for line and page + for page. The type used here is slightly larger than + in the original document. + + + + +PRESCRIPT + +OF THE + +* * + + What may this mean, + That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, + Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, + Making night hideous; and we fools of nature, + So horridly to shake our disposition, + With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? + + + An' now auld Cloots, I ken ye're thinkin', + A certain _Ghoul_ is rantin', drinkin', + Some luckless night will send him linkin', + To your black pit; + But, faith! he'll turn a corner jinkin', + And cheat you yet. + + +CREED. + +We the * * reverently acknowledge the Majesty and Supremacy of the +Divine being, and recognize the Goodness and Providence of the Same. + +PREAMBLE. + +We recognize our relations to the United States Government and +acknowledge the supremacy of its laws. + +APPELLATION. + +ARTICLE I. This organization shall be styled and denominated the * * + +TITLES. + +ART. II. The officers of this * shall consist of a Grand Wizard of the +Empire and his ten Genii; a Grand Dragon of the Realm and his eight +Hydras; a Grand Titan of the Dominion and his six Furies; a Grand +Giant of the Province and his four Goblins; a Grand Cyclops of the Den +and his two Night Hawks; a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand +Exchequer, a Grand Turk, a Grand Scribe, a Grand Sentinel, and a Grand +Ensign. + +SEC. 2. The body politic of this * shall be designated and known as +"Ghouls." + +DIVISIONS. + +ART. III. This * shall be divided into five departments, all combined, +constituting the Grand * of the Empire. The second department to be +called the Grand * of the Realm. The third, the Grand * of the +Dominion. The fourth, the Grand * of the Province. The fifth, the * of +the Den. + +DUTIES OF OFFICERS. + +GRAND WIZARD. + +ART. IV. SEC. I. It shall be the duty of the Grand Wizard, who is the +Supreme Officer of the Empire to communicate with and receive reports +from the Grand Dragons of Realms, as to the condition, strength, +efficiency and progress of the *s within their respective Realms. And +he shall communicate from time to time, to all subordinates *s, +through the Grand Dragon, the condition, strength, efficiency, and +progress of the *s throughout his vast Empire; and such other +information as he may deem expedient to impart. And it shall further +be his duty to keep by his G Scribe a list of the names (without any +caption or explanation whatever) of the Grand Dragons of the different +Realms of his Empire, and shall number such Realms with the Arabic +numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., _ad finem_. And he shall instruct his Grand +Exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement which he shall make +of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have the +sole power to issue copies of this Prescript, through his Subalterns +and Deputies, for the organization and establishment of subordinate +*s. And he shall have the further power to appoint his Genii; also, a +Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his Department, and to appoint +and ordain Special Deputy Grand Wizards to assist him in the more +rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * +throughout his Empire. He is further empowered to appoint and instruct +Deputies, to organize and control Realms, Dominions, Provinces, and +Dens, until the same shall elect a Grand Dragon, a Grand Titan, a +Grand Giant, and a Grand Cyclops, in the manner hereinafter providded. +And when a question of paramount importance to the interest or +prosperity of the * arises, not provided for in this Prescript, he +shall have power to determine such question, and his decision shall be +final, until the same shall be provided for by amendment as +hereinafter provided. + +GRAND DRAGON. + +Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Grand Dragon who is the Chief +Officer of the Realm, to report to the Grand Wizard when required by +that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the +* within his Realm, and to transmit through the Grand Titan to the +subordinate *s of his Realm, all information or intelligence conveyed +to him by the Grand Wizard for that purpose, and all such other +information or instruction as he may think will promote the interests +of the *. He shall keep by his G. Scribe a list of the names (without +any caption) of the Grand Titans of the different Dominions of his +Realm, and shall report the same to the Grand Wizard when required; +and shall number the Dominions of his Realm with the Arabic numerals, +1, 2, 3, &c, _ad finem_. He shall instruct his Grand Exchequer as to +the appropriation and disbursement of the revenue of the * that comes +to his hands. He shall have the power to appoint his Hydras; also, a +Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his Department, and to appoint +and ordain Special Deputy Grand Dragons to assist him in the more +rapid and effectual dissemination and establishment of the * +throughout his Realm. He is further empowered to appoint and instruct +Deputies to organize and control Dominions, Provinces and Dens, until +the same shall elect a Grand Titan, a Grand Giant, and Grand Cyclops, +in the manner hereinafter provided. + +GRAND TITAN. + +Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Grand Titan who is the Chief +Officer of the Dominion, to report to the Grand Dragon when required +by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of +the * within his Dominion, and to transmit through the Grand Giants to +the subordinate *s of his Dominion, all information or intelligence +conveyed to him by the Grand Dragon for that purpose, and all such +other information or instruction as he may think will enhance the +interests of the *. He shall keep, by his G. Scribe, a list of the +names (without caption) of the Grand Giants of the different Provinces +of his Dominion, and shall report the same to the Grand Dragon when +required; and he shall number the Provinces of his Dominion with the +Arabic Numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c., _ad finem_. And he shall instruct and +direct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement of +the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have power to +appoint his Furies; also to appoint a Grand Scribe and a Grand +Exchequer for his department, and appoint and ordain Special Deputy +Grand Titans to assist him in the more rapid and effectual +dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his Dominion. He +shall have further power to appoint and instruct Deputies to organize +and control Provinces and Dens, until the same shall elect a Grand +Giant and a Grand Cyclops, in the manner hereinafter provided. + +GRAND GIANT. + +Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Grand