of public scorn pointed at us, as it is, and will ever be, pointed at these informers and their children.

"They are every one known, and the honest people of Floyd County will not soon forget them."]

This article is about as bad as anything I have seen in that paper. Right in the corner of the same paper, I believe, is another article, as follows:

"CONGRESSIONAL KU-KLUX COMMITTEE.-A sub-committee of this iniquitous body is now holding its sessions in Atlanta. Several witnesses have been summoned from this county, and we may look out for rich developments. The Spanish inquisition was not more disgraceful and dangerous than is this rotten concern. Colonel Sawyer has been summoned to appear before the committee, and will leave for Atlanta to-day. They will be very apt to worm all the secrets of the order out of him. You bet.'" Mr. Dwinnell said that he thought I was not referred to in one of these articles. I have not seen Mr. Sawyer yet; I expected to see him this morning.

Question. Is the Sawyer referred to in this last article you read the editor of this paper?

Answer. Yes, sir; the associate editor. I have not seen him since this paper was issued. He will probably explain the matter.

Question. You thought it was your duty as a good citizen and an officer of justice in that county to try and have these people punished and the law maintained?

Answer. I did. I had heard of a raid committed right across the river from me in an adjacent county. They never came into my settlement until the 18th of February. I heard of it on Sunday the 19th, and on Monday morning my hands came up and said that they preferred to leave the farm, that they could not work all the day and stand guard all the night. Well, that pestered me, for it was too late for me to get other hands for my farm. After some deliberation, I told them that if they would bring me their guns I would take up the quarrel myself. They did so, and I stacked the guns in my house. I went out and saw some of my neighbors and told them that this thing must be stopped. I went to work to look up evidence and get up some indictment to get it before the jury when the court came on. I am satisfied that the witnesses did not testify to all that they had told me. I think it was a good jury.

Question. You think those witnesses were afraid?

Answer. I do; I am satisfied of it.

Question. Is it true, as this newspaper article says, that the scorn of the community has been directed to you for trying to punish these criminals?

Answer. I don't think so. The connections of those parties may scorn me, but I don't think the respectable portion of the people do. I think I have had the respectable and best men in the country to encourage me to put this thing down.

Question. Have they taken hold and helped you?

Answer. No, sir; they are afraid to do it.

Question. Still, in talking with you privately, they ask you to go on?

Answer. Yes, sir; but they think that if they did anything they would subject themselves to be burned out by this party.

Question. You have another paper at Rome, besides the one from which you have nade these extracts?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Does that take pretty much the same ground that this does?

Answer. Yes, sir; but there is nothing so harsh in it lately as in this paper.

Question, What has been the effect of this Ku-Klux organization upon the labor of your country?

Answer. Very bad, very demoralizing.

Question. So far as you can judge what do you think is the object of this organization?

Answer. I have thought a great deal about that. I believe I will have to answer your question under about four heads. When I first heard of it I thought the object was good, to suppress evils and such things as that. But I heard of them doing such things, in some instances, as to lead me to conclude that, in some respects, their object is political. In other cases I think their object is to intimidate; in other instances I think it is plunder. I could give you some reasons for my belief, and I would prefer to do so. In this case, near where I live, a young man told me that he had been asked to join it, and that they said to him, "We can beat $10 a month." The young man got paid $10 a month for his labor, and said he, "We can beat that." I do not think in that case there was any political object in view. But I have heard of things being done, I do not know that I could mention one just now, but in the multitude of things I have heard I have thought there were some that indicated that their object was political. I received a letter, signed "Ku-Klux," threatening me, and notifying me that I could not live in that country. That was intimidation.

Question. Have you that letter with you?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Let us see it.

Anwser. I think the object was to intimidate me, but I had no fears on the subjector to say I had none, I did have some fears, still I had no idea of leaving, and did not intend to leave. This is the notice I referred to:

(6 NOTICE TO ALL MEN.

"We, as a party, agree to return all that has been taken, or pay for it, and that is all that we will do. Any man that has or can be bribed with money can't nor shan't live in this good country. I am in the majority.

