"SIR: For your especial benefit I am instructed to write you this
special communication of warning and instruction.

"The citizens of this place are aware of a few facts relative to
yourself that I will proceed to designate: In the first place, they
know you to be a wandering _vagrant carpet bagger_, without visible
means of support, and living at present on the earnings of those who
are endeavoring to make an honest living by teaching. You have also
proved yourself a _scoundrel_ of the deepest dye by maliciously
interfering in matters which do not in the least concern you, to the
detriment of some of our citizens.

"This, therefore, is to warn you to LEAVE this county forthwith.
Twenty-four (24) hours from the above date is the time allowed for you
to leave. If after the said time your devilish countenance is seen at
_this place or vicinity your worthless life will pay the forfeit_.
Congressional reconstruction, the military, nor anything else under
Heaven, will prevent summary justice being meted out to such an
incarnate fiend as yourself.

"By order of committee."

I should do great injustice to Mr. Dikes, Mr. Souber, and Mr. Crawford,
and their sympathising friends, the author and inspirers of the above
letter, were I to say, or convey the impression, that they were worse
men than their neighbors. From what I have seen and heard of them I am
sure that in _mental culture_, in _kindness of heart_, in _loyalty_,
and in _Christian civilization_ they are decidedly _above_ rather than
_below_ the over-whelming majority of their fellow citizens. They
represent not the _lowest_ but the _highest_ type of patriotism,
philanthropy, and Christianity prevailing in that region. I challenge
their late Congressional representative, the Hon. Nelson Tift, to go
before his constituents and deny my statements in regard to the social
standing of these men.

The above letter states my offence: "You have proved yourself a
_scoundrel_ of the deepest dye, by maliciously interfering in matters
which do not in the least concern you, to the _detriment_ of some of our
citizens." But General Grant, General Wade, and Captain Bean interfered
far more potentially than I did. If I am a "_scoundrel_ of the deepest
dye" what must they be?

The "skull and bones," the insignia of the Ku-Klux Klan and not the
stars and stripes, represent the dominant power in tha