The New York herald., 1872-09-21
TEE IMPRISONED KU KLUX.
Alexander II. stephens' Appeal to the President-
Reply Of Attorney General Williams.

The Ietser OF Alexander II. Stephens to the Presi-
dent, asking for the exercise OF Executive cemency
in behalf OF the Ku Klux prisoners, and the reply OF
the Attorney General, are as follOws:-
MR. STEPHENS APPEAL.
To In HTsIy Hall cnAgronnsv.Ls Ca August 1872
P.s
os M Ganr nov no in % S under
Kax yosSn tie ] acts Of s Cow %
3 am s s ns seS + e.
turc or eharaser Of the charges brought against Se
with the facts which the conviction OF single
sney and mercy It Is founded Spoa these consdera
fIra-My impression from what have seen in tho
or s nss % res % s
Ku Kiux act IS believe well known that was Ut
Kax Organization have all ny life been for law and
of IN M
before the Of the act Of 1871 their suppression
me- should nave weight with Your Excsonc 'e0'
to has Of hs a mt
Of Sqs tSsy S need
have since the OF the act for their sup
yidual and upon society saccompiishcd eny should be
IS~TSIany q these parties under stand innr%,
u icW VI ueIu ScNcTai VI tHcu nave ithiHeS ue-
severely Tor these reasons as. you By
s Ss
o 81 ns s%ssF
noss aS as c s da
YS in nSef he ss % hs
viii deemed eSt1sSS ss,rISsea soisy
S bands
respectfully ALEXANDER ii. sTEfHENs.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS REPLY. 90,
A1xxAsnna IL STEPHENS, ESD, orawiSrdsSiRs, vile Ca
dressed to s ssGs sssSsH ssfa Of S s u aG
these sqerg
i'' the Union Tor violation q the act Of Con-
Sor o. Congress Under
prosecutions founded upon he la;inamea la M act You
the & %
Sn
SGma s Of % R KS
Of parties old and nirm and have suffering FAINT
lies together with an opinion hst the purposes of the
any apprehsnsions any further disturbances.
the time wien the offences We're commiaed but as most
if not all the convictions for conspiraces which
s$
n SF an Of The Rss
e asnt i
ss' !as e some
you desire for an indscriminate pardon Contrary to
your opinion, welnormed persons IN those localities
where the Ku Kux organizations are SAID TO exist In.
sssSs s9e
than heretofore shown by the government In the punish
ment of lawlessness and crime,
called to those prisoners from the Southern States con-
fined in the Albany Penentary, and reliable officer
was forthwith despdSched TO examine their cases and
his report thereon in some respects favorable but
as soon as the fact was known, certain jour
mails circulating among those most likely to be affected
such % M declared % hat the sole
the approaching election, and more than ntimated that
Ku Knx outrages hereafter would unwhipped Of JUS
one Which he would fconsistent with his Official obliga-
tons, gladly avoid and know II would afford him great
would disband themselves and instead Of cultivang the
pa sons hatred and revenge cultivate peace ana good
feeling among all classes Of the community. :.
am harry e iearn as 30 from various sources that
in consequence q WHICH there is growing feeling OF Sc
curly among ptAceable citizens, and this improved con
don of things, think dpe to proper enforcement
that % ons as I these crimes eenlin%s com Sa The offend
| ers will Ie prosecuted with all possible prompt
tude and ygor have hesitation In adding that whe
r. rrssns ansa IS ssa hs sha hat aanSs S y
associations have been abandoned, he will be ready
era MANNER The case those who in prison will
have been the ignorant dnpcs and victims OF DESIGNING
men, alleged to be true In some cases II probable
that pardon Will be gran ed but the charge that some
and in instances murder renders It necessary {
make separate investigation and decision In each case
very Respectfully Ffto n vIJJJAMs ATTORNEY Cenerol