Giant, who is the Chief +Officer of the Province, to supervise and administer general and +special instruction in the formation and establishment of *s within +his Province, and to report to the Grand Titan, when required by that +officer, the condition, strength, progress and efficiency of the * +throughout his Province, and to transmit, through the Grand Cyclops, +to the subordinate *s of his Province, all information or intelligence +conveyed to him by the Grand Titan for that purpose, and such other +information and instruction as he may think will advance the interests +of the *. He shall keep by his G. Scribe a list of the names (without +caption) of the Grand Cyclops of the various Dens of his Province, and +shall report the same to the Grand Titan when required; and shall +number the Dens of his Province with the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, +&c., _ad finem._ And shall determine and limit the number of Dens to +be organized in his Province. And he shall instruct and direct his +Grand Exchequer as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall +make of the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. He shall have +power to appoint his Goblins; also, a Grand Scribe and a Grand +Exchequer for his department, and to appoint and ordain Special Deputy +Grand Giants to assist him in the more rapid and effectual +dissemination and establishment of the * throughout his Province. He +shall have the further power to appoint and instruct Deputies to +organize and control Dens, until the same shall elect a Grand Cyclops +in the manner hereinafter provided. And in all cases, he shall preside +at and conduct the Grand Council of Yahoos. + +GRAND CYCLOPS. + +Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Grand Cyclops to take charge of +the * of his Den after his election, under the direction and with the +assistance (when practicable) of the Grand Giant, and in accordance +with, and in conformity to the provisions of this Prescript, a copy of +which shall in all cases be obtained before the formation of a * +begins. It shall further be his duty to appoint all regular meetings +of his * and to preside at the same--to appoint irregular meetings +when he deems it expedient, to preserve order in his Den, and to +impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders, and to +receive and initiate candidates for admission into the * after the +same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy come members by +the Investigating Committee. He shall make a quarterly report to the +Grand Giant, of the condition, strength and efficiency of the * of his +Den, and shall convey to the Ghouls of his Den, all information or +intelligence conveyed to him by the Grand Giant for that purpose, and +all other such information or instruction as he may think will conduce +to the interests and welfare of the *. He shall preside at and conduct +the Grand Council of Centaurs. He shall have power to appoint his +Night Hawks, his Grand Scribe, his Grand Turk, his Grand Sentinel, and +his Grand Ensign. And he shall instruct and direct the Grand Exchequer +of his Den, as to what appropriation and disbursement he shall make of +the revenue of the * that comes to his hands. And for any small +offense he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for +the same: And he may admonish and reprimand the * of his Den for any +imprudence, irregularity or transgression, when he is convinced or +advised that the interests, welfare and safety of the * demand it. + +GRAND MAGI. + +Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Grand Magi, who is the Second +Officer, in Authority, of the Den, to assist the Grand Cyclops and to +obey all the proper orders of that officer. To preside at all meetings +in the Den in the absence of the Grand Cyclops; and to exercise during +his absence all the powers and authority conferred upon that officer. + +GRAND MONK. + +Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Grand Monk, who is the third +officer, in authority, of the Den, to assist and obey all the proper +orders of the Grand Cyclops and the Grand Magi. And in the absence of +both of these officers, he shall preside at and conduct the meetings +in the Den, and shall exercise all the powers and authority conferred +upon the Grand Cyclops. + +GRAND EXCHEQUER. + +Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Grand Exchequers of the different +Departments of the * to keep a correct account of all the revenue of +the * that shall come to their hands, and shall make no appropriation +or disbursement of the same except under the orders and direction of +the chief officer of their respective departments. And it shall +further be the duty of the Grand Exchequer of Dens to collect the +initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the Grand Cyclops. + +GRAND TURK. + +Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand Turk, who is the Executive +Officer of the Grand Cyclops, to notify the ghouls of the Den of all +informal or irregular meetings appointed by the Grand Cyclops and to +obey and execute all the lawful orders of that officer in the control +and government of his Den. It shall further be his duty to receive and +question at the Out Posts, all candidates for admission into the *, +and shall _there_ administer the preliminary obligation required, and +then to conduct such candidate or candidates to the Grand Cyclops at +his Den, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. And it shall +further be his duty to act as the executive officer of the Grand +Council of Centaurs. + +GRAND SCRIBE. + +Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand Scribes of the different +departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the +chiefs of their departments, when required. And it shall further be +the duty of the Grand Scribes of the Den to keep a list of the names +(without caption) of the ghouls of the Den--to call the Roll at all +regular meetings and to make the quarterly report under the direction +of the Grand Cyclops. + +GRAND SENTINEL. + +Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand Sentinel to detail, take +charge of, post and instruct the Grand Guard under the direction and +orders of the Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when +directed by that officer. + +GRAND ENSIGN. + +Sec. 12. It shall be the duty of the Grand Ensign to take charge of +the Grand Banner of the *, to preserve it sacredly, and protect it +carefully, and to bear it on all occasions of parade or ceremony, and +on such other occasions as the Grand Cyclops may direct it to be flung +to the night breeze. + +ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + +ART. V. Sec. 1. The Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magi, the Grand Monk, and +the Grand