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.

1806 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Answer. No; I never thought anything about it.
Question. You thought they never had done anything but justice, did you?
The WITNESS. Who?
The CHAIRMAN. This organization.
The WITNESS. The organization I belonged to in Gainesville?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes sir.
Answer. I don't think they did anything.
Question. You have spoken of several murders, and say you have heard of some
cases of whipping; do you think that those were all acts of justice?
Answer. I don't say all of them were; but I say those that I mentioned were. It
does not matter whether it was a negro that called up a man in the night and assassinated him, or a white man; I think the relatives and friends would be justified in
taking him out and killing him the same way.
Question. Are not courts organized to attend to that?
AnsLwer. Certainly.
Question. Why do you think organizations should be'formed outside of the courts to
do that thing?
Answer. Because it makes quicker justice.
Question. But is there not great danger of mistake in such cases?
Answer. Not when it is proved positively on a man. If you assassinated a man, I
think his relatives would have a right to take you out and assassinate you, too.
Question. So, according to your opinion, there is not much necessity of courts?
Answer. Not when it is positive, cold-blooded assassination.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. Was Judge Reavis present when you were initiated?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. He is a member of the order?
Answer. I do not know whether he is or not; he was present.
Question. Was it understood that this order was composed of the respectable men of
the country, from your information, and was the existence of the order pretty general
in the county, for the purposes you namue?
Answer. Not at the time; I think it was just about started then; I think that was
about the first thing.
Question. Did it become pretty general in the minds of the community that such an
order ought to exist for that purpose?
Answer. I don't remember that the community knew anything about it, or know it
now.
Question. The men that joined it knew about it?
Answer. I guess they do, of course.
Question. Then the respectable portion of the community are aware of it?
Answer. Those that joined; but I don't know how many there were-whether more
than three or half a dozen. I know there were three of them.
Question. From your understanding that it was to be a white man's party, did you
not understand it was to be general in its character, among the white men of the
county?
Answer. No, sir; I did not understand anything about it; it only took afew minutes to
initiate me, and just as soon as I was initiated I went out, and Ihave never been in there
since. I don't know what they have done or whether they were called on for anything
afterwards.
Question. Do you feel at liberty, from the obligation you took at the time, to tell
what did occur?
Answer. Yes, of course I do. I don't remember what the oath was. I only staid in
there ten minutes. I was in a hurry at that time.
Question. Have you been residing at the same place ever since?
Answer. Yes, sir, I have been residing there ever since 1833.
Question. Have you learned from any other source anything about the organization
in other counties?
Answer. I have not.
Question. Nor whether there is any State organization?
Answer. I have never heard.
Question. You have no knowledge, except what you have given, in regard to that?
Answer. That is all, sir.
Question. Youl spoke of certain things, in the first part of your testimony, being done
by Ku-Klux; have you any knowledge where these Ku-Klux came from?
Answer. I have not; not the least in the world.
Question. You do not know whether they belong to this county or not?
Answer. No, sir; I know what the report was; the report was that they came from
Mississippi; but whether they came from Mississippi, of course I canAot say.