“J. C. F. G., Captain K. K. K.

"W. G. F., look out! live long, die soon, we are after you."

Question. Have you any idea who sent this notice? Do you know whose initials are signed to it?

Answer. I thought I recognized it, and I went right upon the man.

Question. Who was the man?

Answer. Squire T. C. Hubbard; he has run away now and gone.

Question. Was he justice of the peace in the county?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. He wrote that, and sent it to you?

Answer. He dropped it close to a man who was coming to my house to get some wheat.

Question. What did he say to you?

Answer. When I went upon him he told me that he had heard these things said of me, and that he aimed to give me this letter to put me on my guard. When I first found this it was two days before I went upon the man. I was satisfied that he was the man, but I wanted proof, for I thought he would deny it. I got some facts, and, although between times he denied it totally, yet when I went upon him he just wilted and admitted that he wrote it. He said that he had heard these things about me, and it was to put me on my guard.

Question. He said he had heard threats made by others?

Answer. Yes, sir; and because of the good feeling he had for me he wrote this. But I am satisfied he was one of the organization.

Question. One of the gang?

Answer. Yes, sir; not one of the gang in the raid, but I understand he was a kind of protector of them.

Question. Did he tell you who he had heard making those threats?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did you ask him?

Answer. I do not know that I did, for I was satisfied he was speaking falsely. I heard afterwards who he said the parties were, or rather where it was done; but they were good men. Fathers of those young men abhor anything of that sort, for they think it has been injurious to their sons.

Question. Are those young men sons of good families?

Answer. They are not educated men; one or two of them were working-men; the others were rather of a loafering class of men, not good men.

Question. Did any of them belong to that class of people recognized in this country as gentlemen?

Answer. Some of them are honest working-people. Penny's father keeps a little grocery, and farms a little. They would not be called gentlemen in the strict sense of

the term.

By Mr. LANSING :

Question. Is this Rome Courier a democratic paper?

Answer. Yes, sir; it is said to be. The editor was not originally a democrat, and I will not say he was a know-nothing; but he was an old-line whig.

Question. Is the other paper in the same place a democratic paper?

Answer. It is understood to be.

Question. You say that, in your judgment, the action of this Klan has been partly for political purposes and effect?

Answer. I have thought it was in some cases.

Question. Have you known any cases where they have troubled democrats?

Answer. I don't think there is a more democratic family in the State than my father and his family. We were democrats. My father was a Douglas man and I was a Breckinridge man.

Question. What have they done to your father and his family?

Answer. They have been intimidated. They have sent him word that there would be blood spilt yet about the matter.

Question. Because he was attempting to prosecute persons for killing that negro on his place?

Answer. That is all. They never pestered him until that.

Question. And for no other reason?

Answer. I think not.

Question. Have you known any other cases of their meddling with or perpetrating any outrage upon a democrat?

Answer. Well, Judge Thomas has represented the county several times; I do not know if he has not been in the Senate. They have not done anything particularly to him, but they have shot around his house a little a short time since.

Question. For the purpose of intimidating him?

Answer. That is what he thinks.

Question. What has he done that they dislike?

Answer. They accuse him of trying to deceive them. They tried to have this matter settled once, and the judge took some part in it.

Question. Was it because they thought he did not favor a settlement of it?

Answer. He did not; and he said to his negroes, "If they come to your houses, take your axes inside of your houses and meet them."

Question. They wished to intimidate him because he was in favor of protecting the negro?

Answer. I do not understand that it is anything else.

Question. What other democrats have they interfered with?

Answer. I do not think of any other case except where they have interfered with hands. Mr. Henry Dean is a good democrat, and they have interfered with his hands. Question. How?

Answer. I do not know. He has talked with me about it, and has told me that they have given him a sight of trouble.

Question. Does it not appear to you that the object of this Ku-Klux organization is to drive out the colored people and keep down the Union sentiment?