Exchequer of Dens, shall be elected semi-annually by the +ghouls of Dens. And the first election for these officers may take +place as soon as seven ghouls have been initiated for that purpose. + +Sec. 2. The Grand Wizard of the Empire, the Grand Dragons of Realms, +the Grand Titans of Dominions, and the Grand Giants of Provinces, +shall be elected biennially, and in the following manner, to wit: The +Grand Wizard by a majority vote of the Grand Dragons of his Empire, +the Grand Dragons by a like vote of the Grand Titans of his Realm; the +Grand Titans by a like vote of the Grand Giants of his Dominion, and +the Grand Giant by a like vote of the Grand Cyclops of his Province. + +The first election for Grand Dragon may take place as soon as three +Dominions have been organized in a Realm, but all subsequent elections +shall be by a majority vote of the Grand Titans, throughout the Realm, +and biennially as aforesaid. + +The first election for Grand Titan may take place as soon as three +Provinces have been organized in a Dominion, but all subsequent +elections shall be by a majority vote of all the Grand Giants +throughout the Dominion and biennially as aforesaid. + +The first election for Grand Giant may take place as soon as three +Dens have been organized in a Province, but all subsequent elections +shall be by a majority vote of all the Grand Cyclops throughout the +Province, and biennially as aforesaid. + +The Grand Wizard of the Empire is hereby created, to serve three years +from the First Monday in May, 1867, after the expiration of which +time, biennial elections shall be held for that office as aforesaid. +And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall notify the Grand Dragons, at +least six months before said election, at what time and place the same +will be held. + +JUDICIARY. + +ART. VI. Sec. 1. The Tribunal of Justice of this * shall consist of a +Grand Council of Yahoos, and a Grand Council of Centaurs. + +Sec. 2. The Grand Council of Yahoos, shall be the Tribunal for the +trial of all elected officers, and shall be composed of officers of +equal rank with the accused, and shall be appointed and presided over +by an officer of the next rank above, and sworn by him to administer +even handed justice. The Tribunal for the trial of the Grand Wizard, +shall be composed of all the Grand Dragons of the Empire, and shall be +presided over and sworn by the senior Grand Dragon. They shall have +power to summon the accused, and witnesses for and against him, and if +found guilty they shall prescribe the penalty and execute the same. +And they shall have power to appoint an executive officer to attend +said Council while in session. + +Sec. 3. The Grand Council of Centaurs shall be the Tribunal for the +trial of Ghouls and non-elective officers, and shall be composed of +six judges appointed by the Grand Cyclops from the Ghouls of his Den, +presided over and sworn by him to give the accused a fair and +impartial trial. They shall have power to summon the accused, and +witnesses for and against him, and if found guilty they shall +prescribe the penalty and execute the same. Said Judges shall be +selected by the Grand Cyclops with reference to their intelligence, +integrity and fair-mindedness, and shall render their verdict without +prejudice or partiality. + +REVENUE. + +ART. VII. Sec. 1. The revenue of this * shall be derived as follows: +For every copy of this Prescript issued to the *s of Dens, Ten Dollars +will be required. Two dollars of which shall go into the hands of the +Grand Exchequer of the Grand Giant; two into the hands of the Grand +Exchequer of the Grand Titan; two into the hands of the Grand +Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and the remaining four into the hands +of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Wizard. + +Sec. 2. A further source of revenue to the Empire shall be ten per +cent. of all the revenue of the Realms, and a tax upon Realms, when +the Grand Wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the +same. + +Sec. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms shall be ten per cent. +of all the revenue of Dominions, and a tax upon Dominions when the +Grand Dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + +Sec. 4. A further source of revenue to Dominions shall be ten per +cent. of all the revenue of Provinces, and a tax upon Provinces when +the Grand Titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + +Sec. 5. A further source of revenue to Provinces shall be ten per +cent. on all the revenue of Dens, and a tax upon the Dens, when the +Grand Giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + +Sec. 6. The source of revenue to Dens, shall be the initiation fees, +fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the Grand Cyclops shall deem +such tax indispensable to the interests and purposes of the *. + +Sec. 7. All of the revenue obtained in the manner herein aforesaid, +shall be for the exclusive benefit of the *. And shall be appropriated +to the dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a fund to +meet any disbursement that it may become necessary to make to +accomplish the objects of the *, and to secure the protection of the +same. + +OBLIGATION. + +ART. VIII. No one shall become a member of this *, unless he shall +take the following oath or obligation: + +"I, ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of +Almighty God, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal to +any one, not a member of the * * by any intimation, sign, symbol, word +or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, +grips, pass words, mysteries or purposes of the * * or that I am a +member of the same or that I know any one who _is_ a member, and that +I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts of the * *. So help me God." + +Sec. 2. The preliminary obligation to be administered before the +candidate for admission is taken to the Grand Cyclops for examination, +shall be as follows: + +"I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal any thing that +I may this day (or night) learn concerning the * *. So help me God." + +ADMISSION. + +ART. IX. Sec. 1. No one shall be presented for admission into this *, +until he shall have been recommended by some friend or intimate, who +is a member, to the Investigating Committee, which shall be composed +of the Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magi and the Grand Monk, and who shall +investigate his antecedents and his past and present standing and +connections, and if after such investigation, they pronounce him +competent and worthy to become a member, he may be admitted upon +taking the obligation required and passing through the ceremonies of +initiation. _Provided_, That no one shall be admitted into this * who +shall have not attained the age of eighteen years. + +Sec. 2. No one shall become a member of a distant * when there is a * +established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity. Nor shall +any one become a member of any * after he shall have been rejected by +any other *. + +ENSIGN. + +ART. X. The Grand Banner of this * shall be in the form of an +isosceles triangle, five feet long and three wide at the staff. The +material shall be Yellow, with a Red scalloped border, about three +inches in width. There shall be painted upon it, in black, a +Dracovolans, or Flying Dragon[55a] with the following motto inscribed +above the Dragon, + +"QUOD SEMPER, QUOD UBIQUE, QUOD AB OMNIBUS.