The Ex-slaves, many of them chose to remain as day-laborers on the plantations of their former masters. Others became renters, or managed to buy modest homes. A third class became idle, insolent and eventually dangerous members of society. The young negroes, no longer under strict control, became troublesome. To make matters worse, certain misguided white men chose to put false notions of civil rights and social equality into their heads. So unbearable did matters become that a band of citizens known as the Ku Klux Klan was organized to deal with the offenders. They represented themselves as the ghosts of soldiers who were slain on the field of battle, and well might a true soldier rise from the dust to defend the honor of his wife and children.
The Ku Klux Klan, as they appeared riding in the moonlight with their horses and themselves robed in white, was truly terrifying. One visit and a serious lecture from the Klan usually converted the frightened darkey from "the error of his way," and elicited a promise to quit his meanness and go to work. Sometimes a whipping was administered, or for a grave offense the culprit paid with his life for his misdeeds.
The Klan Disbanded. The organization seems to have served a good purpose at the time. When with returning law and order the necessity for it passed the Klan was quietly disbanded. But in all this there was a germ of evil—a wrong principle that only smouldered for a while to be revived as we shall see later in another organization with an unworthy motive and a less responsible membership.
Public Schools Established. No general system of public schools existed in the State until 1871. Private schools were kept where sufficient patronage could be secured. The Constitution of 1868 declared for "a thorough system of general education to be forever free to all children of the State."
Rev. S. If. Henry was selected first County School Commissioner. He held the position with credit to himself and to the county for the remainder of a long and useful life. He was succeeded by the present commissioner, W. D. Gregory, who is equally worthy of the important trust placed in his hands.
The Liquor Traffic was forbidden by the charter of the State, but this was unpopular and the trustees soon admitted rum into the colony. Murray, as well as all the other counties, has suffered much from this evil. Many of the brawls already mentioned were inspired as much by ardent spirits as by political enthusiasm. Until several years after the war, from two to five public taverns or saloons were running at Spring Place. About 1886 the county was voted dry. While this stopped the legal sale of intoxicating beverages it encouraged the illicit sale of the same.
Moonshiners, as they were called, ran their stills in the mountains and secretly sold their products all over the county. The revenue officers either could not or would not apprehend them, or if one was occasionally convicted, the sentence was light and he resumed his old occupation at the earliest possible dale.
The White Caps was an organization similar to the old Ku Klux. While it may not have been formed with that intention, it soon became more or less involved in the whiskey business. Although many joined it from honest motives, it must 'be admitted that reckless daring and love of adventure prompted others. Persons who were suspected of reporting stills were beaten or killed. Personal malice quite often prompted their raids. They soon came to be dreaded by the law-abiding citizens as a menace to public peace and safely. While Murray somehow got the credit for the whole affair, the "White Cups" were not confined to our county or to the State. Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and other States have had their white caps and night-riders within very recent years. Fortunately the strong hand of the law has put a stop to the order in this part of the country and none perhaps are more pleased to have it so than the very men who unthoughtedly instituted it.
Murray County History 1911