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Introduction
Terror in Reconstruction South
Northern Reconstruction politics became a catalyst for the widespread
racism and hatred that freed people experienced throughout the South.
Founded by a Confederate General in 1866, the Ku Klux Klan became known
as the "invisible empire of the South" in which members represented
the ghosts of the Confederate dead returning to terrorize blacks and Republicans.
Although it was a covert organization, the Klan's displays of violence
and intolerance were anything but discreet. Many murders and beatings
were never reported due to fear of reprisal from the Klan.
This document is exemplary of the type of threats for which the KKK became
known (GLC 09090). In this case, the target was Davie Jeems, a black Republican
recently elected county sheriff in Lincoln County, Georgia. The language
of the document evokes a ghostly menacing presence; even the handwriting
is reminiscent of a ransom note. The word "notice" and the two
holes at the top indicate that this note was most likely posted in a public
place. The verso of the letter provides further information: "similar
threats have prevented all the other Republican officers to take their
[commissions]."
With the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1871, the already weakened
Klan became dormant and remained so until it resurfaced again in 1915.
Ana Ramirez Luhrs, Special Collections Librarian
The Gilder Lehrman Collection
Transcript
Ku Klux Klan letter
s.l., 1868 circa.
Autograph letter signed, 1 page.
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Notice
To Jeems, Davie, you, must, be, a good boy. and. Quit. hunting on Sunday and shooting your
gun in the night, you keep people from sleeping. I live in a big rock above the Ford of the
f Creek. I went from Lincoln County [struck: C] County during the War I was Killed at Manassus
in 1861. I am here now as Locust in the day Time and. at night I am a Ku Klux sent here to
look after you and all the rest of the radicals and make you know your place. I have got my
eye on you every day, I am at the Ford of the creek every evening From Sundown till dark I
want to meet you there next Saturday tell platt Madison we have, a Box. For him and you. We
nail all, radicals up in Boxes and send them away to K K K – there is. 200 000 ded men
retured to this country to make you and all the rest of the radicals good Democrats and vote
right with the white people you have got it to do or leave this country no nigger is safe
unless he Joins the Democratic Club then you will be safe and have friends. Take heed and
govern yourself accordingly and give all your Friends timely warning.
Ku, Ku, Klux, Klan
[2] This man was elected in April to the Sheriffs Office of the County of Lincoln. Similar
threats have prevented all the other Republican officers from taking their con
Item Description and Credits
GLC09090. Ku Klux Klan letter Autograph letter
signed c. 1868.
For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com
or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.
Suggested Reading
Carter, Dan T. When the War Was Over: The Failure
of Self-Reconstruction in the South, 1865-1867. Baton Rouge: Louisiana
State University Press, 1985.
Dixon Jr., Thomas. The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku
Klux Klan. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1905.
Foner, Eric. Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877.
New York: Harper & Row, 1989.
Trelease, Allen W. White Terror: The Ku Klux Klan Conspiracy
and Southern Reconstruction. New York: Harper & Row,
1971.
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