[56a]" + +AMENDMENTS. + +ART. XI. This Prescript or any part or Edicts thereof, shall never be +changed except by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the +Realms, in Convention assembled, and at which Convention the Grand +Wizard shall preside and be entitled to a vote. And upon the +application of a majority of the Grand Dragons, for that purpose, the +Grand Wizard shall appoint the time and place for said Convention; +which, when assembled, shall proceed to make such modifications and +amendments as it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the +utility and more thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the *. + +INTERDICTION. + +ART. XII. The origin, designs, mysteries and ritual of this * shall +never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally. + +REGISTER. + + 1st--Dismal. 7th--Dreadful. + 2nd--Dark. 8th--Terrible. + 3rd--Furious. 9th--Horrible. + 4th--Portentous. 10th--Melancholy. + 5th--Wonderful. 11th--Mournful. + 6th--Alarming. 12th--Dying. + +II. + + I--White. IV--Black + II--Green. V--Yellow + III--Blue. VI--Crimson + VII--Purple + +III. + + 1--Fearful. 7--Doleful. + 2--Startling. 8--Sorrowful. + 3--Awful. 9--Hideous. + 4--Woeful. 10--Frightful. + 5--Horrid. 11--Appalling. + 6--Bloody. 12--Last. + +EDICTS. + +I. The Initiation Fee of this * shall be one dollar, to be paid when +the candidate is initiated and received into the *. + +II. No member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any +meeting of the *. Nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting +when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such a +condition, he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more +than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the *. + +III. Any member may be expelled from the * by a majority vote of the +officers and ghouls of the Den to which he belongs, and if after such +expulsion such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia or +insignia of the * or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he +shall be severely punished. His obligation of secrecy shall be as +binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation +made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same +manner as if he were then a member. + +IV. Every Grand Cyclops shall read or cause to be read, this Prescript +and these Edicts to the * of his Den, at least once in every three +months,--And shall read them to each new member when he is initiated, +or present the same to him for personal perusal. + +V. Each Den may provide itself with the Grand Banner of the *. + +VI. The *s of Dens may make such additional Edicts for their control +and government as they shall deem requisite and necessary. _Provided_, +No Edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provisions or +Edicts of this Prescript. + +VII. The strictest and most rigid secrecy, concerning any and +everything that relates to the * shall at all times be maintained. + +VIII. Any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets or purposes of +this * shall suffer the extreme penalty of the Law. + + Hush, thou art not to utter what + I am. Bethink thee; it was our covenant. + I said that I would see thee once again. + +L' ENVOI. + +To the lovers of Law and Order, Peace and Justice, we send greeting; +and to the shades of the venerated Dead, we affectionately dedicate +the * * + +FOOTNOTES: + +[55a] See Webster's Unabridged Pictorial. + +[56a] "What always, what every where, what by all is held to be true." + + + + +APPENDIX II. + +REVISED AND AMENDED PRESCRIPT OF KU KLUX KLAN + +ADOPTED IN 1868 (?) + +REVISED AND AMENDED + +PRESCRIPT + +OF THE + +ORDER + +OF THE + + * +* * + + +_Damnant quod non intelligunt._ + + + + +APPELLATION. + +This Organization shall be styled and denominated, the Order of the * +* *. + +CREED. + +We, the Order of the * * *, reverentially acknowledge the majesty and +supremacy of the Divine Being, and recognize the goodness and +providence of the same. And we recognize our relation to the United +States Government, the supremacy of the Constitution, the +Constitutional Laws thereof, and the Union of States thereunder. + +CHARACTER AND OBJECTS OF THE ORDER. + +This is an institution of Chivalry, Humanity, Mercy, and Patriotism; +embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in +conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in +purpose; its peculiar objects being + +First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenceless, from +the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and +the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the +suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of +Confederate soldiers. + +Second: To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, +and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the States +and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever. + +Third: To aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, +and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except +by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land. + +ARTICLE I. + +TITLES. + +SECTION 1. The officers of this Order shall consist of a Grand Wizard +of the Empire, and his ten Genii; a Grand Dragon of the Realm, and his +eight Hydras; a Grand Titan of the Dominion, and his six Furies; a +Grand Giant of the Province, and his four Goblins; a Grand Cyclops of +the Den, and his two Night-hawks; a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand +Scribe, a Grand Exchequer, a Grand Turk, and a Grand Sentinel. + +SEC. 2. The body politic of this Order shall be known and designated +as "Ghouls." + +ARTICLE II. + +TERRITORY AND ITS DIVISIONS. + +SECTION 1. The territory embraced within the jurisdiction of this +Order shall he coterminous with the States of Maryland, Virginia, +North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, +Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and +Tennessee; all combined constituting the Empire. + +SEC. 2. The Empire shall be divided into four departments, the first +to be styled the Realm, and coterminus with the boundaries of the +several States; the second to be styled the