Answer. Well, I will tell you what Mr. Hardy told me. His sons were in this case in Floyd County, where a bill was found. He said, "Don't you think my sons ought to have the preference in the land?" I said, "I do not. I think any man who will work my land best and cheapest is the best friend to me. Your sons don't pay my taxes." He said, "They helped to fight the battles." And I said, "They did, but that was for their independence; but the negro worked to make bread for us." Question. Does it not appear to you that the object of this Ku-Klux Klan is to drive out the colored people and to intimidate those who interfere in their behalf?

Answer. I think that my first answer was correct. I divided it into about four heads, and I am not able for the life of me to decide.

Question. Do you not think that is one of their purposes?
Answer. I do.

Question. Do you not think that is their main purpose?

Answer. I have thought that their principal purpose was to get control of the land ; that is the way they seemed to talk to me. I asked Penny how he regarded me, and he said, "I regard you as a democrat." It is true, they did nothing to my hands, but they came within a quarter of a mile of my place.

Question. Do I understand you that you were a democrat?

Answer. I never was any thing else, as I started to tell you awhile ago. I was a Breckinridge democrat before the war, and I went to the war, and fought during the war. I went out as a color-bearer, and when I surrendered at Greensborough, I was commanding Gist's brigade, from South Carolina. After the surrender I went home, and have never voted anything but a democratic ticket since. I am regarded as a democrat now.

Question. After the surrender, were you in favor of accepting the situation and abiding by the laws?

Answer. I understood, by my parole, which I gave, that I was to go to the county where I lived, there to abide unmolested as long as I obeyed the laws of the land. Question. And you have done so ?

Answer. I would change it if I could by voting, and put the control of affairs into the hands of other parties.

Question. That gentleman who spoke of his sons having fought for their independence, referred to their being in the confederate service?

Answer. Yes, sir; they were in the confederate service.

By Mr. BAYARD:

Question. I understand that you have kept honorably your parole, and have obeyed the laws where you reside?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You have exercised your franchise, as a man, and voted as you thought best? Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. As this matter of your personal politics has been discussed here, I will ask you whether you have not among your party friends, among the best and most sensible

men of your party, met with encouragement and approval of your efforts to put down these lawless acts?

Answer. I have.

Question. And you think that is the sentiment of your county among the most respectable portion of your people?

Answer. I do.

Question. As to the class of men who form these lawless bands, you say the young man who spoke to you on the subject said he could beat $10 a month?

SO.

Answer. He did not say that to me; a young man told me that one of them told him

Question. The object of that class, then, was to make money out of this thing by marauding?

Answer. I think their object was plunder; that is the way I understood it; that to plunder and to get possession of the land was their object.

Question. Were they mere laboring men, whose wages would be $10 a month if they did not plunder?

Answer. Yes, sir; I believe the fathers of two of the parties own a little land, but the balance are renters.

Question. They are small men?

Answer. Yes, sir, very small.

Question. Generally young men?

Answer. Yes, sir, from eighteen to twenty-five, I would say.

Question. You have spoken of a man by the name of Penny; was it Penny's evidence upon which the indictments were sent up?

Answer. It was.

Question. Do you know the fact, of your own knowledge, that Penny was himself discredited? I mean that the credibility of his testimony was assailed.

Answer. I heard a rumor of that, from the fact that he ran away.

Question. Was he not a man of low character ?

Answer. Yes, rather a low character.

Question. Of no standing in society?

Answer. That is the way he is regarded.

Question. You have been asked about an indictment that failed in Floyd County, and I understood you to say that the fault was with the witnesses; that the jury was disposed to act fairly enough if they had testimony before them?

Answer. That is my impression; I regard the jury as good men; but since I went back last week I have learned that Mr. Wilkinson, who is a good man, is a man who fears the Ku Klux.

Question. Do they fear them because of the lawless character of the men who compose them?

Answer. That is it.

Question. Would those men who form these bands of marauders in your community assail the property of men and burn it down if they dislike them?

Answer. They have not done it; but I am uneasy about my property, because I have dared to prosecute them; in fact, I am told that some of them said that I was a great fool to do it.

