Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-07

from time to time appear vulnerable. The
eastern side of the rock requires no protec:.
tion; it is forbidding wall, with a great sand
slope in one place, but with no foothold OF
ANYTHING more than few fshermen's huts
near the waters edge.-London Telegraph.
LETTER FROM r. A. SHOTWELL.
The subioined letter was received by US last
Saturday from Mr.. Randolph A. Shotwell,
who is now confined in the Albany peniten-
tiary:
ALBANY PENTrENTIARY,
October 18th, 1872.
To the Editor ofthe Charlotte Observer:
NY attention has been called to the follow
ing article copied from the New York Herald,
as am informed, by number Of State pa
pers:
KU-KLUX PRISONER WANTS TO STUMP FOR
GRANT.
"It has transpired that Richard Shotwell,
one of the leaders of the ku.klux-klan ir North
Carolina, and now confined in the Albany
penitentiary, proposed to prominent mem
Der of Congress that if the President would
pardon him he would cheerfully take the
stump and labor for the success Of the Repub-
lican candidates, and denounce the ku-klux
organization. Finding that he was disposed
to plead for pardon, it was proposed to ask if
he would give evidence against the principal
leaders, such as Ransom, Vance and Merri-
mon. This Shotwell declined with defiant
air, and said he would die rather than betray
any ybody-application for the pardon was
therefore refused. When Gerritt Smith visi-
ted Shotwell, two months ago, be said he
found him defiant and unwilling to accept
pardon on any condition"
presume that ain the person alluded to
in the above, although the writer, having set
out to fabricate falsehood, has not thought
it worth while to give even the name correctly.
The entire statement is without foundation.
l scorn to refute the imputation Of having Of
fered to barter my principles for pardon /;
but for the sake Of my friends will merely
say that I have never applied for pardon, nor
made any proposals to prominent member
of Congress, nor to any one else. Having
been illegally arrested, falsely accused, unfair.
ly tried, and unjustly sentenced to the full se-
verify of an unconstitutional law, I have long
hoped (and shall continue to hope) that fu-
ture developments and the subsidence of Bit
ter passions would lead to the restoration Of
my liberty as an act Of justice rather than
one of executive clemency. ........t.
The last paragraph of the Heralfs morceau
wrongs me in two-fold degree by imputing
to me piece of silly and theatrical bragga.
docio in refusing to accept liberty on any con-
dition, on the one hand and again afording
the President fair excuse for declining to
hear any future application in my behalf.
Mr.. Gerritt Smith appears to be the origi-
nator of this calumny. It may not be i'm
proper, therefore, to briefly state the facts in
the case. Mr.. Smith visited the penitentiary
on the 9th of July, and let it be known that
he came from igh authority" In the in.
terview with me, he was very courteous, and |
answered all his inquiries with courtesy and
frankness. After acknowledging that l had
been Grand Chief of the klan, and was well
acquainted with its designs, I assured him
that it, and our people generally, had been
greatly misrepresented, not only by the radi-
cal press and irresponsible correspondents, but
AlSO ny Iuc CICuldLtOu VI sO-SolAoo
sions' and Testimony" invented by perjured
vagabonds, or extorted from intimidated wit
nesses. emphaticslly denied that the klan
was conspiracy against the government, or
against the negroes, or against any class Of
people, on account of their political opinions.
Reverting to the government prosecutions, l
called bis attention to the fact that there were
several gray.haired old men Of sixty years
and upwards, doomed to years Of toll in this
penitentiary, over thousand miles from home,
for no other offence than having sought to
preserve order in their communities, and to
shield their wives and daughters from the
brutal passions of white and black despera.
does, etc. ..r,... ..,.... ....i'...
Mr.. Smith seemed surprised and shocked at
my statements, and strongly expressed bis in.
tention to intercede with the President in their
behalf. I learn that he fulfilled his promise,
and recommended three ont of the four whom
he saw, as fit subjects for clemeney. But he
grossly misrepresents me- Nothing was said
of pardon during the interview except a vol
unteer offer on his part to write to certain
Republican Judge in my favor for which 1
thanked him, but thought it hardly worth
whilefor him to be at that trouble, although
I should be glad to have his own personal in
Auence. Great was my astonishment, there
fore, to hear of his letter to Grant, and am
forced to conclude that it is part of scheme
to exclude me from the benefits Of amnesty.
Hence this statement of facts Begging the
indulgence of the public for so lengthy an in
trusion of my private misfortunes: :, .''
... 1 am, Mr.. Editor, respectfully,
RANDOLPH A. SHoTwELL.