Dominion, and to be +coterminous with such counties as the Grand Dragons of the several +Realms may assign to the charge of the Grand Titan. The third to be +styled the Province, and to be coterminous with the several counties; +_provided_, the Grand Titan may, when he deems it necessary, assign +two Grand Giants to one Province, prescribing, at the same time, the +jurisdiction of each. The fourth department to be styled the Den, and +shall embrace such part of a Province as the Grand Giant shall assign +to the charge of a Grand Cyclops. + +ARTICLE III. + +POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. + +GRAND WIZARD. + +SECTION 1. The Grand Wizard, who is the supreme officer of the Empire, +shall have power, and he shall be required to, appoint Grand Dragons +for the different Realms of the Empire; and he shall have power to +appoint his Genii, also a Grand Scribe, and a Grand Exchequer for his +Department, and he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this +Prescript, through his subalterns, for the organization and +dissemination of the Order; and when a question of paramount +importance to the interests or prosperity of the Order arises, not +provided for in this Prescript, he shall have power to determine such +question, and his decision shall be final until the same shall be +provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. It shall be his +duty to communicate with, and receive reports from, the Grand Dragons +of Realms, as to the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of +the Order within their respective Realms. And, it shall further be his +duty to keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list of the names (without any +caption or explanation whatever) of the Grand Dragons, of the +different Realms of the Empire, and shall number such Realms with the +Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_; and he shall direct and +instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement +he shall make of the revenue of the Order that comes to his hands. + +GRAND DRAGON. + +SEC. 2. The Grand Dragon, who is the chief officer of the Realm, shall +have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a Grand +Titan for each Dominion of his Realm, (such Dominion not to exceed +three in number for any Congressional District) said appointments +being subject to the approval of the Grand Wizard of the Empire. He +shall have power to appoint his Hydras; also, a Grand Scribe and a +Grand Exchequer for his Department. + +It shall be his duty to report to the Grand Wizard, when required by +that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the +Order within his Realm, and to transmit, through the Grand Titan, or +other authorized sources, to the Order, all information, intelligence, +or instruction conveyed to him by the Grand Wizard for that purpose, +and all such other information or instruction as he may think will +promote the interest and utility of the Order. He shall keep by his +Grand Scribe, a list of the names (without caption) of the Grand +Titans of the different Dominions of his Realm, and shall report the +same to the Grand Wizard when required, and shall number the Dominion +of his Realm with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_. And +he shall direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the +appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the +Order that comes to his hands. + +GRAND TITAN. + +SEC. 3. The Grand Titan, who is the chief officer of the Dominion, +shall have power, and he shall be required, to appoint and instruct a +Grand Giant for each Province of his Dominion, such appointments, +however, being subject to the approval of the Grand Dragon of the +Realm. He shall have the power to appoint his Furies; also, a Grand +Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his Department. It shall be his duty +to report to the Grand Dragon when required by that officer, the +condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the Order within his +Dominion, and to transmit through the Grand Giant, or other authorized +channels, to the Order, all information, intelligence, instruction or +directions conveyed to him by the Grand Dragon for that purpose, and +all such other information or instruction as he may think will enhance +the interest or efficiency of the Order. + +He shall keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list of the names (without +caption or explanation) of the Grand Giants of the different Provinces +of his Dominion, and shall report the same to the Grand Dragon when +required; and shall number the Provinces of his Dominion with the +Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_. And he shall direct and +instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement +he shall make of the revenue of the Order that comes to his hands. + +GRAND GIANT. + +SEC. 4. The Grand Giant, who is the chief officer of the Province, +shall have power, and he is required, to appoint and instruct a Grand +Cyclops for each Den of his Province, such ap-pointments, however, +being subject to the approval of the Grand Titan of the Dominion. And +he shall have the further power to appoint his Goblins; also, a Grand +Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his Department. + +It shall be his duty to supervise and administer general and special +instructions in the organization and establishment of the Order within +his Province, and to report to the Grand Titan, when required by that +officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the +Order within his Province, and to transmit through the Grand Cyclops, +or other legitimate sources, to the Order, all information, +intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed to him by the Grand +Titan or other higher authority for that purpose, and all such other +information or instruction as he may think would advance the purposes +or prosperity of the Order. He shall keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list +of the names (without caption or explanation) of the Grand Cyclops of +the various Dens of his Province, and shall report the same to the +Grand Titan when required; and shall number the Dens of his Province +with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., _ad finem_. He shall determine +and limit the number of Dens to be organized and established in his +Province; and he shall direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer as to +the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the +Order that comes to his hands. + +GRAND CYCLOPS. + +SEC. 5. The Grand Cyclops, who is the chief officer of the Den, shall +have power to appoint his Night-hawks, his Grand Scribe, his Grand +Turk, his Grand Exchequer, and his Grand Sentinel. And for small +offenses he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for +the same. And he is further empowered to admonish and reprimand his +Den, or any of the members thereof, for any imprudence, irregularity, +or transgression, whenever he may think that the interests, welfare, +reputation or safety of the Order demand it. It shall be his duty to +take charge of his Den under the instruction and with the assistance +(when practicable) of the Grand Giant, and in accordance with and in +conformity to the provisions of this Prescript--a copy of which shall +in all cases be obtained before the formation of a Den begins. It +shall further be his duty to appoint all regular meetings of his Den, +and to preside at the same; to appoint irregular meetings when he +deems it expedient; to preserve order and enforce discipline in his +Den; to impose fines for irregularities or disobedience of orders; and +to receive and initiate candidates for admission into the Order, after +the same shall have been pronounced competent and worthy to become +members, by the Investigating Committee herein after provided for. And +it shall further be his duty to make a quarterly report to the Grand +Giant of the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of his Den, +and shall communicate to the Officers and Ghouls of his Den, all +information, intelligence, instruction, or direction, conveyed to him +by the Grand Giant or other higher authority for that purpose; and +shall from time to time administer all such other counsel, instruction +or direction, as in his sound discretion, will conduce to the +interests, and more effectually accomplish, the real objects and +designs of the Order. + +GRAND MAGI. + +SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Grand Magi, who is the second +officer in authority of the Den, to assist the Grand Cyclops, and to +obey all the orders of that officer; to preside at all meetings in the +Den, in the absence of the Grand Cyclops; and to discharge during his +absence all the duties and exercise all the powers and authority of +that officer. + +GRAND MONK. + +SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the Grand Monk, who is the third +officer in authority of the Den, to assist and obey all the orders of +the Grand Cyclops and the Grand Magi; and, in the absence of both of +these officers, he shall preside at and conduct the meetings in the +Den, and shall discharge all the duties, and exercise all the powers +and authority of the Grand Cyclops. + +GRAND EXCHEQUER. + +SEC. 8. It shall be the duty of the Grand Exchequers of the different +Departments to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the Order +that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by them; and shall make +no appropriation or disbursement of the same except under the orders +and direction of the chief officer of their respective Departments. +And it shall further be the duty of the Exchequers of Dens to collect +the initiation fees, and all fines imposed by the Grand Cyclops, or +the officer discharging his functions. + +GRAND TURK. + +SEC. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand Turk, who is the executive +officer of the Grand Cyclops, to notify the Officers and Ghouls of the +Den, of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the Grand +Cyclops, and to obey and execute all the orders of that officer in the +control and government of his Den. It shall further be his duty to +receive and question at the outposts, all candidates for admission +into the Order, and shall _there_ administer the preliminary +obligation required, and then to conduct such candidate or candidates +to the Grand Cyclops, and to assist him in the initiation of the same. + +GRAND SCRIBE. + +SEC. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand Scribes of the different +Departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the +Chiefs of their Departments, when required. And it shall further be +the duty of the Grand Scribes of Dens, to keep a list of the names +(without any caption or explanation whatever) of the Officers and +Ghouls of the Den, to call the roll at all meetings, and to make the +quarterly reports under the direction and instruction of the Grand +Cyclops. + +GRAND SENTINEL. + +SEC. 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand Sentinel to take charge of +post, and instruct the Grand Guard, under the direction and orders of +the Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed +by that officer. + +THE STAFF. + +SEC. 12. The Genii shall constitute the staff of the Grand Wizard; the +Hydras, that of the Grand Dragon; the Furies, that of the Grand Titan; +the Goblins, that of the Grand Giant; and the Night-hawks, that of the +Grand Cyclops, + +REMOVAL. + +SEC. 13. For any just, reasonable and substantial cause, any appointee +may be removed by the authority that appointed him, and his place +supplied by another appointment. + +ARTICLE IV + +ELECTION OF OFFICERS. + +SECTION 1. The Grand Wizard shall be elected biennially by the Grand +Dragons of Realms. The first election for this office to take place on +the 1st Monday in May, 1870, (a Grand Wizard having been created, by +the original Prescript, to serve three years from the 1st Monday in +May, 1867); all subsequent elections to take place every two years +thereafter. And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall notify the Grand +Dragons of the different Realms, at least six months before said +election, at what time and place the same will be held; a majority +vote of all the Grand Dragons _present_ being necessary and sufficient +to elect a Grand Wizard. Such election shall be by ballot, and shall +be held by three Commissioners appointed by the Grand Wizard for that +purpose; and in the event of a tie, the Grand Wizard shall have the +casting-vote. + +SEC. 2. The Grand Magi and the Grand Monk of Dens shall be elected +annually by the Ghouls of Dens; and the first election for these +officers may take place as soon as ten Ghouls have been initiated for +the formation of a Den. All subsequent elections to take place every +year thereafter. + +SEC. 