Question. To incur the hostility of that class of men?

Answer. That is it.

Question. They are so regarded by respectable men throughout the country?

Answer. That is the way I understand it.

Question. You say that a true bill was found against these parties in the United States court?

Answer. There was.

Question. When will they be tried?

Answer. Whenever arrested.

Question. Have they not yet been arrested?

Answer. They have not been yet, and probably they never will be; should you go there now and inquire for them, no man will tell you, and they will evade the officer. Question. Will they run away?

Answer. They will keep on the alert; you can arrest a man there for any other crime, I think, if he is not connected with this Ku-Klux organization.

Question. Are your juries composed of fair and just men?

Answer. The very best men in the county.

Question. Have you a good judge, and a good prosecuting officer?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Is justice meted out fairly to men of all parties and both colors in your county?

Answer. I think it is, when brought before the court; the great difficulty is getting the cases before the courts.

Question. If the cases are brought properly before your courts, do you believe that justice will be done?

Answer. I do.

Question. And that punishment will follow guilt?

Answer. Yes, sir; if you can get the cases before the courts.

Question. What is the feeling among your people toward the colored race?

Answer. I do not believe there is any ill-feeling toward the colored race, except on the part of this kind of people I have referred to, who want to control the land. Question. You mean in reference to labor?

Ansiver. Yes, sir; I mean that they would drive labor out of the country, and charge me $5 for going to mill, if they had power to do it; I think that, in some sections, there may be Ku-Klux who are a little higher-toned gentlemen.

Question. Is it, then, a question of wages between the lower orders of the white men who are laboring men, and the negroes; or do the whites want to have the labor of the country under their own control?

Answer. In some instances it looks in that way, though I have heard of crimes being committed where it has another aspect.

Question. Is that the way in the larger number of cases you have heard of—a direct competition with black labor, and a desire to obtain themselves the control of labor? Answer. That is the way I understand it; but, as I have before said, I have heard of cases which look like having a different object in view.

Question. Such as the attempts at intimidation which you have mentioned as having been practiced toward your own family, your father, your brothers, and yourself? Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. LANSING:

Question. You say that this Rome Courier is a recognized democratic organ?
Answer. It is.

Question. It is supported and sustained by the democratic party?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you know how large a circulation it has in that county?

Answer. No, sir, I do not; the law of the State requires that the county advertisements shall be published in the paper having the largest circulation, and this is the one that all the officers of the county advertise in.

Question. It is taken very generally by the democrats in your county?

Answer. O, yes, sir; hardly anybody else would think it was not a democratic paper. Question. That is the paper from which these extracts have been taken and made a portion of your testimony?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you understand that the tone of this paper is calculated to aid you in attempting to bring these parties to justice?

Answer. Well, sir, I cannot understand it in that way.

Question. Do you understand it to be decidedly the other way?

Answer. I do; and I regret those articles.

Question. Could a paper claiming to be democratic be sustained in your county if it should be open in its denunciations of these lawless outrages, and open in its sympathy with men like you who attempt to suppress them?

Answer. I think maybe it could. I do not know how much it does take to run a paper, but I know there are quite a number of people there who would like to see just such a paper as that.

Question. Do you believe such a paper could be sustained as a democratic paper? Answer. I do.

Question. Is it not more because you hope it could than because you believe it could, that you say so?

Answer. No, sir; I think it could.

Question. Then why does the democratic party sustain such a paper as this?

Answer. There is no other paper there. This is the best paper we have got there; it is as good as the best, for the Commercial is about equal to it.

Question. You understand these articles to be extreme and bitter in the contempt they seek to create against such men as you?

Answer. I understand the articles to refer to me, but Mr. Dwinnell said that they do

not.

Question. Did he tell you to whom they did refer?

Answer. No, sir; he did not. He left it to Mr. Sawyer to say when he came home. Question. I notice that in this article referring to the fact that Mr. Sawyer has been summoned to appear before this committee, this sentence is used, "They will be very