en 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