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Grand Wizard, by +death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the senior Grand Dragon of +the Empire shall immediately assume and enter upon the discharge of +the duties of the Grand Wizard, and shall exercise the powers and +perform the duties of said office until the same shall be filled by +election; and the said senior Grand Dragon, as soon as practicable +after the happening of such vacancy, shall call a convention of the +Grand Dragons of Realms, to be held at such time and place as in his +discretion he may deem most convenient and proper. _Provided_, +however, that the time for assembling such Convention for the election +of a Grand Wizard shall in no case exceed six months from the time +such vacancy occurred; and in the event of a vacancy in any other +office, the same shall immediately be filled in the manner herein +before mentioned. + +SEC. 4. The Officers heretofore elected or appointed may retain their +offices during the time for which they have been so elected or +appointed, at the expiration of which time said offices shall be +filled as herein-before provided. + +ARTICLE V + +JUDICIARY. + +SECTION 1. The Tribunal of Justice of this Order shall consist of a +Court at the Head-quarters of the Empire, the Realm, the Dominion, the +Province, and the Den, to be appointed by the Chiefs of these several +Departments. + +SEC. 2. The Court at the Head-quarters of the Empire shall consist of +three Judges for the trial of Grand Dragons, and the Officers and +attaches belonging to the Head-quarters of the Empire. + +SEC. 3. The Court at the Head-quarters of the Realm shall consist of +three Judges for the trial of Grand Titans, and the Officers and +attaches belonging to the Head-quarters of the Realm. + +SEC. 4. The Court at the Head-quarters of the Dominion shall consist +of three Judges for the trial of Grand Giants, and the Officers and +attaches belonging to the Head-quarters of the Dominion. + +SEC. 5. The Court at the Head-quarters of the Province shall consist +of five Judges for the trial of Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magis, Grand +Monks, and the Grand Exchequers of Dens, and the Officers and attaches +belonging to the Head-quarters of the Province. + +SEC. 6. The Court at the Head-quarters of the Den shall consist of +seven Judges appointed from the Den for the trial of Ghouls and the +officers belonging to the Head-quarters of the Den. + +SEC. 7. The Tribunal for the trial of the Grand Wizard shall be +composed of at least seven Grand Dragons, to be convened by the senior +Grand Dragon upon charges being preferred against the Grand Wizard; +which Tribunal shall be organized and presided over by the senior +Grand Dragon _present_; and if they find the accused guilty, they +shall prescribe the penalty, and the senior Grand Dragon of the Empire +shall cause the same to be executed. + +SEC. 8. The aforesaid Courts shall summon the accused and witnesses +for and against him, and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the +penalty, and the Officers convening the Court shall cause the same to +be executed. _Provided_ the accused shall always have the right of +appeal to the next Court above, whose decision shall be final. + +SEC. 9. The Judges constituting the aforesaid Courts shall be selected +with reference to their intelligence, integrity, and fair-mindedness, +and shall render their verdict without prejudice, favor, partiality, +or affection, and shall be so sworn, upon the organization of the +Court; and shall further be sworn to administer even-handed justice. + +SEC. 10. The several Courts herein provided for shall be governed in +their deliberations, proceedings, and judgments by the rules and +regulations governing the proceedings of regular Courts-martial. + +ARTICLE VI. + +REVENUE. + +SECTION 1. The revenue of this Order shall be derived as follows: For +every copy of this Prescript issued to Dens, $10 will be required; $2 +of which shall go into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand +Giant, $2 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Titan, $2 +into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and the +remaining $4 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand +Wizard. + +SEC. 2. A further source of revenue to the Empire shall be ten per +cent. of all the revenue of the Realms, and a tax upon Realms when the +Grand Wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the +same. + +SEC. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms shall be ten per cent. +of all the revenue of Dominions, and a tax upon Dominions when the +Grand Dragon shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the +same. + +SEC. 4. A further source of revenue to Dominions shall be ten per +cent. of all the revenue of Provinces, and a tax upon Provinces when +the Grand Giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + +SEC. 5. A further source of revenue to Provinces shall be ten per +cent. of all the revenue of Dens, and a tax upon Dens when the Grand +Giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. + +SEC. 6. The source of revenue to Dens shall be the initiation fees, +fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the Grand Cyclops shall deem +such tax necessary and indispensable to the interests and objects of +the Order. + +SEC. 7. All the revenue obtained in the manner aforesaid, shall be for +the _exclusive_ benefit of the Order, and shall be appropriated to the +dissemination of the same and to the creation of a fund to meet any +disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the +objects of the Order and to secure the protection of the same. + +ARTICLE VII. + +ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP. + +SECTION 1. No one shall be presented for admission into the Order +until he shall have first been recommended by some friend or intimate +who _is_ a member, to the Investigating Committee, (which shall be +composed of the Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magi, and the Grand Monk,) +and who shall have investigated his antecedents and his past and +present standing and connections; and after such investigation, shall +have pronounced him competent and worthy to become a member. +_Provided_, no one shall be presented for admission into, or become a +member of, this Order who shall not have attained the age of eighteen +years. + +SEC. 2. No one shall become a member of this Order unless he shall +_voluntarily_ take the following oaths or obligations, and shall +_satisfactorily_ answer the following interrogatories, while kneeling, +with his right hand raised to heaven, and his left hand resting on the +Bible: + +PRELIMINARY OBLIGATION. + +"I ---- solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal any thing +that I may this day (or night) learn concerning the Order of the * * +*, and that I will true answer make to such interrogatories as may be +put to me touching my competency for admission into the same. So help +me God." + +INTERROGATORIES TO BE ASKED: + +1st. Have you ever been rejected, upon application for membership in +the * * *, or have you ever been expelled from the same? + +2d. