Report of the Joint select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, so far as regards the execution of laws, and the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the United States and Testimony taken.

ALABAMA-SUB-COMMITTEE. 1503
Answer. I treat him politely; not as a friend. I have not recognized him as a
friend for a long time; but I treated him politely, and felt a desire that he would (lo well,
and I feel so yet, but I have not felt kindly toward Dr. Blackford, or spoken to him,
since he came back, after selling us the house, and making us the promise which he
did; I have not spoken to him since.
Question. Is he a man of general intelligence?
Answer. Yes, sir; I think he is a man of very fair intelligence. I consider him a
good physician.
Question. What do you know of the existence of a Ku-Klux organization in Hale
County?
Answer. I know nothing of it, sir.
Question. Have you ever heard of such organization in Hale County?
Anslcer. No, sir.
Question. Is it your belief that these bands of disguised men, of which you have
spoken, belong, in whole or in part, to Hale County?
Answer. Well, sir, I do not know. My impression is that they do not belong to Hale
County. There may have been some in Hale County who did belong to them. I think
it was very likely.
Question. What is your opinion as to the existence of that order in times past,
whether known by that name or " the White Brotherhood," or any other name, in your
county?
Answer. I have no reason to believe that there was any organization in my county.
Question. Do you believe it existed in any part of the State of Alabama?
Answer. Yes, sir; I cannot doubt it, because I heard of them, and I saw these disguised men pass through town. I cannot doubt it.
Question. What were understood to be the objects of that organization?
Answer. Well, sir, I have supposed it was to punish men who could not be reached
otherwise by law; who were doing, as they conceived, wrongs to the country, and they
became the judges, and for that reason I condemn it, sir.
Question. Is it your understanding that their violence was directed generally toward
men of republican sentiments-melmbers of the republican party?
Ansiwer. Well, yes, sir; I think so, because lately, so far as I have known, they have
been the only offenders.
Question. The only offenders against the law?
Answer. No, sir; not the only offenders against the law, but the only offenders that
would likely lead to an organization to punish them.
Question. Were their offenses of such a character that they could not be reached by
the courts, and punished by the courts?
Answer. Well, sir, I do not know. I do not know of any offenses except what I have
stated to you, that occurred to me.
Question. Is it not your understanding that those Ku-Klux visits were, as a general
rule, directed against men who held obnoxious political sentiments?
Answer. Yes, sir; I should think so.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Did I understand you to say that the purchase of which you have spoken
pertained exclusively to the purchase of Dr. Blackford's property-his real estate
here?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you understand that anything else was included in that agreement but
his own propoerty?
Answer. No, sir; there was a house and lot and office that were included in the purchase.
Question. The building the office was in?
Answer. Yes, sir; it was almost attached to it.
Question. You understand pretty thoroughly the terms of that agreement?
Answier. Yes, sir; I was present at the time, and know all about it, or did know all
about it.
Question. Then you think there was no agreement between Dr. Blackford and his
successor in the office?
Answer. None, sir; I do not know of any.
Question. You think, then, that there was no sale of his office-the office of probate
judge?
Answier. No, sir; there was no sale of his office; it was a proposition which he made.
He proposed to us that he would resign his office if we would buy his property, and
leave the State, and not return to Greensborough; that was his proposition made to
us when he sent for us. Very well; we acceded to that, and told him we would endeavor to do it, at the same time telling him we would give him what protection we
could. He asked us if we thought we could give him protection, and we told him no,