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"There has existed since 1868, an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, or Invisible Empire of the South, which embraces in its membership a large proportion of the white population of every profession and class. The Klan has a constitution and bylaws, which provides, among other things, that each member shall furnish himself with a pistol, a Ku Klux gown and a signal instrument. The operations of the Klan are executed in the night and are invariably directed against members of the Republican Party. The Klan is inflicting summary vengeance on the colored citizens by breaking into their houses at the dead of night, dragging them from their beds, torturing them in the most inhuman manner, and in many instances murdering."

''"There has existed since 1868, an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, or Invisible Empire of the South, which embraces in its membership a large proportion of the white population of every profession and class. The Klan has a constitution and bylaws, which provides, among other things, that each member shall furnish himself with a pistol, a Ku Klux gown and a signal instrument. The operations of the Klan are executed in the night and are invariably directed against members of the Republican Party. The Klan is inflicting summary vengeance on the colored citizens by breaking into their houses at the dead of night, dragging them from their beds, torturing them in the most inhuman manner, and in many instances murdering."''

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With the passage of the [[Ku Klux Klan Act]] in April, 1871, which gave the President the authority to suspend [[habeas corpus]] in areas where disturbances occurred, this legislation was the last substantial victory for the Radical Republicans, ending their 17 years of remarkable political influence.

The passage of the [[Ku Klux Klan Act]] in April, 1871, (which gave the President the authority to suspend [[habeas corpus]] in areas where disturbances occurred) marked the last substantial victory for the Radical Republican movement, ending their 17 years of remarkable political influence.