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Radical +Republican party, or either of the organizations known as the "Loyal +League" and the "Grand Army of the Republic?". + +3d. Are you opposed to the principles and policy of the Radical party, +and to the Loyal League, and the Grand Army of the Republic, so far as +you are informed of the character and purposes of those organizations? + +4th. Did you belong to the Federal army during the late war, and fight +against the South during the existence of the same? + +5th. Are you opposed to negro equality, both social and political? + +6th. Are you in favor of a white man's government in this country? + +7th. Are you in favor of Constitutional liberty, and a Government of +equitable laws instead of a Government of violence and oppression? + +8th. Are you in favor of maintaining the Constitutional rights of the +South? + +9th. Are you in favor of the re-enfranchisement and emancipation of +the white men of the South, and the restitution of the Southern people +to all their rights, alike proprietary, civil, and political? + +10th. Do you believe in the inalienable right of self-preservation of +the people against the exercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power? + +If the foregoing interrogatories are satisfactorily answered, and the +candidate desires to go further (after something of the character and +nature of the Order has thus been indicated to him) and to be admitted +to the benefits, mysteries, secrets and purposes of the Order, he +shall then be required to take the following final oath or obligation. +But if said interrogatories are not satisfactorily answered, or the +candidate declines to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after +being solemnly admonished by the initiating offi-cer of the deep +secresy to which the oath already taken has bound him, and that the +extreme pen-alty of the law will follow a violation of the same. + +FINAL OBLIGATION. + +"I ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of +Almighty God, do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will never reveal to +any one not a member of the Order of the * * *, by any intimation, +sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the +secrets, signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the Order of the * +* *, or that I am a member of the same, or that I know any one who +_is_ a member; and that I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts of +the Order of the * * * So help me God." + +The initiating officer will then proceed to explain to the new members +the character and objects of the Order, and introduce him to the +mysteries and secrets of the same; and shall read to him this +Prescript and the Edicts thereof, or present the same to him for +personal perusal. + +ARTICLE VIII. + +AMENDMENTS. + +This Prescript or any part or Edicts thereof shall never be changed, +except by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in +convention assembled, and at which convention the Grand Wizard shall +preside and be entitled to a vote. And upon the application of a +majority of the Grand Dragons for that purpose, the Grand Wizard shall +call and appoint the time and place for said convention; which, when +assembled, shall proceed to make such modifications and amendments as +it may think will promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and more +thoroughly effectuate the purposes of the Order. + +ARTICLE IX. + +INTERDICTION. + +The origin, mysteries, and Ritual of this Order shall never be +written, but the same shall be communicated orally. + +ARTICLE X. + +EDICTS. + +1. No one shall become a member of a distant Den, when there is a Den +established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall +any one become a member of any Den, or of this Order in any way after +he shall have been once rejected, upon application for membership. + +2. No Den, or officer, or member, or members thereof, shall operate +beyond their prescribed limits, unless invited or ordered by the +proper authority so to do. + +3. No member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any +meeting of the Den; nor shall any member be allowed to attend a +meeting while intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in +such condition, he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor +more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the Order. + +4. Any member may be expelled from the Order by a majority vote of the +Officers and Ghouls of the Den to which he belongs; and if after such +expulsion, such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia, or +insignia of the Order, or in any way claim to be a member of the same, +he shall be severely punished. His obligation of secrecy shall be as +binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation +made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same +manner as if he were then a member. + +5. Upon the expulsion of any member from the Order, the Grand Cyclops, +or the officer acting in his stead, shall immediately report the same +to the Grand Giant of the Province, who shall cause the fact to be +made known and read in each Den of his Province, and shall transmit +the same, through the proper channels, to the Grand Dragon of the +Realm, who shall cause it to be published to every Den in his Realm, +and shall notify the Grand Dragons of contiguous Realms of the same. + +6. Every Grand Cyclops shall read, or cause to be read, this Prescript +and these Edicts to his Den, at least once in every month; and shall +read them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same +to him for personal perusal. + +7. The initiation fee of this Order shall be one dollar, to be paid +when the candidate is initiated and received into the Order. + +8. Dens may make such additional Edicts for their control and +government as they may deem requisite and necessary. _Provided_, no +Edict shall be made to conflict with any of the provisions or Edicts +of this Prescript. + +9. The most profound and rigid secrecy concerning any and everything +that relates to the Order, shall at all times be maintained. + +10. Any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets of this Order, +shall suffer the extreme penalty of the law. + +ADMONITION. + +Hush! thou art not to utter what I am, bethink thee! it was our +covenant! + +REGISTER. + +I. + + 1. Dismal, 7. Painful, + 2. Mystic, 8. Portentous, + 3. Stormy, 9. Fading, + 4. Peculiar, 10. Melancholy, + 5. Blooming, 11. Glorious, + 6. Brilliant, 12. Gloomy. + +II. + + I. White, II. Green, III. Yellow, IV. Amber, + V. Purple, VI. Crimson, VII. Emerald. + +III. + + 1. Fearful, 7. Hideous, + 2. Startling, 8. Frightful, + 3. Wonderful, 9. Awful, + 4. Alarming, 10. Horrible, + 5. Mournful, 11. Dreadful, + 6. Appalling, 12. Last. + +IV. + + Cumberland. + +L'ENVOI. + +To the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, we send greeting; +and to the shades of the venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the +Order of the * * * + + _Resurgamus._ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ku Klux Klan, by +J. C. Lester and D. L. Wilson and Walter L. 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