Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-10-04
THE IMPRISONED KU-KLUX.
ALEX. Fl. STEPHENS'S APPEAL TO
THE PRESIDENT-REP OF
ATTORNEY-GENE
WILLIAMS.

IA l.
WILLIAMS.
The letter of Alex. Ii. Stephens to the
President, asking for the exercise of Ex-
ecutive clemency in behalf of the ku-klux
prisoners, and the reply OF the Attorney
General are as follows
Mr. Stephens Appeal.
LIBERTY HALL, CRAWFORDsVI Ga,
August 6. 1872.
To HIS EcceUency L. s. Grant, President
of the United States, Washington, II. e.:
My DEAR SIR OF my own accord L
make an appeal to youI Exceliency Tor
clemency and mercy in behalf OF ali those
prisoners now suffering in renitentlarles
under sentence of courts in several States
of the Union for violation of the enforce
ment acts Of Congress, under prosecutions
founded upon the last named act. Not
single one of these parties is known to me,
nor am I acquainted in the slightest degree
with the nature or character OF the charges |
brought against them, nor with the facts
upon which the conviction OF single one |
of them was founded. My appeal is sim
ply for clemency and mercy. IL IS 1ounueu
upon these considerations
First, NV impression from what l have
seen in the newspapers is that all these
| convictions rest upon prosecutions Tor
! offences committed before the passage OF
! the Ku-Klux act. It is, l believe, well
| known that was utterly opposed to all
those combinations known as Ku-Klux Or
CARNATIONS. have all my life been for
law and order. Without, therefore, saying
ANYTHING about outrages of this sort, either
in extenuation or condemnation, before
the passage of the act of 1871 for their
suppression by the Federal authorities,
repeat that my impression is that no one
in whose behalf | make this application
committed an offence for which he is now
suffering after the passage of this act. Inns
view of the case, it seems to me, should
have weight with your Excellency.
Second. The greatpurpose of the govern
ment, it seems to me, has been accom-
plished. | believe that no one has any Sc
rious apprehensions of any further distul-
Dances of this sort. Indeed, as said before,
none, as believe, have occurred since the
, massage of the act for their suppression by
Federal authority.
Third. When the object of punishment
> upon the individual and upon. society IS
accomplished, lenity should be the rule
, with all governments.
. Fourth. Many of these parties, under
, stand. are infirm, a few of them old,
=. several of them have families dependent
upon them, all OF them have suffered Sc
q yerely For these reasons l ask you, by
y the authority vese i'll you, to grant them,
one and ali, general pardon. L VIII pre-
sent YOU with no view founded upon the
constitutlonality Of the act under which
they are suffering, or even OF its doubtful
constitutionaity, but appeal to you to do
as Mr.. Jefferson did with those who were
imprisoned under the alien act OF 179S
S give them release under the pardOning
r power wisely lodged in such cases III the
hands of the Executive.
If my dear sir, this petition cannot be
granted, ! trust it will not be deemed ob
trusive. Let it be attributed solely to my
le deep sympathy for all WHO are in prison
l. This appeal l shall put in the hands 0
e others, who, l hope, may, after giving l
their Enforcement, forward it TO you.
Most respectfully,
u ALEXANDER FL. STEPHENS.
.e THE ATTORNEY GENERALS REPLY.
ID WASHINGTON, September Is, 1872.
Alexander II. Stephens, Esq, CrotrfordS
rule, Georgia
III SIR have received y0ur letter of til
I'd 9th ultimo, addressed 20 the President an
C. by him referred to me, in which you as
that pardon may be granted to all c
those prisoners EOg suffering in peniten
lie tiaries under sentence of courts in severG
ST States Of the Union for violation OF the aC
e. of Congress generally known as the KU
re Klux act, or for violation of the enforce
". ment acts of Congress under prosecution
OF founded upon the last named act. Go
y represent that you are not acquainted /
1g the slightest degree with the nature c
Ell character of the charges brought again>
M them, nor with the facts upon which til
ne conviction of a single one of them wa
III founded. Your apple alton seems 10 b
III based chiefly upon an impression that a
re the convictions rest upon prosecutions Il
40 offences committed before the passage
Sc the ku-KluX act, to which you suhjoin &
III additional considerations that some Of I'll
ld parties arc old and inirm, and have suffer
us ing families, together with an opinion tin
Il the purposes Of the government have bee
OF accomplished aud that 10 one has any st
al rious appreheHsions of any fm ther disturb
dC anceS. | have not examined the case
e with particular reference TO the time Whe
w the offences were committed; but rs mos
Ut if not all the convictions were for cOnSp
nj racies, which are continuing c;imes,
ny take it for granted that the parties COuvic
ld ell were found guilty either OF enterin
into conspiPaeieS after the passage of til
ed act or participation after that lime i'll col
he spracics previously formed. ] am dul
on sensible of the sufferings produced by I'll
he Imprisonment of the persons upon who's
ne behalf you appeal for clemency, and syn
w pathize with their families and friends; bl
ao the guilt of some of the parties is so gre;
zee and so clear that ! cannot, with a due II
"a gard for the administration of the Law
m- recommend them as you desire fer an il
N. discriminate pardon. Contrary to vol
Use opinion, well-informed persons i'll thCs
be localities where the Ku-Klux organization
lis are said to exist, inform me that they hay
'lll grave apprehensiOns that other disturb
ao ances will occur, especially if there is lie;
lar rigOr than heretofore shown by the 90,
NY eminent in the punishment of lawlessne
OF aud crime.
to Some time since the attention of IL
es- President was called to those prisoner
ed from the Southern States confined in IL
al Albany Penitentiary, and reliable Office
- was forthwith dispatched to examine the
ne cases, and his report thereon was, in som
a. respects, favorable; but, as soon as the f;tC
Oh was known, certain journals circulatin
~ among those most likely to be affected b
'Se such representations, declared that the sol
ia object of the Presidents action was to il
10 fluence votes i'll the approaching election
ed and more than inti,natad tLsf II III,
Ing outrages hereafter would 60 un whipped {
or justice. / can assure you that the acts {
u Congress i'll question impose upon til
or President an unpleasant duty, and Oh
at which he would, if consistent with h
er official obligations, gladly avoid; and
al know it would afford him great satisfa,
10 ton if the Ku Klux and other similar asst
'r- Citations would disband themselves and, il
I'LL stead of cultivating the passions of hatre
. and revenge, cultivate peace and goo
W Feeling among all classes Of the con
er munity.
l am happy to learn, as do from varioU
re sources, that crimes by the Ku-!lux al
gS less frequent than heretofore. in const